Moffitt Cancer Center’s Mole Patrol™ To Offer Free Skin Screenings At Events At Clearwater Beach, Cocoa Beach, Tampa And Leesburg
TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 8, 2011) – In the Sunshine State this year, more than 5,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed, and an estimated 8,790 people nationwide will die of melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society. That’s in addition to about 3 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell cancers) that will occur in the United States this year. Don’t be just another statistic. Have you had an annual skin cancer screening?
Moffitt Cancer Center’s Mole Patrol™ will offer free skin screenings at Clearwater Beach, Cocoa Beach, Tampa and Leesburg at events during the next three months. Stop by and get screened by one of Moffitt’s trained professionals.
Oncologists, dermatologists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – assisted by registered nurses – will perform the free skin cancer evaluations. If screeners find a suspicious lesion, they generally recommend a follow-up appointment with a dermatologist.
Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat sunscreen samples, as well as educational information, will be available.
Mole Patrol Events:
- Aug. 13 – Clearwater Beach, Pier 60 Pavilion, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Aug. 27 – Cocoa Beach, Ron Jon Surf Shop, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sept. 10 – Al Lopez Park, Tampa, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sept. 14 – MacDill Air Force Base Health Fair, Tampa, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Oct. 8 – Leesburg, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Nov. 5 – MacDill Air Fest, Hangar 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Lois Rendina at (813) 745-2625.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
About Mole Patrol™
The Mole Patrol™ skin cancer screening program travels to venues around Florida to offer free skin cancer screenings and cancer education to the public. In its 16 years of operation, the Mole Patrol has screened thousands of Floridians, identifying thousands of suspicious skin lesions that have resulted in the diagnosis of melanoma, basal cell and squamous cell cancers.
The Mole Patrol frequently works in tandem with Moffitt’s affiliate institutions, as well as with the Tampa Bay Rays, to provide oncologists and dermatologists who specialize in skin cancer to conduct the screenings.
The Mole Patrol is comprised of medical doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who specialize in skin cancer and/or dermatology, as well as registered nurses and support staff. Some are based at Moffitt or at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, while others come from Moffitt’s affiliate institutions and practices in the community. Screenings are provided free of charge to the public and are conducted in an area that allows for some measure of privacy when needed (two rooms are available on the screening bus and portable privacy screens are often used). If suspicious lesions are found, patrons leave the screening area with follow-up recommendations that should be taken to their primary physician or a local dermatologist. In addition, participants receive educational information about skin cancer prevention and early detection and often receive free sunscreen samples and other related giveaways.
