UCF Health Services provided a seminar, "Shield Yourself," on skin cancer and the importance of covering up in the Student Union room 221 Monday. With key guest speakers Dr. Jere Mammino and Dr. Michael Deichen, informative pamphlets, and the prospect of a free skin exam, students came out to the event with the hopes of finding out more about the deadly disease and what they could do to prevent it.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in young adults, with an expected 8,790 deaths attributed to skin melanomas each year. Dr. Mammino, D.O., attested that the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before the age of 30, a fact that junior Crystal Allen couldn't ignore.
"[Dr. Mammino's] pictures were very, very shocking," the pre-clinical health sciences major said. "I didn't expect them to be as gruesome as they were; as they were his actual photos, they opened my eyes to skin cancer."
Junior Wynstona Louis, a member of Delta Epsilon Mu -- UCF's coed pre-health fraternity -- also found the presentation to be eye opening.
"Seeing all the pictures and all the information about it, it makes you think twice about it when you wake up in the morning," the chemistry major said. "I see little things [I can do, like] get SPF in my makeup, or get a lotion that has SPF in it."
The presentation described several ways students can protect themselves from UV rays, including the acronym "WAR," which stands for wear protective clothing, avoid the midday sun, and regularly use sunscreen. Dr. Mammino also spoke about some common guidelines to spotting cancerous spots, such as noting asymmetrical bumps or moles that are abnormally dark.
But for junior Jason Tuller, a business management major, the free skin exam was the most enticing aspect of the presentation.
"I'm active, and I surf quite a bit," Tuller said. "I'm here for the free screening, to get checked out, [as] I've already had spots taken off. A lot of younger generations don't look at it that seriously. It's probably better to put sunscreen on [now], because in the long run, you're going to regret it if you didn't."
Students are encouraged to continuously apply sunscreen, preferably SPF 30 or higher, every day. The type of sunscreen doesn't matter, Dr. Mammino explains, as long as it lists both UVB and UVA coverage on the bottle. Protective clothing, such as wide-brim hats and beach outerwear, were also strongly recommended means of protecting the skin from UV rays.
The skin cancer seminar was but one of many amenities UCF Health Services has to offer for students. Because of the required basic health fee each semester, students have the opportunity to get a free doctor's visit, free AIDS testing, HPV vaccinations, as well as several events and seminars that the organization will be putting on throughout the year, such as the upcoming Healthy Knight Expo on Oct. 13.
The UCF Health Services coordinator of relations and public affairs, Megan Pabian, hoped the presentation educated students on skin cancer, but also hoped that it shed light on UCF's Health Services.
"We're really big about educating students so that they can manage their health by themselves [and] take their health into their own hands," Pabian said. "We're a resource for students. Never in your life again are you going to have resources like this available at your fingertips. So as a UCF student, as a Knight, take advantage of the people who are here and want to help you."
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!