Free Skin Cancer Screenings offered at Rhode Island Beaches, Park this Summer

Free skin cancer screenings will be offered at select Rhode Island beaches and one state park this summer through a statewide partnership led by the Rhode Island Department of Health, Brown Health Dermatology, and cancer prevention partners.

The screenings will take place from July 10 through August 22. All screenings are private and will be conducted by dermatologists and dermatology residents affiliated with Brown Dermatology.

The first 100 people at each event will be screened. Anyone needing follow-up care will be referred for a dermatology consultation.

Screening schedule

Friday, July 10
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Easton’s Beach, Newport

Saturday, July 18
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Roger Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett
Part of the Waterman Eco-Challenge

Saturday, July 25
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Scarborough State Beach North, Narragansett

Friday, August 14
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Scarborough State Beach North, Narragansett

Saturday, August 22
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lincoln Woods State Park beach, Lincoln

“Cancer screenings have the power to save lives,” said Rhode Island Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “Along with getting in the shade, avoiding indoor tanning, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, getting a skin check is one of the most important things you can do to protect against skin cancer.”

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States.

“One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Everyone is at risk, even those with darker skin tones,” said John C. Kawaoka, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Residency Program Director at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “Protecting yourself from the sun is incredibly important, as is getting your skin checked.”

Kawaoka said the Skin Check events have identified skin cancers in past years, including melanomas, in people who did not know they had them.

The free screenings are part of Skin Check, a long-running cancer prevention effort in Rhode Island.

“Skin Check wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of our volunteers and partners,” said Megan Daniel, Executive Director of the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island. “As Rhode Island’s statewide cancer coalition, we work diligently to improve cancer care and survivorship, which includes improving access to cancer screening.”

Carrie Bridges, MPH, MBA, Vice President of Community Health at Brown University Health, said the program helps bring preventive care directly into the community.

“Many Rhode Islanders have come to look forward to skin cancer screening at local beaches, parks and festivals, and Brown University Health’s Community Health Institute is honored to help facilitate access to this critical preventive service and appropriate follow-up care,” Bridges said.

People attending the screenings are asked to wear bathing suits or clothing that can be easily removed to allow dermatologists to check the areas of skin they would like examined.

NBC10 WJAR is the media partner for the Skin Check screening events. Other partners include Brown Dermatology, the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, Brown University Health Community Health Institute, RIDOH, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the City of Newport.

Prevention and Early Detection 

The two ways to stay sun safe this summer are prevention (using sunscreen, wearing protective apparel, and staying out of the direct sun) and early detection (getting screened).

Prevention:

• Apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more with both UVA and UVB protection (“broad spectrum” sunscreen). Make sure to put it on all areas of skin exposed to the sun, including ears, neck, nose, eyelids, fingers and toes, and reapply every two hours.

• Use water-resistant sunscreen while swimming, boating or exercising;

• Seek shade, especially when the sun rays are the strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM;

• Wear protective clothing, such as UPF clothing (UV resistant);

• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck;

• Wear wrap-around sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection where possible;

• Use caution near water, sand and snow because they reflect and intensify the rays of the sun and can increase your chances of sunburn;
• Avoid indoor tanning.

Early detection:

• Talk with your primary care professional about seeing a dermatologist and getting screened for skin cancer, especially if you have a family history of it or have had many sunburns that peeled.

• Watch your moles and skin spots over time. If you see changes in their size, color, number, or thickness, they need to be checked by a primary care professional or a dermatologist.

• Get your kids screened. Skin cancer is a growing concern for children, especially among adolescents. Talk with your child’s pediatrician about skin cancer screening.

• If you work outdoors, you should be screened annually by a dermatologist.