Farmers to get free skin cancer screenings
SCHENECTADY — As the Schenectady Greenmarket marks its last Sunday of its current indoor season at Proctors before returning outdoors, 80 of its participating farmers will take part in an innovative screening for skin cancer and learn preventative measures.
The initiative grew from efforts by the Dermatology Interest Group of medical students at Albany Medical College and seasoned dermatologists working with the Schenectady Greenmarket to educate community members.
“It’s wonderful. It’s got medical students and dermatologists out in the community,” said Dr. Robert Shoss, a long-time mainstay in Capital Region dermatology circles and vice president of the New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery.
Paytra Klein, a third-year medical student with an abiding interest in dermatology and a member of the Greenmarket board, worked to arrange the free skin cancer screenings to be held at Proctors Theatre in the Guild Room.
“It’s going to be great. Every patient will be seen for 15 minutes,” said Klein, who’s from California and is the daughter of dermatologists. Klein came to the Capital Region to attend Union College. There will be 11 providers and 14 medical students participating, Shoss said.
Farmers are considered to be at high risk for developing skin cancer because they work outdoors and also don’t use sunblock or seek shade at high rates, according to a 2019 skin cancer prevention study for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Dermatology Interest Group is taking off at the medical college, Klein said. “We have a lot of students that want to get involved and learn about dermatology.”
Klein’s reasons for diving
into dermatology and working on the skin cancer screening come from growing up in California and her lifelong interest in the field that blossomed watching her parents’ practice.
“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S.A. It’s very preventable and treatable when caught early,” Klein said.
“I grew up in California where the sun shines year-round and there is a lot of room to increase public awareness about good skin habits and protection. I want to help prevent and treat as many skin cancers as possible,” Klein said.
Shoss said the greenmarket screening sessions will raise awareness about skin cancer while reengaging Capital Region dermatologists with the greater community after the COVID-19 pandemic reduced engagement. It’s an opportunity, Shoss said, to inform the public that skin cancer is highly treatable when it’s discovered early.
Dermatologists are very interested in participating in the screenings, Shoss said. “Generally, they like to do this.”
The screenings of farmers at the Schenectady Greenmarket are this year’s first effort to raise awareness. Shoss said similar screenings will be performed with firefighters in the region, noting that there was success doing that last year in Albany. In addition, there are hopes to expand the network of outdoor stations where people can get sunscreen that were set up last year for the first time in the region.