Associates in Dermatology to Provide FREE* Skin Cancer Screenings October 2016
October 14, 2016
As the seasons change and turn colder throughout the rest of the US, fun in the sun in Florida still has months to go. After all, outside is a natural place to be in Central Florida, and as temperatures become more tolerant, often people become less concerned abut potential melanoma issues. Associates in Dermatology is dedicated to raising awareness for the prevention, early detection and treatment of melanoma. Although melanoma is not the most common type of skin cancer, it is the most dangerous and kills over 10,000 people annually in the United States. We are offering free skin cancer checks at our facilities for a short period of time in the month of October.
Associates in Dermatology Locations
Skin cancer screenings* are available at the following 15 locations:
- Altamonte Springs
- Apopka
- Celebration
- Clermont
- Davenport
- Dr. Phillips
- East Orlando
- Hunter’s Creek
- Kissimmee
- Mount Dora
- Ocoee
- Poinciana
- Sanford
- St. Cloud
- Sumterville
As a sponsor of the Daily UV Index featured on Fox 35, Associates in Dermatology has already become a trusted source for quality skincare. Through their community-wide effort, the group is offering free* skin cancer screenings at various local events as well as their 15 Orlando-area locations. Over the past decade, the prognosis for people with malignant melanomas has been steadily improving. If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable with a survival rate of 98%. However, once the cancer cells grow deeper into the layers of skin or spreads to other parts of the body, it becomes more life-threatening.
Dangers of Untreated Melanoma
Melanoma originates in the melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. Brown spots, moles and most growths on the skin are typically harmless, but not always. The first signs of the dangerous cancer can appear in one or more atypical moles. Melanomas often resemble moles and some cancerous lesions develop from moles. Although there is no reliable cure for melanoma, around three fourths of the people who have the cancerous tissue surgically removed will have no further problems. While previous sun exposure and tanning beds are established risk factors, melanoma can still arise without overexposure and on areas of the body that were not exposed to sunlight.
Everyone is at some risk for melanoma, but it is a more common occurrence in people with certain risk factors. Those with lightly pigmented skin, excessive sun exposure, atypical mole syndrome, a weakened immune system or a personal history of skin cancer are at a greater risk. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be multi-shaded, pink, red, flesh-tone, purple, blue or white. If a mole changes its shape, border, color or size, or if you develop a lump or unusual patch on the skin that you are unsure about, it’s time to contact a doctor at Associates in Dermatology.
*Offer applies to new patients and existing patients who have not been seen in 3+ years. The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for any other service, examination, or treatment that is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for free, discounted fee, reduced fee service, examination or treatment.