Free community skin cancer screenings offered

The Kootenai Cancer Center in Coeur d'Alene will offer free skin cancer screenings at an upcoming "Spot Check." The event is a convenient way for individuals to seek opinions from healthcare professionals trained to examine suspicious moles or skin spots.

Spot Checks will be available by appointment from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 24 at the Kootenai Cancer Center, located in the Interlake Medical Building at 700 Ironwood Dr. in Coeur d'Alene. Space is limited. Reserve your time by calling (208) 666-3148 beginning April 12.

This is not an opportunity for a full body examination. Rather, it is designed to be a quick evaluation of a single area.

Look for spots with any of the following characteristics:

• Asymmetrical - One side of the spot does not look like the other; may have irregular shapes, tails or jagged edges.

• Borders - Irregular, uneven or notched borders.

• Color - Has several colors or an irregular pattern of colors.

• Diameter - Larger than 1/4 inch in diameter or about the size of a pencil eraser.

• Evolving - Changing in shape, size or color.

Oncologists from Kootenai Cancer Center and health care providers with North Idaho Dermatology will be on hand for short examinations and to recommend courses of action if necessary.