The Mole Mobile is making a stop in Sarnia this Friday.
The initiative, presented by Neutrogena, underscores the importance of skin cancer prevention and early detection.
Melanoma Canada CEO Falyn Katz said the tour, which operates with the partnership and support of the Canadian Dermatology Association, will be at Walmart on Quinn Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
But, she said if the heat gets to the point where it's dangerous to staff and the public, the Mole Mobile will close early.
"We bring certified Canadian dermatologists to remote, Indigenous, underserved communities, and major cities that have long wait times to see a dermatologist," said Katz.
This is the fourth year the screening has been on the road.
"Last year, we did 8,289 skin cancer screenings across Alberta, B.C., Ontario, and Quebec and found 915 possible skin cancers, including 213 melanomas," Katz said.
The tour operates like a walk in clinic.
"It's first come, first served," she said. "The public can let us know that they're interested on our website, but it doesn't guarantee an appointment. We certainly expect a busy day. We know dermatologists are quite in demand. Unfortunately, there are only 800 for a population of 40 million people across the county, so we know there are many who have been waiting for their skin cancer screening."
Katz asks participants to only come if they have a mole or lesion they're concerned about and bring a health card or piece of Canadian identification.
"Basically, you'll wait your turn, you'll identify for us where the lesions are that you are concerned about on your body, and on a first come, first served basis the dermatologist will examine," said Katz. "They will give you a copy of your paperwork. They don't do any procedures on board."
If there is something they're concerned about, Katz said follow-ups will be arranged.
"They will either refer you back to your health care provider, so that you can get a referral to someone who is possibly more local, or one of them if they are local," she said. "If you don't have a primary health care provider, Melanoma Canada has a service to help you ensure that you get the follow-up care that you need."
Katz said melanoma and skin cancers are preventable, and if detected early are largely treatable.
"In addition to providing screenings, we're going to provide some education to the public on skin cancer prevention and the importance of [wearing] sunscreen and sun safety to prevent skin cancer," she said.
According to Melanoma Canada, incidence rates for new melanoma cases have been rising on average by 1.4 per cent each year over the last ten years. Skin cancers are the most common type of cancer diagnosed in men over 49 years of age and are among the most common cancers diagnosed in youth and young adults.
