Mole van stops in Calgary to offer melanoma screenings

With melanoma and skin cancer rates climbing, the mole mobility team stops in Calgary this weekend as part of a province-wide tour to provide free cancer screenings.

A mobile van offering free skin exams arrived in Calgary Saturday.

Melanoma Canada’s Mole Mobile rolled into Calgary this weekend to offer free (for Canadian residents) skin exams, or simply to provide a bit of education about how to care for your skin with summer upon us.

The initiative is to educate and facilitate skin care for people, explained Dr. Elaine Dupuis, who was on hand at the Save-On Foods at Walden Gate S.E. Saturday.

“Skin cancer, when caught early, it is something that is that is very easily managed and has a good prognosis,” said Dr. Dupuis. “However, if skin cancer is left undetected, it can often spread to other areas, and then that can be a problem, and it can even cause death.

“The fact that skin cancer is visible there on the skin makes detection a bit easier,” she added, “and so it’s important that people have that education about what signs and symptoms to look for on their skin.”

Tests are free for Canadian residents. Alberta health cards aren’t necessary.

Walk-ins are accepted but Melanoma Canada recommends you sign up. The waiting room is outside the mobile, so dress for the weather.

The Mole Mobile is at the Save-On Foods at 420 Na’a Plaza S.W. until 4 p.m. Sunday.

Next Sunday, June 8, it will be at the Save-On Foods in Didsbury between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., in Brooks on June 13 and Drumheller on June 15.

For more information, go here.

With files from CTV’s Darren Wright