General News
31 October, 2022
Locals line up for Lions skin screenings
The free skin cancer check-ups organised a fortnight ago by the Carisbrook Lions Club and the Lions V Districts Cancer Foundation was a roaring success. A total of 110 attendees lined up over two days to get screened, and 54 of those were referred...
The free skin cancer check-ups organised a fortnight ago by the Carisbrook Lions Club and the Lions V Districts Cancer Foundation was a roaring success.
A total of 110 attendees lined up over two days to get screened, and 54 of those were referred ahead to see a doctor for more tests.
“We were booked out, but we squeezed in some as well,” Carisbrook Lions Club president Jefferson Hoober said.
“We planned on doing 51 screenings per day but we ended up doing much more. And I know there were a lot of people who were probably disappointed because they couldn’t get in.
“The phone never stopped ringing, but we could only take bookings that could be put through to the van with the volunteer dermoscopists.”
Of all the people who showed up, about 62 had never gotten a check-up before, which Mr Hoober said was a scary thing but it made the initiative even more essential.
“We were lucky enough to put our hand up and go on the waiting list to bring the skin cancer van to our shire which was very important for locals to get checked — and to save lives,” he said.
For some residents the van also came with many positives.
“It was just handy to have it done for free rather than having to go to places where it costs hundreds of dollars to get one spot checked,” said Maryborough resident Sarah Van Egmond.
“You have to go out of town to Ballarat to have it done. The fact that these guys were at our doorstep was so much better.”
Sarah was among those who had never gotten their skin screened before, dissuaded by the fee.
“I know other people who said the same thing — that the only reason they have never gotten checked is the cost,” she said.
In some cases, it can cost more than $300 to get a full-body checkup.
But money isn’t the biggest issue according to Mr Hoober.
“It’s the waiting time and where you’ve got to go to get a proper skin check done,” he said.
“You’ve got to get an appointment — that’s the hardest to do and if you go the local GP, they’re always in a hurry. Our volunteers were amazing, checking between toes, in your hair, around your eyes and back of your ears — your whole body was totally checked.”
He is also concerned about the high referral rate.
“The average for the van is 44 percent referrals while on Saturday we had 48 percent and Sunday we had 50 percent referrals. So we’re up there — way above the average of the van, it’s a worry for our shire and our area,” Mr Hoober said.
To counter the high rate, people need to get checked regularly, which is why the club is working on getting the van back into the shire sometime next year.
“We have put our foot firmly on the ground to have this van back in early next year or mid-next year, nothing is locked in but we will do everything we possibly can,” Mr Hoober said.
“I am a volunteer for this van so I’ll follow it around in my spare time too.”
He is also calling on other residents to sign up and volunteer.
“Anyone out there who wants to be a ‘dermoscopist’ can do an online course to be trained up and volunteer their time to follow this van around. There might be a subsidy to help people if they’re fully committed,” he said.
“If you’re interested in jumping on board and doing the training, get in touch and I’ll put you in contact with the right people.”
For more information on volunteering for the skin cancer van contact Jefferson Hoober on 0427 326 166.