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General News

11 April, 2024

Skin checks a success

Over the weekend, more than 100 locals benefited from free skin checks — with the valuable screening service brought to the region by the Maryborough Lions Club to promote cancer awareness. The program, organised through the overarching charity...

By Prealene Khera

Wendy Hellebrand, Gary Hutchinson, Maureen Noonan, Allan and Raelene Hadden, Roy ‘Shady’ Lane, and Jefferson Hoober at the skin check unit.
Wendy Hellebrand, Gary Hutchinson, Maureen Noonan, Allan and Raelene Hadden, Roy ‘Shady’ Lane, and Jefferson Hoober at the skin check unit.

Over the weekend, more than 100 locals benefited from free skin checks — with the valuable screening service brought to the region by the Maryborough Lions Club to promote cancer awareness.

The program, organised through the overarching charity, the Lions V Districts Cancer Foundation, follows significant findings regarding skin cancer rates published in Victorian Cancer Registry’s latest report.

It states, in regional Victoria, Melanoma diagnoses are 47 percent higher than in major cities.

This data, the local club’s secretary Gary Hutchinson said, further emphasised the need for the skin check unit.

“We were very lucky to get it,” he said.

“Skin cancer [seems] to be very prevalent here which is why I’m hoping to get the service again — if we can stop someone from having cancer, that’s [amazing].”

Between April 6 and 7, the van — parked behind the local library on Alma Street — conducted examinations for around 110 people.

Following these checks, which were undertaken by fully trained and certified volunteers, visitors were issued referrals to their GPs subject to the finding of any suspects spots or lesions.

Mr Hutchinson said it was clear the unit was in high demand, particulary because the service was an alternative to otherwise costly check ups.

“Because it’s free, it then opens it up to a lot of people that wouldn’t be able to afford it — that’s why it’s really important,” he said.

“We’re a not-for-profit community club. The money we earn, we then spend it to benefit people which in this case was them being able to get free skin cancer checks because we felt it was crucial for their health.

“The unit itself is all booked up for the whole year by other Lions Clubs across Victoria, but it’s certainly a thing we can have again so I’ll recommend to the club that we apply again for whenever it’s available next.”

While there are no fixed guidelines on how often people should get their skin checked for cancer, according to Cancer Council Victoria, it is recommended to visit your doctor for more information particularly if you have a history of skin cancer or are at greater risk of developing the disease.

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