"It's important to catch skin cancer at an early stage, and screenings play a big role in that process," said Darius Mehregan, M.D., chair of the Wayne State University Physician Group Department of Dermatology. "Wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher at all times when you're out in the sun is the most important step you can take in preventing skin cancer."
The Department of Dermatology is offering a free skin cancer screening on Wednesday, May 4 at 18100 Oakwood Blvd., Suite 300, in Dearborn from 2:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, call (313) 240-4900. Only walk-ins will be accepted.
The Department of Family Medicine is offering a free skin cancer screening on Saturday, May 14 at 1135 W. University Drive, Suite 250 (in the medical office building behind Crittenton Hospital), in Rochester Hills from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (248) 650-6301. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be accepted.
Breast and prostate cancers may receive more attention, but skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and the number of cases rises every year. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. According to national statistics, an estimated 68,000 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma in 2010 (compared with 48,000 in 2000).
The most common symptoms are changes in size, shape or color of a mole or skin growth over a period of weeks to two months. More serious symptoms include headaches, unexplained weight loss or bleeding from a mole.
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The Wayne State University Physician Group (WSUPG) is one of Southeast Michigan's largest non-profit multispecialty physician practice groups, with more than 2,000 physicians providing primary and specialty medical services in close to one million patient visits annually. WSUPG has more than 100 locations, and affiliations with the Detroit Medical Center, Oakwood Healthcare System, Karmanos Cancer Center, Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and St. John Providence Health System. As faculty members of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, WSUPG's physicians and staff are on the forefront of technology and in bringing the latest in medical advances to the bedside. In addition to its substantial clinical practice, WSUPG is training Michigan's physicians of tomorrow by providing instructors for more than 1,200 medical students and 900 residents each year.