Free Skin Cancer Screening in Carlsbad

Free event to take place on Nov. 11 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center as part of the Carlsbad Community Health Fair

The weather may be getting colder, but the sun still shines brightly on most days in New Mexico. And exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause up to 90 percent of skin cancers.

New Mexico has only about half the dermatologists it needs, so The University of New Mexico Department of Dermatology and the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center are teaming up to offer free skin cancer screening events around the state.

“It’s challenging for some New Mexicans to get to Albuquerque for a skin cancer screening,” says John Durkin, MD, FAAD. “So, we’re bringing the skin cancer screenings to the people of our state.”

The events are important, says Durkin, because regular skin cancer screenings can help identify spots that are potentially cancerous. Screenings can also provide reassurance when spots appear to be noncancerous.

The next event will take place in Carlsbad on Nov. 11 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Pecos River Village Conference Center, 711 Muscatel Ave., Carlsbad, New Mexico  88220.

The event is free and open to the public. No appointments or referrals to a dermatologist are needed to get a screening, and everyone arriving during event hours will be seen.

Free skin cancer screening events are planned throughout the state. In addition to this event in Carlsbad, events are planned for Taos in February 2024, Las Vegas in April 2024, and Albuquerque and Rio Rancho in May 2024.

For more information about these events, please visit the UNM Dermatology Website: https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/departments/dermatology/community-initiatives-alumni/  

John Durkin, MD, MBA, FAAD, UNM assistant professor of Dermatology, leads these skin cancer screening events throughout the state.

For interviews, please contact Michele Sequeira or Jeffrey Tucker.