For more information contact: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Judi Engle, Office of Public Relations, (937) 775-2951

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 1998

WSU Dermatologists offer
Free Skin Cancer Screenings

DAYTON, OHIO -- Wright State University School of Medicine's Section of Dermatology will conduct free skin cancer screenings in May at selected area hospitals and clinics. Appointments for the screenings can be made Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1, by calling the American Cancer Society at 223-8521. The free screenings will be offered at the following sites and times: the office of Lawton Gerlinger, M.D. (450 N. Main Street, Centerville), Tuesday, May 5, 9:00-11:00 a.m.; Franciscan Medical Center, Wednesday, May 6, 1:00-4:30 p.m., and Friday, May 8, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-4:30 p.m.; Grandview Hospital Outpatient Clinic, Friday, May 8, 8:30-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.; Miami Valley Hospital Medical/Surgical Health Center, Friday, May 8, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; and the Frederick A. White Health Center at Wright State University, Tuesday, May 5, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and Saturday, May 9, 8:30-11:30 a.m.

In addition, Kettering Medical Center and Wright State will conduct free skin cancer screenings at Sycamore Medical Center on Wednesday, May 6, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and 1:00-5:00 p.m. Appointments for screenings at Sycamore Medical Center can be made by calling the Kettering Physician Referral Service at 296-7899.

A skin cancer screening takes only five minutes, according to Dr. Julian Trevino, section chief of dermatology at Wright State School of Medicine. "Anyone who is concerned about a worrisome skin lesion should have a screening," Trevino explains. "If the skin lesion has enlarged or changed color, or if it has become ulcerated or irritated, it should be checked by a dermatologist. "If a person has a pigmented lesion that turns out to be a melanoma, removing it at an early stage could save a life," he continues. "Other types of skin cancer, when detected early, can be removed before they become large and disfiguring."

Dermatologists of the Miami Valley offer free screening clinics each May, during National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. The screenings are part of a nationwide program sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology to promote early detection and teach prevention of skin cancer.

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