World-first cyclist skin cancer screening programme identifies 463 significant lesions in 881 participants, including 20 malignant melanomas that could have gone undetected.
Twenty people left the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo not knowing they had come face-to-face with a potential death sentence and then had it taken off the table. The SkinScan initiative, presented by Clicks, identified 20 malignant melanomas during free dermatologist screenings at the Expo. For every one of those 20 people, early detection may well have been the difference between life and death.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. When caught late, it is difficult to treat and frequently fatal. When caught early, as it was for these 20 individuals, survival rates are high. These were not near-misses. These were lives changed by a two-minute online risk assessment, followed by a full-body in-person dermatoscope skin scan under the well-trained eyes of dermatologists.
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WHY THIS MATTERS: MELANOMA IN PLAIN LANGUAGE
Most cancers are invisible. Melanoma is not. It begins on the surface of the skin - which means it can be found before it spreads, before it becomes life-threatening, and before aggressive treatment is needed.
The challenge is that most people never look, or don't know what to look for. That is exactly the gap the SkinScan initiative was designed to close.
Of the 881 cyclists screened at this year's Expo, 20 were found to have malignant melanoma. In all 20 cases, they had no idea. They came to cross the finish line but found something far more important - a fighting chance.
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THE NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
Participants Screened
Total participants screened
881
Male participants
655
Female participants
226
Online risk assessments completed
2,220
Online Risk Assessment Outcomes
Very High Risk
813
High Risk
270
Moderate Risk
487
Low Risk
652
Significant Lesions Detected
Malignant melanoma
20
Basal cell carcinoma
63
Squamous cell carcinoma
33
Lentigo Maligna
10
Actinic keratosis (pre-cancerous)
265
Atypical Nevus (requires monitoring)
72
TOTAL SIGNIFICANT LESIONS
463
ORIGINS & PARTNERS
The SkinScan Initiative was originated and facilitated by the Cape Town Cycle Tour, under the leadership of CEO David Bellairs, together with Dr Dagmar Whitaker and Dr Michael Mol, whose combined medical and entrepreneurial vision transformed a bold conviction into reality: that the world's largest individually timed cycling event could also be a platform for world-class preventative healthcare.
The programme is funded by headline sponsor Clicks, South Africa's leading beauty, health and wellness retailer, with support from leading skincare and sun protection brands, and delivered in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health -ensuring that free, expert dermatological screening was accessible to every cyclist who needed it.
“Knowing that this world-first screening initiative helped detect melanomas early and potentially change, even save, lives is incredibly meaningful for all of us involved,” says Bongiwe Ntuli, Managing Executive: Clicks Retailers SA. “Together with our partners, it brings our ‘feel good, pay less’ promise of caring for the beauty, health and wellbeing of our customers and communities to life, while serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection, regular skin screenings and protecting your skin from the sun.”
THE TEAM BEHIND THE NUMBERS
The initiative would not have been possible with an extraordinary coalition of partners, medical professionals, and students who gave freely of their time and expertise.
33 specialist dermatologists donated their expertise to conduct screenings on the day - without them, none of the 20 melanomas would have been found. The clinical team was led by Dr Willie Visser, whose leadership and medical oversight ensured every screening met the highest standard of care. Coordinating the dermatologists and students with seamless precision was Dr Ahmed, whose logistical expertise kept the clinical operation running without a hitch.
124 healthcare sciences students from Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town served as volunteers, bringing energy, care, and competence to every interaction with participants.
"All the planning and technology in the world falls flat without the right people," said Dr Mol. "Dr Whitaker, Dr Visser, Dr Ahmed, our dermatologists, and the Cape Town and Stellenbosch students were the heartbeat of the weekend. Great medicine, like great skin, is all about what's beneath the surface."
IN MEMORY OF TIM BRINK
The SkinScan initiative was developed in memory of Tim Brink, beloved editor of Bicycling Magazine, whose life was cut short by melanoma. His legacy rides on, not just in the peloton, but in every early detection made possible by this programme.
ABOUT SKINSCAN
SkinScan is a world-first melanoma risk screening initiative developed specifically for cyclists and outdoor athletes, a population with disproportionately high UV exposure. The programme combines a scientifically backed online risk assessment with in-person dermatologist screening for high-risk participants.
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