Pier 60 Event Brings Screenings to the Community
Sergio and Nancy Iacoe didn’t plan to get screened for cancer during their recent vacation to Clearwater Beach, but they are happy they did.
Both were screened during Moffitt Cancer Center’s free public cancer screening event at Pier 60 on June 29 and screeners found melanoma on Sergio’s back, a find that surprised him.
Sergio and Nancy Iacoe of Canada took part in free cancer screenings at Pier 60.
“They found a spot on the lower part of my back, and it was fairly large and sparked some concern,” said Sergio Iacoe, 57. “Within that spot they found an even darker spot that is melanoma. That was good. I’m happy he located it and gave us some great advice on what to do when we return home to Canada.”
Sergio said he feels fine and considers himself healthy and never would have suspected he had any kind of skin cancer. He’s hopeful the melanoma was caught in its early stages and will be easily treated.
Screeners found an area of concern near Nancy’s lip and offered some suggestions to her on how to minimize the risk of it developing into skin cancer.
“They’re very good and take time to explain everything,” Nancy said.
According to Dr. Vernon Sondak, chair of the Cutaneous Oncology Program at Moffitt, who was on site during the Pier 60 event, experiences like the Iacoe’s is common.
“Things like this happen all the time,” Sondak said. “This is a couple who didn’t know this screening event was happening and were invited by a member of our team to come to the pier and get screened for free. People realize, especially with skin cancer, that when we find it earlier it’s much easier to treat. There’s really no substitute to having a trained professional evaluate your skin.”
In all Moffitt’s Mole Patrol screened nearly 190 people at the pier and reported approximately 50 suspicious findings.
Head and neck cancer screenings were also available throughout the day and staff screened 148 people and made 17 suspicious findings.
The head and neck screening was a new experience for Nancy.
A Clearwater Beach police officer gets screened for head and neck cancer at Pier 60.
“They were very good. They talk you through it and tell you what they’re looking for,” she said. “They were very friendly and knowledgeable.”
According to Dr. Caitlin McMullen, a surgeon with Moffitt’s Department of Head & Neck – Endocrine Oncology, screeners examine the mouth for lesions and ulcers and feel the sides of the neck and face for any lumps.
Head and neck screeners can also look in the ears and nose for anything concerning. It’s a noninvasive process that can give people peace of mind or alert them to the need for a more thorough exam later.
Each year, more than 55,000 Americans are diagnosed with head, neck and oral cancers. The majority are caused by tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption or ultraviolet light exposure. And with the recent increase in oral cancer diagnoses related to human papillomavirus infections, early detection is more important than ever.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer. This year alone, doctors will diagnose nearly 5.5 million people with the disease, but early detection can save lives at any age. It is why Sondak says screening events, like the annual one at Pier 60, are important.
