Lake Erie and Skin Cancer: North Shore Doctor Offering Screenings at Festival

Living so close to a large body of water such as Lake Erie has its obvious benefits including fabulous sunsets and recreation. It also offers a less glamorous side: Increased skin cancer.

Calling skin cancer prevention and detection a cause “near and dear to his heart,” Westlake dermatologist and Avon Lake resident Dr. Richard Assaf will be offering free screenings Saturday and Sunday at this year’s Festival of the Arts at St. John Medical Center. Assaf will conduct the screenings from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

“I've done free skin cancer screenings my entire professional career, starting as a resident nearly 20 years ago,” Assaf said. “Richard Assaf Dermatology has participated in the Festival of the Arts screening for the past several years, and I also support skin cancer education through public awareness campaigns, such as the signs in Avon Lake parks and public buildings.”

Assaf, a member and current president of the Cleveland Dermatological Society, CDS sponsors many screenings every May, as part of the "Melanoma Monday" campaign.

“All adults should have a baseline skin check, and this is especially important if the person has risk factors such as fair skin and a history of childhood sunburns or family history of skin cancer,” Assaf said. “Whether annual exams are needed after that depends on his or her risk factors, or if there are suspicious skin growths that should be monitored.  If someone has had melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, they may need skin exams every 3 to 4 months.”

Assaf said that living close to Lake Erie has its risks. The Ohio Department of Health conducted a cancer incidence study in Avon Lake in 2009 and determined the city had a higher-than-expected skin cancer rate.

 “There's nothing we can do about our skin type, but we can modify our environmental risks - and excess sun exposure is the most important preventable factor for the development of skin cancer,” he said. “Beautiful Lake Erie is a wonderful recreation source for our community but does pose risks if you don’t bring along your hat, your long sleeve shirt and your sunscreen. Boaters, fishermen and swimmers need to heed higher risks during the 10 – 4 p.m. time when the sun’s rays are most direct.  Cleveland has plenty of overcast days but one can still get sun damage when there are clouds.”

Melanoma incidences, he said, have been increase for at least 30 years, including a rapid increase h among young white women and white adults 65 years and older.

During the screening, Assaf will examine skin with the aid of a specialized magnifier and polarized light. 

“In addition to looking at any spots the patient is concerned about, I like to examine the back and legs where it's hardest to see your own skin,” he said. “Many people are relieved that they don't have to do anything extra for their skin growths; others with a suspicious lesion will be referred for a skin biopsy.  

"It's always better to catch a cancer early when it can be effectively cured (possibly saving one's life) with the least amount of treatment.”

Avon Lake Councilman John Shondel, the current chair of the Avon Lake Environmental Committee, said Assaf is providing a valuable service.

“(Dr. Assaf) has provided the expertise and the funding for the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board to promote the Health Message of being aware of the dangers of exposure to the sun and simple procedures and habits that all the Residents can take to lower their chances of getting Melanoma, a really serious form of cancer, especially if not detected early,” Shondel said. “The more we learn about our environment, the better able all the residents are able to deal with it in ways that are not as harmful as they could potentially be.”

Screenings are at St. John Medical Center, Auditorium B, 29000 Center Ridge Rd. in Westlake during the Festival of the arts.