Success Story: Community Skin Check Clinic

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. It’s estimated that 840 people in Nevada will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2024, and thousands more will be diagnosed with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Melanoma incidence has been increasing nationwide and has tripled since 1975. In 2023, Nevada ranked among the states with the lowest incidence rates for melanoma in the U.S., coming in 47th, but now
ranks 33rd.

Additionally, Nevada has more than 300 annual days of sunshine, high elevation, many outdoor occupations, and a culture of outdoor recreation, all contributing to its higher risk for skin cancer. Couple that with fewer dermatologists per capita than the national average and many people living in rural and frontier communities with no dermatologists at all. There are major barriers for many in accessing care for skin cancer checks.

NCC partner Dr. Whitney Hovenic worked with the coalition to create a free, community-wide skin cancer screening event with a goal of screening as many people as possible within a three-hour window. She brought together government officials, nonprofits, businesses, and even the local AAA baseball team to produce the event and screen nearly 200 people.

Cancers were found, including several melanomas, and lives were saved. Read more in our latest Success Story.