August 17, 2022 (Westfield, Indiana) – The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Destination Healthy Skin RV will be at Colts Training Camp at Grand Park on Wednesday August 17 and Thursday August 18. On both days from 10:30 AM to 2 PM, local volunteer dermatologists will provide free full-body skin cancer screenings in private exam rooms on board the RV. Along with a screening, fans can grab information about skin cancer warning signs and proper sun protection as well as product samples courtesy of the Foundation’s program sponsors.
C. William Hanke, MD, founder of the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana in Indianapolis, and a senior vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation, organized the event and recruits his dermatologist colleagues to volunteer to perform screenings.
“This will be the third year the Destination Healthy Skin RV has come to Grand Park. We’ve done these events all over the country, but we’ve had some of our most successful events at the Colts Training Camp because it’s a high traffic venue and we can have a significant impact here,” explained Dr. Hanke. “We screen people who might otherwise never see a dermatologist and it’s a fact that we save lives.”
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and incidence continues to rise. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. It’s estimated that physicians in Indiana will diagnose 2,250 new cases of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of the disease, this year. When skin cancers are found and removed early, they are usually 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 practicing monthly head-to-toe self-exams, looking for anything new, changing or unusual on your skin, in addition visiting a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.
“Each year, we at the Colts commit ourselves to the battle against all types of cancer, so we’re excited to partner with the Skin Cancer Foundation for Destination Healthy Skin at Colts Training Camp this summer,” said Ashley Powell, Colts Director of Community Relations. “We hope our fans take a moment to stop by Colts City and learn the warning signs of skin cancer, where to get treatment and ways to reduce their risk.”
As an added point of interest, the practices on August 17 and 18 will be in conjunction with the Detroit Lions. The Skin Cancer Foundation has a unique connection through one of their players, Josh Paschal. Josh is a defensive end and second round draft pick for the Lions in 2022, and he shared his skin cancer story with The Skin Cancer Foundation several years ago while he was at the University of Kentucky. Paschal was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) on the bottom of his right foot in July 2018, undergoing multiple surgeries and a year of immunotherapy treatment.
“When I learned about ALM, my mind went in a thousand different directions,” Paschal told the Foundation. “You never think it will happen to you, especially when you’re so young. It was a humbling moment.”
Coincidentally, Skin Cancer Foundation Executive Director Dan Latore spent a few months playing with the Detroit Lions in 1996.
“It has been quite a while, but I appreciate that I’m in a position to pursue initiatives like this with NFL teams and their fans,” says Latore. “My experience playing for the Lions gives me a unique perspective on how fans connect with their teams, and how it can provide a platform to teach people about their health. Our goal is to educate people about skin cancer risk, as well as the importance of prevention and early detection. We appreciate the Colts letting us come out and provide this unique service to their loyal fans.”
Separately, The Skin Cancer Foundation is working with Sean McDermott, head coach of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. McDermott has been personally affected by the disease and wants to encourage others to protect their skin and recognize potential skin cancers at an early stage when they are most likely to be cured.
In a video filmed for the Foundation, McDermott shares his tips for effective sun protection, including daily sunscreen use and covering up with clothing, hats and sunglasses. He also emphasizes the importance of skin self-checks and urges viewers to see a dermatologist for professional skin exams.
“I’m in constant communication with my dermatologist, and I tell him right away if I see anything,” he says. “You have to get out in front of it. If you wait too long, it can be deadly.”
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About The Skin Cancer Foundation
The Skin Cancer Foundation 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 mission of the Foundation is to decrease the incidence of skin cancer through public and professional education and research. Since its inception in 1979, the Foundation has recommended following a complete sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use. For more information, visit SkinCancer.org
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