LEONARDTOWN (April 20, 2005) -- The St. Mary’s County Health Department will be holding it’s 5^th Annual Skin Cancer Screening Clinic, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sat. , May 7 at the St. Mary’s County Health Department in Leonardtown. Participants need to make an appointment in advance.

The health department holds the clinic annually to screen county residents for skin cancer and to educate people about the need for caution in the sun. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types. There are more than 1 million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States, and the number of skin cancers has been on the rise steadily for the past 30 years. Screening is an important first step you can take in protecting you and your family from skin cancer. Early detection is the key to successful treatment.