Dozens of people took shade under their umbrellas as they lined up for hours to get their skin checked for cancer. The Mole Mobile rolled up to the Wal-Mart plaza in Orillia Friday offering free cancer screenings to the public amid a dermatologist shortage in the region and across the country. While the stop runs between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., many came well before it opened. One person in line says she got there an hour early to ensure she would get a spot. Even though she has a dermatologist, it’s too long of a wait to get an appointment. “You can never get in quick enough when you have a concern,” she says. “I don’t like the fact that we have to wait six and eight months to see a dermatologist. By that time, you could be full-blown cancer.” Another person in line says he just secured a dermatologist, but they are out of town. “It’s a convenience thing for me here today,” he says. Many people have either secured a dermatologist but they’re out of town, it’s a long wait to see them or they’re without one at all. “There’s a tremendous need for dermatology in this area. I think everybody knows that,” says Dr. Mark Kirchhof, Head of Dermatology at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. “The wait times are very long. And so, we’re here trying to provide a service. We know that people are suffering, waiting a long time to see us, so hopefully this helps some people.” Kirchhof says when he arrived at 9:30, 100 people were already lined up. He says one of those people was there since 7:30 and the other drove 400 kilometres to see him. Within the first two hours, he screened 35 people and detected melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancers in six people so far. Preventing skin cancer To prevent skin cancer in the first place, Kirchhof has a message. “This is obviously cottage country. Everyone’s out on the water enjoying the weather, enjoying the sunshine. It’s important to protect yourself,” Kirchhof says. He says that sun protection includes wearing a hat, sun-protective clothing and a waterproof or water-resistant sunscreen with a broad spectrum of SPF 50 or higher. He recommends reapplying if you’re gone in the lake or pool, or if you’ve been sweating a lot. Kirchhof says to avoid the sun at peak hours when it’s the strongest, which is between around 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. While social media is filled with misinformation about sunscreen and sun protection, Kirchhof says to not believe everything you see online. “If you do get lots of sun exposure, if you do get sunburns, if you do get blistering sunburns, we know that your risk of skin cancer goes up,” says Kirchhof. Sun exposure also causes aging. “We know that people are going to wrinkle more, look older if they get sun exposure. If skin cancer doesn’t convince you, then maybe preventing that aging does,” says Kirchhof. He says he’s advocating for more dermatologists in the area, and you can also join the cause by talking to your local politicians. For those who couldn’t get in for a screening on Friday, you’re in luck. The Mole Mobile will be making stops in Barrie this weekend at the Bayfield Street Wal-Mart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kirchhof recommends getting there early to secure a spot.
