First Derm SpotCancer Events

by | Sep 24, 2020 | Blog, Spotcancer

Supporting our communities is integral to First Derm. We do this in every way we can, especially when it comes to Skin Cancer. Although the big C word is often intimidating, skin cancer is easily treatable with early detection. More often than not, awareness is the most important form of protection and that is what our SpotCancer events are for.

 

How It All Started

spotcancer-rv-san-francisco

 

Our first ever SpotCancer event was in and RV at Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco. This event was for skin cancer awareness month it was great to put our technology to the test. Here’s the lowdown:

In just 2 days, the team spoke with approximately 2000 individuals! We provided clear advice about sun safety and the importance of early detection. Furthermore, we distributed many sunscreen samples, and screened 99 people for skin concerns. Of those 99 screenings, we found 10 possible pre-cancerous lesions (i.e. actinic keratosis), 2 possible melanomas, and 1 Basalioma.

Thanks to digital and social media, the campaign reached a lot more than the 2000 individuals we spoke with directly. Our press release and social media campaign reached 71, 518 people! Hopefully that is 71,000 more people for check-ups in the near future.

Try our FREE dermatology search engine and get peace of mind within a second.

 

Our First SpotCancer Event

spotcancer-screening-in-the-park

Spot Cancer in the Park

 

Due to the success of this quick spotcancer campaign we decided that the nation deserved some care. From Kansas City, Missouri, and Montreal to Gothenburg, Sweden. In just under 48 hours in three separate countries, the First Derm team screened nearly 100 people and spotted 2 probable melanomas.

 

Did You Know?

  1. Each year, even if you combine Breast, Prostate Lung and Colon cancer cases there are more new cases of skin cancer
  2. Suffering from just five sunburns doubles your risk of developing skin cancer

It is for this reason that we emphasise the importance of protecting your body. Try to avoid the sun’s harmful rays by seeking shade, covering up with sun protective clothing, and following the guidelines of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Remember you can visit our sunscreen guide if you’re unsure on the best course of action.

Ultimately, our key objective at these events is to raise awareness for skin cancer. Our secondary objective is to show you just how easy it is to use our mobile app. With just a smartphone image our dermatologists can provide an answer within hours.

Check out our video to see just how the app works to identify skin lesions.

Try our FREE dermatology search engine and get peace of mind within a second.

 

 

The Results of Our First Event

The response to our first event was fantastic with some great results too. Here’s the breakdown:

Results from the weekend: 77 people screened. Our dermatologists identified:

First Derm users take this information and seek immediate treatment, bypassing gatekeepers such as the family doctor or the 29 day wait list to see a dermatologist.

 

SpotCancer Sweden

spotcancer-sweden

 

It’s not just the USA for First Derm! We also organized a fantastic event in Sweden!

Demographics and results from #SpotCancer on May 2:

  • 30 people in total (16 women, 14 men)
  • The median age was 48 (ranging from 10 to 78 years old)
  • A total of 5 malignant moles found (3 basal cancer, 1 actinic keratosis, 1 malignant melanoma)
  • The person with suspected malignant melanoma was a 56-year-old man
  • The other 27 birthmarks were benign (8 senile warts, 1 angioma, 1 dermatofibroma and 17 nevi). One of these birthmarks was recommended an in-person dermatologist visit
  • In total, 6 people were recommended to seek dermatologists, 1 person a visit to the health center, and the rest to keep monitoring the skin lesions.

Try our FREE dermatology search engine and get peace of mind within a second.

 

SpotCancer Sunday Streets of San Francisco

 

screening-spotcancer-sf

 

On this occasion we worked with the Sunday Streets SF group to test the people of San Francisco for skin lesions. Once again we had some fantastic results.

During the Sunday Streets Mission, we found 4 dangerous lesions. This year, First Derm screened 37 people. We had individuals between the ages of 5 and 72 years Out of the 26 females and 11 males, with an average age of 42, our dermatologists identified:

  • 1 possible Malignant Melanoma
  • 2 Actinic Keratoses
  • 3 Basal Cell Carcinomas

 

Why is Skin Cancer Screening Important?

 

Spot Cancer Sweden

Image Courtesy of Peter Stenberg/Sveriges Radio

 

So why do we do these events? It’s quite simple really. Early detection is vital.

The incidence rate of melanoma in the United States has doubled since 1973. In addition, 90% of skin cancer cases can be cured only when they are detected and treated in time.

Therefore, the discovery phase of skin cancer is crucial to increasing the survival rate of the disease. Every year, 1 in 10 people we screen at First Derm’s #SpotCancer events find out that they may have skin cancers. This shows how important it is to consult a dermatologist such as ours!

Try our FREE dermatology search engine and get peace of mind within a second.

 

Education is Key

Education and information are effective ways to engage people for early detection of skin cancer. However, its effectiveness is most evident in an ongoing campaign in Australia since the 70s. Even though the number of people that get skin cancer is increasing around the world, it has stabilized in Australia.

Every year there is a drive on the Northern hemisphere called Melanoma Monday or Euro Melanoma. At these events you are encouraged to understand the dangers of the sun and check up your skin for skin cancer is in effect.

At every event, we find potential skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma, as well as precancerous actinic keratosis lesions. In addition to detection, we help those in need by prioritizing their follow up with a dermatologist.

 

Consult a Dermatologist

We hope the defining message from all of this is that you go for a check-up! Speak to a dermatologist or you can even try our fun new skin scanner for free here.

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