Screening Finds Half of Participants at Risk for Skin Cancer

Surprising results from Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare sun safety event

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- How prevalent is skin cancer in Arizona? More than half of the 411 people who were screened May 7 at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare were presumptively diagnosed with skin cancer or referred for a biopsy.

The free educational event focused on sun safety and the need for regular skin cancer screenings. According to  the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare:

• 126 participants (30.66%) were at risk and had a presumptive diagnosis of pre-skin cancer
• 15 participants (3.65%) had a presumptive diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma
• 3 participants (.073%) with a presumptive diagnosis of melanoma
• 9 participants (2.19%) with a presumptive diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma
• 68 participants (16.5%) of total screened referred by physician for a follow up biopsy

"Arizona has the second highest skin cancer rate in the world. There are nearly 1,500 cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, diagnosed each year. Most skin cancers can be treated successfully if detected early," said Lindsay Thomas, director of Oncology Services at Scottsdale Healthcare. "That is why we hold this event, to educate our community about this most preventable form of cancer."

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and diagnosed in more than one million Americans each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

More than 500 attended the Scottsdale Healthcare event, which also featured speakers on genetic risk for skin cancer, risk prevention and clinical trials for new skin cancer treatments.

The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare is offering access to a promising investigational agent for treating advanced basal cell carcinoma, a rare type of skin cancer, for qualified patients.

Oncologists are encouraged because there currently is no proven treatment for advanced basal cell carcinoma. Research at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center is conducted in collaboration with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute.

The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare opened in 2001 as the first comprehensive cancer center in greater Phoenix to offer cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support services in a single location. The Scottsdale Healthcare cancer program holds Accreditation with Commendation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

For accurate information to help make informed decisions about your care or the care of a loved one, contact the Cancer Care Coordinators at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare. Cancer Care Coordinators are experienced nurses with advanced practice expertise in oncology and an be reached at 480-323-1255 or [email protected].

Scottsdale Healthcare is the community-based, nonprofit parent organization of the Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute and Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. A leader in medical innovation, talent and technology, Scottsdale Healthcare was founded in 1962 and is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, visit www.shc.org.

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SOURCE Scottsdale Healthcare