DALLAS, TX — It's common knowledge that North Texas summers are hot. And while most people know to avoid the potential for heat stroke by staying indoors and drinking adequate water, few realize another deadly danger lurks in the summer sun.

That danger, of course, is skin cancer — long-known to be exacerbated by UV exposure. The Skin Cancer Foundation, an organization aimed at curbing occurrences of the sometimes deadly disease, is taking steps to keep Dallasites more informed.

The Foundation has plans to bring its 38-foot RV, customized with two private exam rooms, to Dallas in June to provide free full-body skin cancer screenings free of charge. Participants will also receive educational materials and Walgreens brand sun care items. Each participant who gets screened will be given a brief form to fill out before being shown to one of the RV's exam rooms. After the person changes into a gown, the dermatologist examines the patient's skin from head to toe and notes any findings.

The doctor will then recommend for next steps, which may include a formal visit to a dermatologist for a biopsy. To make the most of a screening, the Foundation recommends that participants remove nail polish and makeup in advance, let the doctor know if there is a personal or family history of skin cancer and point out during the exam any spots that are new or have changed.

When and Where:

Friday, June 22

Screenings available from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Dallas Farmer's Market 1010 S. Pearl Expressway

Saturday, June 23

Screenings available 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Dallas Farmer's Market 1010 S. Pearl Expressway

Sunday, June 24

Screenings available 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sandbar Cantina (Beach Volleyball Courts) 317 S. 2nd Avenue

From Skin Cancer Foundation:

Skin cancer is already the most common form of cancer in the United States and incidence continues to rise. It's estimated that in 2018, 4,440 Texas residents will be diagnosed with melanoma, one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer.

When skin cancers are found and removed early, they are almost always curable. That is why The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone visit a dermatologist annually for a professional skin exam, in addition to practicing monthly head-to-toe self-exams, looking for any new or changing lesions that might be cancerous or precancerous. The 2018 program began on May 15 in New York City, and ends on August 12 in Boston, MA., making approximately 40 stops along the way. The Foundation's RV will spend two to three days in each community it visits.