Newswise — MAYWOOD – Golfers may have one more than just their short game or backswing to worry about this summer. They also may be at risk for skin cancer, according to dermatologists at Loyola University Health System (LUHS).
“Golfers spend a significant amount of time outdoors under the sun,” said Rebecca Tung, MD, director, Division of Dermatology, LUHS. “Extended exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays places this group at risk for developing skin cancer, particularly on areas of the body that aren’t covered such as the arms, neck and ears.”
Loyola dermatologists are taking steps to protect area golfers and members of the community through a free skin cancer screening from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 29, at Cress Creek Country Club located at 1215 Royal Saint George Drive in Naperville. The event, which is open to the public, will take place in the board room of the main clubhouse.
Many golfers are men over the age of 50. Men are more likely to be diagnosed and to die from melanoma than women in the same age group, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The American Cancer Society reports that more than 48,500 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in men with 6,300 dying compared with 32,000 new cases in women with 3,200 dying in 2013.
“While women are more likely to get screened for skin cancer, we hope that hosting our screening at the course will make it more convenient for men and women to get checked,” Dr. Tung said. Loyola dermatologists also hope to raise awareness about sun safety for golfers. They recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily and reapplying it every two hours while on the course. They also suggest wearing protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt and pants, and they recommend playing golf early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is not at its peak.
“A skin cancer screening makes for a great Father’s Day gift,” Dr. Tung said. “We hope everyone will remind the men in their life to get a skin check. This 5-minute screening can be a lifesaver.”
Appointments are required for the skin cancer screening. To schedule an appointment, call 630-355-7300 ext. 16.
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Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus, Loyola University Hospital, is a 569-licensed-bed facility. It houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 264-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.
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