FAQ

If you or a loved one would like a free skin screening performed by a skin health professional, just visit the Sun Bus at one of its scheduled events or sign up for your preferred location, date and appointment time. When appointment slots are not available, screenings will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Check our Calendar of Events for a detailed list of upcoming event locations and to sign up for an appointment slot that is most convenient for you.

The Sun Bus Informational booklet will be available for download HERE SOON.

Prior to COVID-19, The Sun Bus attended large community and state-wide events, fairs, trade shows, and festivals. During the school year, The Sun Bus worked with Colorado public and private schools to provide sun safety education to children at every grade level. The Sun Bus also worked with municipalities and businesses to deliver an inexpensive method to provide free skin cancer screenings to a population of residents or employees.

In the age of COVID-19, we have had to change our approach in order to continue providing important sun-safety education and screening to residents across the southern United States. With this in mind, The Sun Bus visited each Epiphany Dermatology location in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas during the 2021 season. This year, we are expanding our efforts even further to reach underserved communities in Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona. Check out our Calendar of Events to find the location most convenient for you.

If you are interested in joining team Sun Bus by becoming a Volunteer Physician, please complete the Volunteer Physician Sign-Up.

The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (both are often grouped in nonmelanoma skin cancers) and melanoma. To Learn about each type, click HERE.

Because skin cancers are caused by the uncontrolled growth of skin cells, the first warning sign is usually a visible change in a person's skin. Consult a trained physician immediately if you observe any of the warning signs associated with skin cancer. Click HERE to view the warning signs for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with 1 in 5 Americans likely to develop the disease during their lifetime. The most common risk factor for developing skin cancer is exposure to harmful UV radiation from the sun. To learn about the other risk factors for skin cancer, Click Here.

The cost varies based on the professional driver rate, whether we need to transport material, and the rate of the dermatologist. Please reach out to admin@thesunbus.org to set up a meeting to discuss cost details. 

Organizations and corporations can hire The Sun Bus to provide its services to employees. Weeks before the event, we give private registration links to the employees so they can secure an appointment at the time of their choosing. The Sun Bus team will only screen employees and check their credentials/badge before screening. 

Organizations and corporations can hire The Sun Bus to provide its services to the public at an area of their choosing. There would be brand placement, brand recognition, social media, etc.

The main attraction at The Sun Bus are skin cancer exams with a board certified dermatologist (MD/DO), or a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner with skin cancer exam accreditation. In addition, The Sun Bus provides sun safety education from accredited educators and machinery and of course, free EltaMD sunscreen samples!

The Sun Bus screening process is completely paperless! We use an electronic medical record check in and documentation system.

First, participants sign up (name, email, birthdate) and complete a consent form. Then, once the provider is ready, they will go into one of the exam rooms on the bus for their screening. We can do full body exams (we provide paper gowns and drapes) or areas of the participant's choosing. After the visit, the participant will have access to their results in a portal or we can print the results on the spot.

With one dermatologist, we can screen 8-10 people per hour. This range depends on the amount of people wanting a full body exam or just a certain area of the body. Additionally, people who have never been to a dermatologist may take a longer visit. We can take walk-ins given appointment availability.

At events, we do not take insurance or credit card information from participants who want a skin cancer exam. These exams are completely free for participants!

If a suspicious lesion is discovered, the provider will educate the participant on the next steps. Because our documentation is electronic, the participant has their own access to their chart visit notes (we can also print if needed).

Importantly, because a suspicious lesion was found and the screening already took place, the participant is able to get a dermatology appointment quicker than someone who did not have a screening.

The Sun Bus team is available to assist the participant in finding a dermatologist of their choosing and their insurance requirements. The Sun Bus is a non-referral clinic. The Sun Bus team is available at any time to help with this, even after the event!

We have state-of-the-art cameras that scan for sun damage and sun exposure on the face, as well as UV cameras that demonstrate the effect of sunscreens unseen by the naked eye. Our team is made of dedicated and talented individuals with a passion for skin cancer research and awareness.