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The Valley Hospital Now Offers Patients an Advanced Melanoma Detection and Surveillance Program with MoleSafe

Encourages Patients to Get Skin Cancer Screenings in May for Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Paramus, N.J. – The Valley Hospital has launched a new initiative to improve its melanoma and skin cancer preventative care services through MoleSafe, an advanced melanoma detection and surveillance program, at its Blumenthal Cancer Center, located at One Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, NJ.  Valley is the first hospital in Bergen County to offer MoleSafe’s state-of-the-art, comprehensive program.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and May 5th has specifically been designated as Melanoma Monday to raise awareness of melanoma and other types of skin cancer, and to encourage early detection.

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“We recognize the critical importance that preventive care and early detection programs play in the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Iris Kopeloff, M.D., Co-Director of The Valley Hospital’s Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center. “Incorporating the MoleSafe program into our melanoma care services enables us to provide patients with a comprehensive detection and surveillance program to ensure their skin health. It is our hope that the MoleSafe program will provide another option for early detection for patients and at-risk community members.”

The statistics are alarming. According to the American Academy of Dermatology:

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·         On average, one American dies from melanoma every hour.

·         In 2014, it is estimated that 9,710 deaths will be attributed to melanoma.

·         Melanoma is the most common cancer for young adults 25 to 29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.

The good news: when caught early, skin cancer – including melanoma – is highly treatable.

MoleSafe’s program incorporates a suite of advanced melanoma detection and diagnosis tools and technology, including total body photography, digital dermoscopy, and digital serial monitoring. Part of a worldwide network of more than 40 melanoma centers that was developed by MoleMap in New Zealand and Australia, the countries with the highest incidences of melanoma, MoleSafe’s U.S. locations include New Jersey, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Mexico.

“Skin cancer continues to become increasingly pervasive in the U.S., with New Jersey ranking in the top ten states with the highest numbers of new melanoma cases, making it imperative that individuals take precaution in their skin health and physicians provide patients with the most comprehensive detection programs available,” said Richard Bezozo, M.D., president of MoleSafe. “Incorporating the MoleSafe program into Valley’s melanoma care continuum will significantly increase the numbers of lives saved through early detection and will decrease the number of unnecessary biopsies, leading to an overall increase in patient satisfaction and health and wellness throughout the community that Valley serves.”

The MoleSafe procedure represents a new standard of care and is part of a life-long program for the early detection of melanoma. Its key elements include:

·         Risk Assessment: Using its database, MoleSafe has developed a risk assessment model that can help identify patients who may be at higher risk of melanoma

·         Total-Body Photography: The use of total-body photography creates a baseline of the patient’s skin and therefore helps the MoleSafe specialists to identify both new and changing lesions that might indicate melanoma skin cancer.

·         Serial Digital Dermoscopy: Individual moles are imaged using dermoscopy, a technique that combines high magnification and high light intensity, allowing doctors to see below the skin surface, providing them with more information than the naked eye to determine if skin lesions are benign or malignant. Moles are tagged to their location on the body for subsequent diagnosis, identification and comparison over time.

·         Diagnosis and Management: The patient’s complete skin record, including digital images and clinical information, is sent via a secure tele-dermatology network to MoleSafe’s panel of world-class melanoma dermatologists (dermoscopists) for analysis and reporting. Patients and their designated doctors receive their reports and their digital melanogram.

·         Education and Follow-up: The MoleSafe melanographer, a trained nurse, educates patients about the risks of sun exposure, and helps generate a continuing partnership between MoleSafe, the patient, and his/her doctor.

To book an appointment or for more information on MoleSafe, please visit www.molesafe.com or call 201-634-5706. The cost varies depending on what procedure you have. When you call, a customer service representative will talk you through the options. They can also explain what insurance options may be available to you.

About MoleSafe Inc.

MoleSafe/MoleMap is a global leader in development and provision of unique, proven, integrated imaging and teledermatology health solutions for early and accurate detection of skin cancer. Today 40 facilities have been established in the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia and thousands of melanomas and other skin cancers have been diagnosed from more than 150,000 telemedicine consultations. For more information about MoleSafe, please visitwww.molesafe.com

About The Valley Hospital

The Valley Hospital, a 451-bed, acute care, not-for-profit hospital located in Ridgewood, NJ, is part of Valley Health System, which also includes Valley Home Care and Valley Medical Group. Valley is an affiliate of New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions.  These include 10 consecutive recognitions for service excellence by J.D. Power and Associates for inpatient care and four awards for patient safety and quality care from the Leapfrog Group, which has ranked Valley among the top hospitals in the nation. Valley has been recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best hospitals for cardiac surgery and orthopedic surgery. Valley has also been honored three times with “Magnet” designation – the nursing profession’s highest honor. Key services include cardiology, oncology, women’s and children’s services, emergency care, orthopedics, and neurosciences.

For more information please visit www.ValleyHealth.com

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