Northwestern Medicine to Provide Free Skin Cancer Screenings this Spring

CHICAGO, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Spring has finally arrived in the Chicago area, bringing warmer temperatures and increased sun exposure with less protective clothing for many, which is the number one risk factor for skin cancer on average. But this spring, there is a healthy reason to show off your skin. Dermatologists at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital will be providing free skin cancer screening appointments for the public during their annual free screening events. Northwestern Memorial's event will take place on April 29, 2015, and Lake Forest Hospital's event will be held on May 19, 2015.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in America and affects all skin types. It is estimated that roughly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, including its deadliest form melanoma.

"The best way to detect skin cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage is to regularly check your skin to see if you have a new spot or growth, a change in a mole or if you develop a sore that won't heal," said Mary C. Martini, MD, director of the Pigmented Lesion and Melanoma Clinic for Northwestern Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. "But even regular self-examination isn't perfect and you can't see all of your skin properly by yourself, which is why seeing a dermatologist for an annual checkup can be so important and save lives."

Expert organizations like the CDC and the American Academy of Dermatologists recommend patients remember the "A-B-C-D-E's of melanoma" when looking over a spot or mole:

• "A" for asymmetrical, does it have an irregular shape or two parts that look very different?
• "B" for border, is its border irregular, hard to describe or jagged?
• "C" for color, is its color uneven, varying from one side to another?
• "D" for diameter, is it larger than 6mm or larger than roughly the size of a pea?
• "E" for evolving, has it changed during the past few weeks or months in color, size or shape?

If the answer to any of these letters is yes, then it is strongly recommended that a dermatologist be consulted as soon as possible.

"Having your skin examined thoroughly by a dermatologist is very important, even if you don't have any immediate concerns," added Northwestern Medicine dermatologist Tina Venetos, MD. "There is more than one kind of skin cancer and there is even a wide variation in how specific forms appear, which is why an expert review by a trained healthcare professional is key."

The free screening events this spring will be provided by appointment only, and patients are asked to register as early as possible to help assure they can reserve a time during the events.

Northwestern Memorial's event will take place in the hospital's Arkes Pavilion at 676 N. St. Clair in Chicago on April 29, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration can be done online using the following link: http://bit.ly/1FzCLkD.

Lake Forest Hospital's event will take place in its Hunter Family Center for Women's Health at 660 N. Westmoreland road in Lake Forest, Ill., on May 19, 2015, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registration for the Lake Forest event can be done over the phone by calling 847-535-7441.

To learn more about how to keep your skin safe and healthy, visit nmgdermatology.nm.org or call 312-926-DOCS (3627).

About Northwestern Medicine®
Northwestern Medicine® is the collaboration between Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine around a strategic vision to transform the future of healthcare.  It encompasses the research, teaching and patient care activities of the academic medical center. Sharing a commitment to superior quality, academic excellence and patient safety, the organizations within Northwestern Medicine comprise more than 9,000 clinical and administrative staff, 3,100 medical and science faculty and 700 students. The entities involved in Northwestern Medicine remain separate organizations. Northwestern Medicine is a trademark of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and is used by Northwestern University.

About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial is one of the country's premier academic medical center hospitals and is the primary teaching hospital of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Along with its Prentice Women's Hospital and Stone Institute of Psychiatry, the hospital has 1,705 affiliated physicians and 6,769 employees. Northwestern Memorial is recognized for providing exemplary patient care and state-of-the art advancements in the areas of cardiovascular care; women's health; oncology; neurology and neurosurgery; solid organ and soft tissue transplants and orthopaedics.

About Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital is a wholly owned entity of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. The 201-bed hospital has more than 700 physicians board-certified in 90 medical specialties, located at its Lake Forest and Grayslake campuses and at facilities in Deerfield, Evanston, Glenview, Gurnee-Brookside, Gurnee-Tower Court, Libertyville, Lindenhurst and Vernon Hills.  Lake Forest Hospital is ranked among Illinois' "Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report. It has been named the Consumer Choice hospital in Lake and Kenosha counties for ten years in a row by National Research Corporation.  It receives an "A" Hospital Safety Score from the nonprofit Leapfrog Group and is a Magnet hospital, having earned the country's highest recognition for patient care and nursing.  For more information, visit lfh.org.

SOURCE Northwestern Medicine