Free Skin Cancer Screening On July 23 At VNA

The Newtown Visiting Nurse Association will sponsor a free skin cancer screening from 10 am to noon on Saturday, July 23, at the VNA offices at the senior center/multipurpose center on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook.

The program is free and open to Newtown residents of all ages. The screenings, which are by appointment only, are meant for people who are not under the care of a dermatologist and who have not had their skin examined.

The screening evaluation will be conducted by Dr William Notaro, a board-certified dermatologist who is donating his services to the Newtown VNA for this effort.

The screening usually takes about 10 minutes. It consists of a full body exam in which participants are checked for specific lesions, such as skin cancer, precancerous moles, or abnormal lesions.

If a suspicious lesion is found, participants are given a written report to direct to his or her physician for follow-up. The doctor will not be checking for other dermatological problems such as acne during the screening.

There are certain people who may be at higher risk for contracting skin cancer. These include people with fair skin, blue eyes, or red or blond hair; people with a family history of melanoma; people who had a blistering sunburn as a child; and persons who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Early detection is important. The early warning signs of skin cancer are changes in freckles, skin discoloration, or changes in the size, color, and shape of moles.

People should examine their skin on a regular basis for any of these signs, especially if they are in a high-risk group.

VNA board members Mae S. Schmidle and Mona Lauricella are co-chairmen of the event and are being assisted by Mary Tietjen, VNA president, and Margareta Kotch, treasurer.

Appointments may be made by calling 426-6556.