Moffitt Cancer Center's Mole Patrol to Offer Free Skin ScreeningsTAMPA - In the Sunshine State this year, an estimated 8,700 people will die of melanoma and nearly 5,000 new cases will be diagnosed, according to the American Cancer Society. 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 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on August 14th at the Clearwater Beach Pier 60 Pavilion. Stop by and get screened by one of Moffitt's trained professionals. Steven Sommerville was 14 when he was diagnosed with stage 2 malignant melanoma. It was a shock, especially with no family history. The mole behind his left ear was removed, and sentinel lymph node mapping was performed at Moffitt to remove only the affected lymph nodes. Sommerville, 21, is cancer free today and is pursuing a career in medicine at the University of Florida. He schedules three skin screenings yearly with a dermatologist and also performs self-screenings, and he's giving back to Moffitt and the community by volunteering at the Clearwater Beach Mole Patrol-his second year in a row. "The best way to beat skin cancer is to catch it early. So free skin screenings from the Mole Patrol are a great way to get a jump start on prevention," said Sommerville, of Clearwater. Oncologists, dermatologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses will perform the free skin cancer evaluations. If screeners find a suspicious lesion, they will recommend a follow-up appointment with a specialist. Blue Lizard and Banana Boat sunscreen samples, as well as educational information, will also be available. For more information, contact Lois Rendina at (813) 745-2625.
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