Skin cancer screening in the homeless population

Dermatol Online J. 2013 Jan 15;19(1):14.

Abstract

The homeless population is a medically vulnerable patient population in our communities. Of particular concern to dermatologists is the risk for the development of skin cancer in the homeless, in light of their chronic sun exposure and suboptimal sun protection behaviors. Two free skin cancer screenings conducted at the Fourth Street Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2011 and 2012, resulted in the diagnosis of 13 skin cancers in 62 patients. These events also highlighted that many homeless patients had suboptimal skin cancer prevention behaviors. We believe that education, awareness, and disease prevention can be relatively easily accomplished by local homeless clinics as a first line of defense against skin cancer in the homeless population.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Early Detection of Cancer*
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Utah
  • Vulnerable Populations*