Free skin cancer screenings were offered to beachgoers in Monmouth County on July 25, 2009, in an effort to raise awareness and reduce skin cancer mortality.
"Choose Your Cover"
Under the sponsorship of the New Jersey Department of Health and Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey as grant recipient, the Monmouth Cancer Coalition offered free skin cancer screening to adults at five Monmouth County beaches on July 25, 2009. "Choose Your Cover" combined the collected expertise of three medical centers, two health departments, community-based healthcare organizations, and five municipalities to fight skin cancer where risks are perhaps the greatest – at the beach. The Coalition reports 534 individuals received a free full-body exam, and many others received educational materials about melanoma.
"Choose Your Cover" began in 2008 in Ocean County beaches under the auspices of the Ocean County Cancer Coalition when over 500 people received a skin cancer screening exam. In 2009, the program was expanded to all four New Jersey shoreline counties. In all, approximately 1,400 people received a free exam on July 25th.
"Choose Your Cover" in Monmouth County joined the statewide effort in 2009 with five sites participating: Bradley Beach, Asbury Park Beach, Long Branch Beach, Highlands Family Beach and Sea Bright Boro Beach. Clinical teams represented Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, Bayshore Community Hospital, the Monmouth County Health Department, and the Monmouth Regional Health Commission with additional clinical support provided by Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey. Over 60 volunteers from various organizations and private sectors worked together to make this a hugely successful event. Sponsors included the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, the Mike Geltrude Foundation, Horizon NJ Health, Schering Plough and the Jimmy Hamilton Memorial Fund.
The purpose of "Choose Your Cover" is to raise awareness about the risks of skin cancer due to sun exposure. The goal is supported by the 2008-2012 New Jersey Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. In New Jersey and Monmouth County, melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers. In Monmouth County, melanoma incidence rates are fourth highest in the state and, contrary to most cancer types, mortality rates have not declined. “New Jersey has a significantly higher risk of skin cancer than other states,” said Arnold M. Baskies, M.D. and Chair of the Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey and originator of Choose Your Cover. "We believe that sun safety can make a big difference and that education about skin cancer is key to saving lives."
For more information about "Choose Your Cover" and the Monmouth Cancer Coalition, please visit www.monmouthcancercoalition.org or contact the Coordinator at 732-418-3210 or pvirga@newsolutionsinc.com
Articles provided by various authors affiliated with the Monmouth Cancer Coalition.
