Danbury Hospital to provide free skin cancer screening

The Praxair Cancer Center at Danbury Hospital will provide free skin cancer screenings Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. Danbury dermatologists and Western Connecticut Health Network staff will conduct the screenings to help detect early signs of skin cancer.

No registration is required or will be accepted. The free skin cancer screening will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, and the center will close its doors at 7:45 p.m. on both nights.

Participants can park in the Red parking garage on Locust Avenue and enter through the Stroock Building main entrance.

Skin cancer screening is encouraged, especially for those who are at high risk of getting skin cancer. According to Danbury Hospital’s website, risk factors for skin cancer include:

Ӣ Fair skin that freckles or burns easily.
Ӣ Blond or red hair with blue, green or gray eyes.
Ӣ Personal or family history of skin cancer.
Ӣ High sun exposure and multiple sunburns at an early age.
Ӣ Use of tanning beds or sun lamps.
Ӣ High number of moles.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, according to the hospital’s press release. Board-certified dermatologists will provide screening, encourage the use of sunscreen regularly and teach ways to conduct skin self-exams monthly.

For more information about program and services available at the Praxair Cancer Center, call 800-516-4743 or visit  danburyhospital.org.