Bolton Nissan hosts Mobile Mole Check Clinic

By Brian Lockhart

Skin cancer has become more prevalent over the past few decades and cases of the disease are expected to climb over the next few years.

Early detection is important to ensure successful treatment.

Bolton Nissan hosted a Mobile Mole Check Clinic at its dealership in Bolton on Friday, June 9, and invited members of the public to come out and take advantage of this free service.

The Clinic is funded by the Charles, Evelyne and Sandra Dolansky Foundation in partnership with the Canadian Dermatology Association.

Local residents could simply arrive, fill out a brief questionnaire then have an examination by a qualified dermatologist.

“This a Nissan initiative and they choose select locations where they do this, and we were lucky enough to be one of them,” explained Bolton Nissan General Manager, Jason Li. “Whoever is interested can come out. It's free. We've had members of the public here as well as customers.”

The mobile clinic is a large trailer that is towed by a Nissan Armada.

The screening only takes a few minutes. If everything looks good, you are on your way.

If there is a mole or moles, that may be suspicious, patients will be referred to the next level of care which may include further examination or a biopsy.

“Today we are doing a skin cancer screening especially for moles and melanoma,” explained dermatologist Dr. Mike Connolly, who was doing the screening at the mobile clinic. “It entails asking the person if they have any concerns or if they have noticed anything, and checking out any concerns they have. It also entails checking out their back and the back of their legs where they may not see something. We can tell most times by sight (if something looks suspicious) but sometimes there might a need for a biopsy or recommend a biopsy. Normally if we see something suspicious we will send them to their family doctor who may send them to a dermatologist.”

The survival rate for melanoma and skin cancer is high if detected early, and unlike other cancers, is often clearly visible on the skin.

Melanoma-type cancer is much more common today than it was several decades ago.

“Years ago, the chances of getting a melanoma was one in 1,250, while the chances now are one in 30 or one in 40,” Dr. Connolly explained. “Probably by the year 2030, more males are going to die from melanoma than any other kind of cancer, including prostate cancer.”

There are some known factors that may contribute to this increase in melanoma, but the cause of the reason for so many new cases is largely unknown.

The Mobile Clinic is a good opportunity for those who may think they have an unusual mole to be examined, as well as an opportunity to have a general skin checkup to ensure everything is okay.

The Mobile Clinic is currently touring Ontario with plans to go into other provinces next year.