The next Rotary free Screening Clinic will be held on Sunday, March 8, from 10am to 12pm, at Kiama Surf Club (Surf Beach) Manning Street Kiama.
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The Rotary Clubs of Kiama and Gerringong are leading the fight against Melanoma in their communities through the hosting of free skin cancer screening clinics with the support of local volunteer GP's.
At a recent clinic, the volunteer doctors saw 89 people checked by three doctors.
Of those, 13 people were referred to their own GP's for further review.
A prior clinic was held In November last year at the Kiama Auto Expo, a major fundraising event for both Rotary clubs hosted every year at the Kiama Showground.
Around a third of those examined had skin lesions necessitating further examination.
Some sites were likely to be melanomas and a small number, Basal Cell Carcinomas.
Melanoma remains the most dangerous skin cancer, impacting more Australians under 39 years old than any other.
Nearly 90 per cent of melanomas are induced through UV exposure, with severe skin damage giving rise to melanoma cells able to take place within only four minutes of sun exposure.
Current medical techniques can only treat Melanoma successfully if it is detected in the early stages of development, allowing the entire tumour to be excised.
The speed in which it spreads, and the fact it thrives in hostile environments with limited nutrients and oxygen, make it particularly challenging to contain.
The Rotary Clubs of Gerringong and Kiama have also invested significant funds raised through the Kiama Auto Expo, into ground-breaking melanoma treatment research by Australian Rotary Health PhD student Sheena Daignault.
Sheena has been experimenting with potential novel therapies for Melanoma including using a specialised drug that 'tricks' the body into recognising the cancerous cells as foreign invaders, activating an immune system response. Hopefully further testing will result in a positive outcome?
In the meantime, the clubs will continue to organise cancer screening clinics, aiding in the early detection of melanomas and facilitating treatment
We look forward to helping you before it's too late.
