High demand for free skin checks

THE Lions Club of Bacchus Marsh’s free skin cancer checks saw three dermoscopists check 120 people, with 20 referred to their general practitioner for further examination.

The free check was held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November at the Village Green.

“We had around 57 appointments available on each day, but in the end we did some more than that,” club vice-president Bill Richards said.

“We had a waiting list that got to around 75 people.”

There was far more demand for the service than what the Lions skin check van could accommodate.

The van is staffed by volunteers and covers regional and rural Victoria and southern New South Wales.

“The van itself is a limited resource, there is just one of it, but also all the people who operate the van, the driver, the administrators, the dermoscopists are all volunteers,” Mr Richards said.

“Most of them have full-time jobs.”

Mr Richards encouraged community members to consider becoming a dermoscopist.

Anyone interested in getting involved is asked to contact the Lions club.

“It is possible to do a short course… Lions do subsidise the course,” Mr Richards said.

“We really need more dermoscopists, we are certainly interested in anyone who wants to take up that role.”