By Brian Olmstead, PT, DPT, MAM, CSCS
Clinic manager of ApexNetwork Physical Therapy – West Palm Beach, FL
The smell of sunscreen isn’t uncommon in West Palm Beach, Florida. However, in the ApexNetwork Physical Therapy West Palm Beach clinic selling sunscreen was enough for me to engage in conversation with Mr. James McClung about screening his skin for cancer. James is happy that I did that screen. I found a lesion on James’ back that looked suspicious enough for further testing and suggested to James to set an appointment with his dermatologist. As a result of my quick thinking and the daily reminders to his staff: Curtis Jackson, PTA and Kristen Adams – James had a Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from his back.
James, a former kindergartner teacher offers the same advice to physical therapists that he used to tell his young students when they see something suspicious, “If you see something, say something!” I was inspired by James as an educator and used the moment I discovered the lesion to teach my PTA how to detect skin cancer. I am grateful that we were able to provide a preventative screening for James and doubly grateful that my team here in West Palm Beach, Florida, offers an experience of health and wellness that improves the quality of life of our patrons.
Picture: Curtis Jackson, PTA, Kristen Adams, PTA, James McClung, and Brian Olmstead, DPT
