50+ Lifestyles

Genesis Encourages Sun Sense

Three Genesis Health System events in May to recognize National Skin Cancer Awareness Month will reach both kids and adults with a sun-sensible message.

On Monday, May 7, Genesis will be handing out kid-friendly skin cancer prevention information and packets of sunscreen to young fans attending the Quad-City River Bandits game at 11 a.m. against Peoria at Modern Woodmen Park. Several thousand school kids from the area are expected to attend the game.

Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus sports reporter Daniel Makarewicz, a cancer survivor, is sponsoring the sunscreen packets for the River Bandits game. Makarewicz, who covers the River Bandits for the Dispatch and Argus, raised money for cancer awareness at a raffle he organized. Makarewicz will help distribute sunscreen packets at the game on May 7.

“As a survivor of cancer, I understand that there is a lot all of us can do to avoid many cancers, including skin cancer,” Makarewicz said. “One of the lifestyle changes we can make is to limit our exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and from tanning beds.

“Being sun sensible is a great message for kids to learn early because damage to our skin from the sun is cumulative over time.”

On Saturday, May 19, Genesis will host its annual free skin cancer screening from 8-10 a.m. at the Genesis Cancer Care Institute, located at Genesis Medical Center, 1401 West Central Park Ave.

The screening is for people who have not previously had a screening for skin cancer. Appointments are required and should be made by going to www.genesishealth.com/classes.

On Sunday, May 20, Genesis will provide sun screen and information to fans attending the Clinton LumberKings game against the Quad-City River Bandits at 2 p.m. at Ashford University Field in Clinton.

“With many cancers, the number of new diagnoses are falling and survival rates are rising but melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, continues to rise in numbers and it is a cancer that is often preventable by our personal behavior,” explained Kim Turner, research nurse, Genesis Cancer Care Institute. “That is why it is so important to practice sun sense not only in May, but throughout the year.

“The primary risk for developing skin cancer is overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.”

It is estimated that there will be 76,250 new cases of melanoma this year and melanoma will cause 9,200 deaths. Melanoma accounts for about five percent of skin cancer cases, but is the cause of the majority of skin cancer deaths. Skin cancers are highly curable if detected and treated in the earliest stages. It is important for patients to recognize changes on their skin and to have their skin assessed on a regular basis by their health care provider.

Risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include:
• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Fair complexion
• Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
• Family history
• Multiple or atypical moles
• Severe sunburns as a child

For more information about all cancers go to www.genesishealth.com/cancer.