Mobile clinic offers free skin cancer checks in Montreal this weekend

Montrealers can see a dermatologist without a lengthy wait — or a hefty bill — at a mobile clinic this weekend.

The “Méla Mobile,” as it’s known in Quebec, is offering free skin cancer screenings through Sunday on Ontario Street Est, across from the Saint-Clément Park in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. No appointment is required at the mobile clinic run by Melanoma Canada partnership with the Canadian Dermatology Association.

For Olivia Choquette, that was reason enough to stop by after running the Beneva Montreal Marathon on Saturday. As a natural redhead with fair skin, she said she tries to make daily sun protection part of her routine.

“I’m always checking my body to see if there’s any new moles or marks,” said Choquette.

It’s why she said she’s also had suspicious moles or spots on her skin checked in the past.

“But it’s not always the easiest to get in to see a dermatologist nowadays and, even when you get in with a dermatologist, you don’t necessarily have the most time with them to ask all the questions you have,” she added.

Long waits, growing demand

The Mole Mobile was launched in 2023 to address one of the biggest barriers to skin cancer care: access.

According to Melanoma Canada, there are just over 800 certified dermatologists across the country for a population of 40 million.

While wait times vary from case to case and across regions, dermatologist Dr. Osama Roshdy said delays are common in Quebec’s public health system due to high demand.

“The numbers published recently show there are more than 100,000 patients waiting in the province,” he said.

The assistant professor at McGill University is volunteering with the clinic for the first time this weekend.

He said delays to see a dermatologist can stretch from several weeks to over a year.

“Meanwhile, if there happens to be any cancer, wait will see those keep progressing,” said Roshdy.

When it comes to melanoma, it can progress in as little as six weeks, according to Melanoma Canada.

A free option for those left waiting

For Marc-Antoine Rodrigue, the mobile clinic was a welcome alternative. He found out about the initiative after struggling to book an appointment through the public system.

“When I tried to make an appointment, I was told that since I’m in good shape and only 33 years old, that there wasn’t any place for me,” he said.

Rodrigue said he was told to turn to the private sector, where first-time consultations typically cost between $200 and $300.

“Even if the wait [at the mobile clinic] was longer, it wouldn’t bother me because it’s still not as long as it could take in the public system,” he said.

Pierre-Marc Jodoin also lined up on Saturday for a check-up. At almost 51-years-old and with a family history of cancer, including skin cancer, he said it was an easy decision.

“It’s accessible, close to home, no need for an appointment and it’s free,” he said.

A cancer on the rise

Melanoma is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada, according to Canadian Cancer Statistics. Each year, 22 Canadians are diagnosed with melanoma every day, and three die from it.

Skin cancers are also the most common form of cancer overall. Melanoma Canada estimates 91,000 people in Canada are diagnosed with skin cancers each year — more than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined.

While treatment for advanced skin cancer can cost the health-care system more than $160,000 per patient, the organization stated that early detection can reduce that cost to as little as $50.

The push for prevention

Alongside early detection, prevention is a top priority for Melanoma Canada — that means education about sun safety — and countering dangerous myths online.

Jy Nanda, a spokesperson for the organization, said one of the most troubling trends is misinformation on social media platforms like TikTok, where some users falsely claim sunscreen is harmful.

“That’s what creates the spread of that misinformation,” she said. “And, at the end of the day, what we all need is prevention.”

“Prevention is crucial, especially with the sun and the UV rays stronger than ever,” she added.

As for Choquette, she said she’s noticed a cultural shift toward better skin care habits — but believes there’s still more work to do.

“I’ve personally gotten better and, now that I’m in my early 30s, I make sure to wear sunscreen on my face every day,” she said.

The mobile clinic will be in Montreal’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough again on Sunday — an opportunity to get checked without waiting months or paying out of pocket.