Mobile skin cancer clinic filling dermatology gap in Windsor, Chatham

A skin cancer mobile screening clinic is coming to Windsor and Chatham this weekend. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has the details.

A mobile skin cancer screening clinic is making stops in Windsor and Chatham this weekend, bringing free dermatology checks to a region experts say is severely underserved.

The Mole Mobile Tour, operated by Melanoma Canada in partnership with the Canadian Dermatology Association, is travelling across the country this year providing free skin cancer screenings and sun safety education.

Dr. Mark Kirchhof, president of the Canadian Dermatology Association and head of dermatology in Ottawa, will personally take part in the Windsor clinic Saturday.

“I think Windsor and Chatham are particularly underserved by dermatology,” Kirchhof said.

Kirchhof said residents concerned about suspicious spots or skin changes should attend the clinic early because high turnout is expected.

“The wait times are quite long,” he said.

“Certainly, it’s going to be busy, I think.”

The tour launched in Ottawa last week, where Kirchhof said about 150 people were lined up by 6 a.m.

“So, you can imagine what it might be like for Chatham or Windsor,” he said.

“The need is high and much greater.”

The screenings are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, although online registration is also available.

“We recommend getting there early,” Kirchhof said.

The dermatologist said people should watch for spots that are rapidly growing, changing, bleeding, not healing, or consistently itchy.

He also encouraged people to follow the “ABCDE” warning signs for melanoma:

ABCDE

“That stands for asymmetry, border, colour, diameter and evolution or change,” Kirchhof explained.

“If anything fits into those categories, you should come and get it checked.”

Kirchhof said the mobile clinic serves two purposes: Providing at least some level of dermatological access in communities with shortages, while also drawing attention to the broader lack of specialists across Canada.

“Canada has one of the lowest rates of dermatologists per capita in the G7,” he stated.

“We need to advocate to our politicians to have more dermatologists trained and more dermatologists practicing.”

He added early detection can dramatically improve outcomes.

“We know that the earlier you detect the skin cancer, the better it is and the easier it is to deal with,” Kirchhof explained.

“When skin cancer is detected later, it may have spread throughout the body. Then we have to think about things like chemotherapy.”

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens told CTV News that the clinic offers an important opportunity for residents to have concerns examined quickly.

“I think it’s great that there’s going to be another service available in the community,” Dilkens said Friday.

The mayor also shared his own experience with skin concerns tied to years of sun exposure while working summers on a boat as a teenager.

“I just had basal cell, like probably a lot of people have had — not melanoma — but things that you have to monitor,” Dilkens said.

“You realize that it’s the cumulative exposure to sun that ends up damaging your skin.”

Dilkens, who often wears a hat during outdoor media events, said prevention is critical.

“I’ve got my hat on because I’ve got to protect myself from the sun,” he joked during an outdoor media conference on Friday.

He urged residents not to ignore suspicious spots or growths.

“If you think you might have a cancerous growth, skin cancer of any type, visit this mobile clinic, go to your family doctor and go to a dermatologist,” Dilkens said.

“Don’t wait because the earlier you get things looked at, the better the outcomes are.”

The Mole Mobile clinic will operate Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Walmart parking lot on Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, before travelling to the Walmart Supercentre parking lot in Chatham on Sunday, also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.