Imagine travelling through 24 cities, covering a distance of 4,548 kilometers, and performing over 2,300 skin checks. That’s exactly what the Mole Mobile initiative has achieved since its launch in May 2023. In just a few short months, the Mole Mobile has identified over 474 suspicious moles or lesions for follow-up care, potentially saving hundreds of lives. But what’s the driving force behind the Mole Mobile initiative? A Life-Saving Mission: Pioneering Early Detection The Mole Mobile initiative was created as a direct response to the significant challenges Canadians face when seeking skin screenings from primary healthcare providers. As the first of its kind in Canada, the Mole Mobile is on a life-saving mission to speed up the time to diagnosis, which is vital to improving better outcomes for patients. Early detection is key in treating melanoma. The earlier a melanoma is detected and treated, the better the chance for progression-free survival.
The Urgent Need for Early Detection In 2022, a staggering 9,000 people in Canada were diagnosed with melanoma, and even more were diagnosed with other skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Shockingly, these numbers have been on the rise for the past three decades resulting in over 89,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually. Reports from Health Canada indicate a 48% increase in melanoma and skin cancer cases between 1992 and 2017i. These statistics are even more concerning when you consider the limited access to dermatologists across the country. With only 634 dermatologists serving Canada nationwide, and an average wait time of 112 days for an appointment in Ontario, Canadians face significant challenges in receiving timely skin cancer screenings and diagnoses. iii “With very fair skin, deep family history of skin cancers and 73 years of age I am cognizant of the problems of melanoma. In Guelph Ontario, if I request a dermatological visit I either have to wait for months or years, drive an hour and a half and see someone I have no history with after a very long wait for an appointment. My local dermatologist is booked for a year. This visit to the Mole Mobile was a giant relief and pleasure” – Visitor, August 18th
The Powerful Impact of Early Detection The impact of the Mole Mobile has been nothing short of remarkable. Almost 20% of the skin exams conducted by the dermatologists on board the Mole Mobile resulted in potentially life-saving interventions. Detecting these issues at an early stage is crucial. Melanoma is categorized into 5 “stages”. Staging helps to understand how serious the cancer is and how best to treat it. For melanomas found in the earlier stages (Stage 0, I (one), II (two)) the 5-year survival rate is an impressive 98.4%.ii However, this rate drops to 63.6%iii for cases detected at Stage III (three). This further emphasizes the critical importance of early detection in improving treatment outcomes and ultimately saving lives.
Testimonials
“I believe this is an incredible initiative as not everyone has the means to see a dermatologist. Amazing experience and would highly recommend it to anyone! Thank you.”- Visitor, August 17th
“This is such an important cause and I’m so happy to see this initiative. It’s such a deadly problem and there is such a lack of access to preventative care.” – Visitor, June 23rd
“This gave me an opportunity to have some concerns addressed regarding several spots on areas exposed to the sun. One spot was identified as pre-cancerous, and it was suggested that I follow this up with a doctor. Well worth the visit.” – Visitor, July 27th
Community Outreach: Touching Lives Across Canada
When you hop aboard the Mole Mobile, you will receive a free skin cancer screening performed by a certified Canadian Dermatologist. The Mole Mobile is committed to visiting major Canadian cities with long wait times to see a dermatologist, underserved communities, rural areas, and Indigenous regions. It has travelled to places of all sizes including major cities like Toronto, Indigenous regions such as Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, and northern communities such as Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay. Its community-based approach reaches individuals with limited access to dermatological services, addressing barriers to healthcare and making skin checks more accessible. View our list of stops so far!
Comprehensive Care, Collaboration, and Sustainability Beyond identifying potential cases of skin cancer, the Mole Mobile has also successfully detected other skin conditions. This comprehensive approach ensures accurate diagnoses and provides peace of mind to patients. The initiative’s success is a result of the collaborative efforts of Melanoma Canada, dedicated healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community partners. This united effort is building a network focused on a more holistic approach to skin health and preventive care. Together, we are achieving a vision for zero melanoma and skin cancer related deaths.
Shining a Spotlight: Media Attention The Mole Mobile’s impact extends beyond those directly benefiting from its services. A big part of Melanoma Canada’s mission as an organization is to educate Canadians on melanoma and skin cancer and inform more people on how important prevention and early detection is. Extensive media coverage, spanning from local news channels to print media and radio, has brought the Mole Mobile initiative into the spotlight. News coverage includes local CTV channels, City TV Toronto, CHCH Hamilton, local Global TV channels, and CP24. Print media coverage includes The Toronto Star, CBC, The Halifax Times, the Peterborough Examiner, and CTVNews Windsor, among others. The Mole Mobile has also gained media attention on various radio channels, notably CBC Radio One.
Beyond prompting people to get their skin checked, this media coverage reminds all Canadians about the importance of skin cancer prevention and how to detect skin cancer.
Dr. Mike Connolly: “I’ve met so many grateful patients. They have waited a long time for an answer. They feel a real sense of relief when tumours are benign and even when they have a malignancy (a cancerous growth) they appreciate the knowledge the diagnosis gives them. It enables them to move forward in a timely manner to get the appropriate treatment.”
Promoting a Healthier Future
- Early Detection Saves Lives: Data from the Mole Mobile underscores the critical importance of early detection in improving treatment outcomes and saving lives.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: The Mole Mobile’s success demonstrates the effectiveness of public awareness campaigns in promoting skin health and cancer prevention.
- Empowering Individuals: Through the Mole Mobile initiative, individuals are empowered to take control of their skin health. Approximately 25% of those who were screened at the Mole Mobile requested to be sent a Monthly Skin Check Reminder, 25% requested more information about support services and resources, and 39% requested further information relating to diagnosing melanoma and treatment options. These results demonstrate a lasting impact beyond individual visits to the Mole Mobile. An impact on greater awareness, education, and prevention.
- Collaboration for Greater Impact: The success of the Mole Mobile speaks to the power of collaboration among healthcare organizations, volunteers, community partners, and individuals. It also speaks volumes about the need for more healthcare practitioners across Canada, faster screenings, and shorter wait times. Sign Up for a Monthly Skin Check Reminder
Sign Up for a Monthly Skin Check Reminder
Prevention
It’s important to remember that frequent skin checks, either at home or with a primary healthcare provider, are only one piece of the puzzle. Prevention and sun safety are essential components to skin health that should always accompany early detection. Remember to:
- Seek shade between 11:00am and 3:00pm when ultraviolet radiation is at its peak
- Wear sun protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears
- Wear UVA/UVB wraparound sunglasses
- Apply SPF50+ broad spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen generously to clean, dry skin, at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours, or straight away after swimming or sweating.
- Avoid indoor tanning, which increases a person’s chance of developing melanoma by up to 75%.
Get Involved
With each check, each diagnosis, and each life saved, the Mole Mobile is making progress toward a vision of zero melanoma and skin cancer related deaths. Stay vigilant, spread awareness, and take charge of your skin health—because together, we can save lives. Learn more and support the cause at molemobile.ca
Mackenzie Mann, Medical Student and Volunteer: When I first got involved with the Mole Mobile, I knew we would make a difference in the level of awareness for the importance of sun safety and skin cancer prevention, but I never could have imagined the amount of pride and gratitude I have for the true impact we are making. It is truly touching to understand how impactful the Mole Mobile is on our patients, especially those who otherwise don’t have easy access to dermatologists. I love interacting with different patients and I can’t wait to continue to see the impact we have on increasing heath care access to the people who need it most.
Victoria Young, Medical Student and Volunteer: “This summer, while travelling with the Mole Mobile, I gained further firsthand insights into our healthcare system’s complexities. As medical students, we are exposed to the idea of physician shortage, but being able to experience what that means to patients was eye-opening. The Mole Mobile’s impact on Ontario communities is profound, providing vital skin cancer screenings that truly have saved lives. This experience underscored the significance of healthcare accessibility and the positive outcomes achieved through community-based services.”
