After riding on the Ferris wheel, enjoying a funnel cake and visiting the 4H barn, visitors to the Nebraska State Fair can also take a moment to think about their health.
The Nebraska Medical Center in cooperation with the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is offering free face evaluations using Dermascan – a tool that helps screen for cancer-causing sun-damage.
“It’s a box-like apparatus that people put over their face. It’s illuminated by a black light that allows us to see sun damage on the face, neck and ears,” said Sue Wardian, coordinator of oncology patient and family education at The Nebraska Medical Center. “People are often surprised just how much their skin has been affected by the sun. The Dermascan is good at highlighting sun damage caused by years of repeated over-exposure to the sun on their face.”
If areas of concern are recognized during a Dermascan screening, participants are encouraged to have the spot evaluated by their physician or a dermatologist.
Although anyone can develop skin cancer, those with light skin color, hair color or eye color are at higher risk. Other risk factors include: family history of skin cancer, history of sunburns early in life and freckles which indicate sun sensitivity and sun damage.
The State Fair opens today and runs through Monday, Sept. 4. The Nebraska Medical Center/UNMC Eppley Cancer Center booth is inside the air conditioned Devaney Sports Center on the State Fair Grounds in Lincoln.
In addition to face evaluations with the Dermascan, other services will be offered at the booth: free PSA (prostate specific antigen) lab draws, blood pressure screening and take-home hemoccult test kits for colon cancer. The College of Dentistry is also offering a free oral cancer screening.
Most services will be offered every day at the fair. However, the PSA lab draws will only be offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.