The American Cancer Society, American Academy of Dermatology and Humility of Mary Health Partners will have two free skin cancer screenings this month.

The first is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth’s Boardman Cancer Center, 8401 Market Street in Boardman.

The second is from 6 to 8 p.m. May 20 at St. Joseph’s Cancer Center, 667 Eastland Ave. SE, in Warren, Ohio.

The skin cancer  screenings  are available to those who are not currently under the care of a dermatologist. The free screenings are part of a national campaign to encourage early detection and to teach prevention.

Individuals must call 330-480-3151 or 877-700-4647. to schedule an appointment. No walk-ins are permitted. 

“Skin cancer is a type of cancer that could be prevented if people wouldfollow some simple precautions while they are outside,” said Al Stabilito of the American Cancer Society.

“Unfortunately, those who  spend  too  much time outdoors without wearing proper clothing and sunscreen greatly increase their risk of damaging their skin and developing skin cancer,” he added.

People who live in places with year-round, bright sunlight have a higher risk. For example, the risk of skin cancer is twice as high in Arizona compared to Minnesota. The highest rate of skin cancer in the world is in]Australia.

Each year more than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed. Most of them are basal cell which accounts for about 800,000 to 900,000 cases. Squamous cell cancer occurs less often but there are about 200,000 to 300,000 cases per year. Men get these two types of cancers about twice as often as women.

A more dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma, which accounts for about 3 percent of skin cancer cases. Unfortunately, the number of new cases of melanoma in the United States is on the rise.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 there will be 62,480 new cases of melanoma in this country.

It’s anticipated that this year about 8,420 people will die from this type of skin cancer.

For more  information about sun safety or skin cancer, call the American Cancer Society toll free anytime at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the Web site at www.cancer.org