April 15, 2024 (New York, NY) — The Skin Cancer Foundation will launch its annual mobile education and screening program, Destination Healthy Skin, on Sunday, April 21, in Kansas City, Kansas. The program serves the Foundation’s mission to save and improve lives by educating the public about the importance of skin cancer early detection and effective sun protection. Inside the Destination Healthy Skin RV, local volunteer dermatologists provide free full-body skin cancer screenings in private exam rooms. All visitors receive information about skin cancer warning signs and proper sun protection, as well as product samples courtesy of program sponsors.
Skin cancer is already the most common form of cancer in the United States, and incidence continues to rise. It’s estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
When skin cancers are found and removed early (before they have the chance to grow and spread), they are almost always curable. The estimated five-year survival rate for patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 99 percent in the U.S. That is why The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that adults visit a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam, in addition to practicing monthly head-to-toe self-exams. The Destination Healthy Skin program provides an opportunity for many people to get a skin exam they otherwise may not have sought out. About 65 percent of program participants receive their very first skin cancer screening on board the Destination Healthy Skin RV.
“As a practicing dermatologist, I’ve heard every excuse in the book for delaying a skin exam. But the fact is, early detection plus prompt treatment equals the best outcome in any skin cancer,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Keeping this program running for 14 years has saved lives. Every day we’re on the road is a day we can make a difference.”
Since its launch, the program’s team of volunteer dermatologists has provided more than 29,000 free skin cancer screenings. Volunteer dermatologists have identified nearly 12,000 potential skin cancers and precancers, including 529 suspected melanomas. About 60 physicians donate their time to the program every year, and their generosity is vital to Destination Healthy Skin’s success.
This year, the Destination Healthy Skin program will be on the road from April to June and again from September to November. We will visit 25 cities and host approximately 55 events. The Destination Healthy Skin event schedule is available at DestinationHealthySkin.org. The RV’s journey will also be documented on the Foundation’s Sun & Skin News blog and social media channels so that people will be able to follow along, thus expanding the reach of the program beyond the communities visited.
“We’re grateful to our volunteer dermatologists, corporate sponsors and individual donors who help us deliver this very important public service,” says Becky Kamowitz, interim executive director of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “We look forward to working with our partners to keep this lifesaving program on the road for many years to come.”
The 2024 Destination Healthy Skin program is made possible in part by generous support from EltaMD Skin Care; Jergens Natural Glow; L’Oréal Paris; Castle Biosciences; dsm-firmenich; Sun Bum; Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group; Merck & Co., Inc.; The Lynne Waxman Foundation and The Sunshine Foundation.
This year, the Foundation is raising funds to buy a new RV for the Destination Healthy Skin program. To learn how you can help, visit SkinCancer.org/SaveDHS.
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About The Skin Cancer Foundation
The Skin Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, saves and improves lives by empowering people to take a proactive approach to daily sun protection and the early detection and treatment of skin cancer. The Foundation strives to decrease skin cancer incidence and mortality by delivering public education programs, providing patients with guidance and reassurance, engaging medical professionals, awarding research grants and leading advocacy campaigns that call for policy changes. Since its inception in 1979, the Foundation has recommended regular skin exams and following a complete sun protection strategy that includes seeking shade, daily sunscreen use and covering up with clothing, wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses. For more information, visit SkinCancer.org.
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