News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Yara Ismail
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
(708) 420-2112
Y.ismail036@gmail.com
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Holding Free Skin Cancer Screenings
CHICAGO, IL - Feb. 22 Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center will be holding free skin
cancer screenings from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. on Saturday August 1. The screenings will take place on
the hospitals campus in the Ringel Rooms located in the Center for Education, 836 W. Nelson
Street. Appointments can be made by calling 1.800.3.ADVOCATE and walk-ins are also
accepted.

During each screening, dermatologists and nurses (APNs) will check participants skin for moles
that could be cancerous or precancerous. Participants will be placed in sectioned off private areas
for screenings. Each screening is set to take about 10 minutes. Participants will receive a copy of
their results following their screening. Participants can also schedule follow-up appointments
with a dermatologist depending on their results.

According to the American Cancer Society, 3.5 million Americans are diagnosed with Skin
Cancer per year making it the most common form of cancer in the United States. Regular
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screenings are very important for early on diagnosis of skin cancer.

Surgical oncologist and director of surgical oncology at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Dr.
Ajay Maker stresses the importance of skin cancer screenings. Melanoma is much more likely
than other skin cancers to spread to other parts of the body. However, when found in its early
states, some types of melanoma are curable.

A big risk factor for most skin cancers is sun exposure, added Dr. Maker. Dr. Maker
recommends wearing sun screen regularly, especially when outdoors, to avoid developing skin
cancer.

About Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is a 408-bed hospital in Chicago with a Level I
trauma center and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the highest designations awarded by
the state of Illinois. It offers comprehensive inpatient services, including medical, surgical,
obstetrics and pediatric care, as well as a full breadth of outpatient services. A recipient of
numerous awards for quality and clinical excellence, Illinois Masonic was ranked one of the
nations 100 Top Hospitals in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by Truven Health Analytics, as
well as named a recipient of the organizations Everest Award for National Benchmarks in 2010
and 2013. The medical center has also been named a Leader in the Human Rights Campaigns
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Healthcare Equality Index for the past six years, as well as one of the Chicago regions Best
Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for the past two years. In 2012, the hospital again
achieved Magnet designation for excellence and quality in nursing services by the American
Nurses Credentialing Centers Magnet Recognition Program, as well as certification as a Primary
Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. Illinois Masonic is part of Advocate Health Care, a
2014 Truven Health Analytics Top 15 U.S. health care system for quality and clinical
performance and the largest provider of health care services in Illinois. For more on Illinois
Masonic, visit www.advocatehealth.com/masonic.
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