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Free Screening has Spotted Hundreds of Melanomas Over the Years
For the 18th consecutive year, CarolinaEast Health System, local physicians and the American Cancer Society are partnering to offer a free skin cancer screening to the coastal Carolina community. The event will take place on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Oncology Center on the CarolinaEast Medical Center campus.
“We have screened thousands of individuals over the years and referred hundreds for further evaluation,” explained Megan McGarvey, Director, Public Relations. “Our community has come to expect us to provide this screening every year. We are happy to see such a high level of demand, because it means people truly understand the importance of being sun-smart and we want to encourage and advance that understanding,” she added.
While walk-ins will be accommodated on a first come-first serve basis if possible, it is recommended that interested individuals make an appointment. “This is a very popular annual event. In order to provide it to as many people as possible, we ask that appointments be made,” explained McGarvey.
This year, there will be two ways to schedule your appointment. Before Friday, May 4, you may visit www.carolinaeasthealth.com/events and complete an online “appointment request”. Those people who complete requests will be contacted by a CarolinaEast representative to set up their appointment time. Alternatively, appointments can be made by calling (252) 633-8099 on Wednesday, May 9th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This “call-in day” is the only time to make appointments by phone. Appointments will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You must be 18 years old to participate. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
McGarvey explained that anyone with a suspicious skin lesion is strongly encouraged to participate. As with most cancers, early detection greatly increases the probability for recovery from skin cancer. In addition to the screening, educational material about skin cancer, its prevention and treatment will be available along with sunscreen samples.
For more information, call 252-633-8154.
Submitted by: Megan McGarvey, Director, Public Relations, CarolinaEast Health System, 2000 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, NC
