Did you know that experiencing sunburn once every two years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer? Although individuals can’t wait to tan under the sun’s rays, watching out for your skin should always be a top priority. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it is estimated that 2,830 people in New Jersey will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2018. With that being said, the foundation brought their 38-foot RV and the Destination: Healthy Skin program to Hoboken and hosted an event where local dermatologists provided complimentary full-body skin cancer screenings for those who attended in addition to providing information about skin cancer prevention and early detection along with sun care items from Walgreens. The goal of the Destination: Healthy Skin program is to save lives by educating the public about effective sun protection for skin cancer and early detection. The program will make about 40 stops this summer and always focuses on visiting a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities. Dr. Adolfo C. Fernandez-Obregon, a local Hoboken dermatologist, has been involved with the program for five years and expressed his interest in wanting to participate again this year. “The Skin Cancer Foundation is one of the top providers of these types of services, and I was happy to continue my activity through the opportunity offered by the Destination: Healthy Skin program,” said Fernandez-Obregon. “Most participants tended to be persons without medical insurance, who would otherwise not get access to a dermatologist or other health care provider on a routine basis. Others were individuals with appropriate health coverage, but whose inertia prevented them from actively seeking a skin examination. These screenings often presented as a spontaneous activity, which settled their needs with minimal planning.” The foundation believes it is key for people with a history of skin cancer to keep up with their sun protection routine, even after they’ve had cancer removed. Once a person’s had skin cancer, they’re at an increased risk of recurrence, which is why it’s very important to keep up with prevention efforts, including seeking shade, utilizing sunscreen on a daily basis, and covering up with clothing. The foundation also recommends everyone to pay their dermatologist a visit once a year for a professional skin checkup, however, those with a history of skin cancer may need to see their doctor more frequently. The event took place from 9 am to 12 pm in the Walgreens parking lot where about fifteen people received a free skin cancer screening by Fernandez-Obregon while others stopped by to retrieve information and receive sunscreen samples. For more information on the Destination: Healthy Skin program, visit https://www.destinationhealthyskin.org.

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