Lisa Huppert, a District 9 Safety Representative for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), credits a state-offered cancer screening with helping her detect skin cancer at an early stage. The screening was provided through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Be Well initiative and Aetna.
In April 2024, Huppert coordinated with CMS to offer testing for her team, resulting in 297 employees being screened across five districts. She initially did not sign up herself, wanting to give priority to field personnel, but later participated when spots became available.
“I initially didn’t sign up, as I wanted to ensure all of our field personnel had the first opportunity to do so, particularly since I scheduled it in conjunction with other annual screenings that are program requirements for most of our field personnel. We had screenings scheduled for two days. When slots were left open, and a few remained after walk-ins, I happily took a slot,” Huppert said.
During the screening, a practitioner found suspicious spots on her skin. Huppert was among 30% of employees referred for severe findings. A dermatologist later confirmed she had skin cancer—a diagnosis that resonated with her due to her father’s previous battle with the disease.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the United States. Early detection significantly improves outcomes; if caught early, melanoma has a five-year survival rate of 99%.
Huppert’s case involved basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is one of the most common and treatable types of skin cancer when identified promptly.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors. As a young person, I almost never used sunscreen, often used tanning oils, and even used tanning beds. Thinking about my cumulative exposure over the years, and all my dad went through during his cancer removal and subsequent treatments, I thought these screenings would be the perfect opportunity to get checked without having to make a doctor’s appointment or miss work,” Huppert said.
After her diagnosis, Huppert underwent removal of the cancerous cells and follow-up appointments confirmed she remains cancer free.
“I strongly recommend participating in the skin cancer screening program. As someone who spends a significant amount of time outdoors for both work and recreation, this service proved to be a vital tool in detecting early-stage skin cancer. The cancer was removed in-office, with no need for radiation or additional invasive treatments. Prior to the screening, I had not noticed any changes in skin color or texture in the affected area. Fortunately, a trained medical provider identified an abnormality and referred me to a dermatologist for prompt care,” Huppert said.
Additional information about skin cancer is available from the Illinois Department of Public Health at dph.illinois.gov. Wellness topics and event updates can also be found by following Be Well Illinois.
