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The Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Destination Healthy Skin” RV is parked in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
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Glenn Snow, left, and his son Mason fill out paperwork in the Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Destination Healthy Skin” RV in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
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Books and informational pamphlets provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation are displayed in the “Destination Healthy Skin” RV in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
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Neck gaiters provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation are stored in the “Destination Healthy Skin” RV in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
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While hundreds of people spent their weekend floating and kayaking down the Provo River, or mountain biking through Provo Canyon, a group of volunteer medical professionals in a multicolored recreational vehicle provided free skin cancer screenings.
Glenn Snow and his son Mason, both Pleasant Grove residents, were spending the day at the Sundance Mountain Resort before noticing the RV in the parking lot. “My boy saw it and was like, ‘Let’s go do that!'”
The mobile program, run by the Skin Cancer Foundation, is spending the summer going across the country in their RV, partnering with local dermatologists and doctors and offering free cancer screenings.
The team scheduled over 25 stops between May and September, with time in Utah on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Amy Vickers with the Skin Cancer Foundation, screening typically take place between 10 am and 6 pm with each screening taking around five minutes, meaning a maximum of around 50 screenings per physician per day.
“Early detection saves lives, ’cause you can just get a mole frozen off and removed versus if it’s somewhere and you don’t know it’s there — it could cause a lot of problems,” she said. “We have this program just to help educate.”
Providing screenings on Saturday and Sunday was Dr. Jessica Donigan, a dermatologist in Salt Lake City and assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
Donigan is an expert in Mohs micrographic surgery, a procedure used to treat skin cancer. “As much as I love my job and what I do, I’d rather prevent skin cancer than have to treat so many,” she said. “The earlier you catch things, the better. We’re not only screening today, but educating people on sun safety.”
In addition to the screening, everyone associated with the program hoped to educate members of the public through one-on-one conversations and providing additional educational materials.
When it comes to skin safety, Donigan stressed sun protection.
With the RV positioned in Provo Canyon, she highlighted the multitude of outdoor activities available in Utah, from spending summers biking or in various bodies of water to skiing and snowboarding in the winter months. Donigan also mentioned the elevation of the state. According to cancer.org, more UV rays reach the ground at higher elevations.
To mitigate the risks, Donigan and Vickers both suggested people wear sun hats, sun-protective clothing and sunscreen, and avoid peak hours — typically 10 am until 2 pm “Enjoy where we live, but do it safely,” Donigan said.
Outside of the sun, one major risk factor listed in the group’s paperwork is tanning bed use. Patients are asked if they use tanning beds and with what frequency.
According to a pamphlet from the Skin Cancer Foundation, people should avoid indoor tanning beds. “Using a tanning bed before age 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75 percent,” reads the guide.
While the Snows had not talked explicitly about the dangers of skin cancer, Glenn Snow mentioned that his dad and grandparents died of the disease.
“We try to make sure (our children) wear skin protection,” Glenn Snow said. “We didn’t even know what sunscreen was when I was a kid, but we try to make sure they have it.”
People should be aware of their bodies and any new or unusual growths, but according to Donigan, not everyone needs frequent checkups.
“Someone who is young, doesn’t have a lot of moles, doesn’t have a family history of skin cancer probably doesn’t need to be screened on a regular basis,” she said.
For people who do fall under those categories, or who have fairer skin and high sun exposure, screenings are recommended as people age. The average patient for surgery at Donigan’s clinic, she said, is around 70 years old, although some patients are in their 30s.
Vickers recommended that people going out in the sun are aware of UV rays and reapplying sunscreen “at least every two hours” especially if going in the water.
“I still get color every summer even with loading on sunscreen. You’re just, basically, preventing those harmful rays from hurting your skin and causing sun damage,” Vickers said. “It’s still good to wear sunscreen even if you want the tan.”
The Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Destination Healthy Skin” RV is parked in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Glenn Snow, left, and his son Mason fill out paperwork in the Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Destination Healthy Skin” RV in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Books and informational pamphlets provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation are displayed in the “Destination Healthy Skin” RV in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Neck gaiters provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation are stored in the “Destination Healthy Skin” RV in Sundance on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
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