Good Samaritan Hospital hosted free skin cancer screenings on November 30 at its Cancer Center, located at 15400 National Avenue in Los Gatos. More than 30 members of the San Jose community were screened for skin cancer from 6 to 8 p.m.
The free screenings, presented as part of National Healthy Skin Month, were offered to draw attention to the rising number of new melanomas diagnosed in the United States. Last year, more than 76,000 new melanomas were diagnosed across the country and more than 10,000 people died from the disease.
“We want the San Jose community to know that while we are here to provide comprehensive cancer care, from diagnosis to treatment. Skin cancer is very treatable when detected early and it can be highly preventable,” said Lori Arias, VP of Oncology Services for Good Samaritan Hospital. “Free screening events like this help to spread the message that treating your skin as seriously as the rest of your body is important, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer. We encourage community members to also do self-exams and protect themselves daily with sunscreen.”
The screenings were conducted by Joe Gorelick, MSN, FNP-C of California Skin Institute, who volunteered his services. Screening exams are designed to detect abnormal moles and to identify skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Screening exams such as these can lead to early detection which can result in better patient outcomes. Early detection is important as it can potentially prevent melanoma or allow for treatment before it progresses into more deadly stages.
“Though melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, it is often curable if it is detected early and treated appropriately,” said Joe Gorelick, nurse practitioner at the California Skin Institute. “The sun emits dangerous ultraviolet radiation that can cause permanent damage to our skin. Patients exposed to excessive UV radiation as children and young adults though multiple severe sunburns, or use of indoor tanning beds are at higher risk for developing skin cancer. Some of which can be fatal, such as melanoma. All patients who have concerns about their risk should schedule an evaluation at a dermatology office for a skin evaluation.”
Good Samaritan Hospital is one of only three hospitals in the U.S. to receive five consecutive Outstanding Achievement Awards from the American College of Surgeon's Commission on Cancer.
About Good Samaritan Hospital
Good Samaritan Hospital, a 474-bed acute care hospital in the heart of Silicon Valley, has been delivering elite level care with compassion since 1965. Its two locations include the main campus in San Jose, California and the Mission Oaks campus in Los Gatos, California. Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized nationally for quality and safety by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® and with the Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Certification, and for Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Certification. Good Samaritan Hospital is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, STEMI Receiving Center, and a five-time recipient of the American College of Surgeons Outstanding Achievement Award in cancer care. For more information visit, Good Samaritan Hospital.