FREE skin cancer screening proved popular with the Limestone Coast community last weekend as almost 200 people attended a purpose-built mobile health unit.
Visiting the region in conjunction with the 2019 Lions District C2 Convention, the van was accessed by Lions, Lioness and Leos club members in the area, as well as the general public.
Around 22pc of the 176 people screened were referred to a general practitioner for further investigation, with 74 suspect lesions identified and 55 considered potentially life-threatening.
Only one person had been screened in the past six months, 10 people in the past 12 months and 36 people over a year ago.
An alarming total of 127 people had never been screened before.
Lions Medical Research Foundation skin cancer screening program chair Marilyn Millar said the van allowed staff to “stop, set up and be ready to go”.
“This is the first time the van has made its way to Mount Gambier after it launched in 2017,” Ms Millar said.
“The van consists of three consulting room and we have everything at our fingertips.
“We do not have to carry anything around and have all we need.”
Ms Millar said confidential records were kept regarding screenings.
“If we do find a suspect lesion, we write out a referral to their doctor and it is the patient’s responsibility to follow it up with their doctor when they leave.
“We have certainly found a few things while in the South East which were worth sending off.”
Ms Millar said all screenings were performed by people certified in dermoscopy.
“Our screening procedure works well as we are rapid screeners,” she said.
“It also gives people the opportunity to have a free screening, which can (otherwise) be quite expensive.
“We like to travel to as many remote and rural areas as possible to provide service to places which might not have as much opportunity.”
This was highlighted by the team stopping off AT Lameroo and Pinnaroo while travelling to Mount Gambier.
“We do a few suburban areas, but not many,” Ms Millar said.
“We always get a great response from rural areas like Mount Gambier and for the two and a half days we are here, we are fully booked and also took walk-ins.”
Ms Millar said she felt privileged to be part of the initiative and hoped to return to the Blue Lake city.
“It is an amazing feeling to be involved in the process which helps people out in fairly significant ways,” she said.
“It is a great service which basically helps prolong people’s lives.
“If we find early detection today, then the person may finish off their normal and natural life.”
Ms Millar said the program was continually looking for volunteers and sponsorship.
