Wear Sunscreen

15 years ago

Normally I am reticent about posting about medical problems. But this is what I posted this morning on a Triathlon forum that I sometimes hang out on.

******

Most of my life has been live outdoors, what with work and play. I've always been careful about wearing sunscreen and covering up. I am blue eyed, was strawberry blonde and still fair complected. A couple of months ago I became concerned about a mole on my arm that was changing. It did this slowly over time so the alarm bells weren't that loud. Manana, I thought. That is until one of my dogs began to sniff and nibble at it. So I make an appointment with a dermatologist. The appointment was Monday to remove said mole and ship it off for biopsy. Results came back that it is malignant. But it is in the very earliest stage so the doc says lets remove some more of the skin in the surrounding area and check a lymph node or two. Probably won't need chemo or radiation. It must not be that urgent since the next scheduled round of out patient surgery is not for three weeks yet. The doc says that will probably be enough, but I now will have to be monitored by the doctor every few months for the next five years.

Cover up everyone, wear sunscreen, get checked out;

Michael

/public service announcement.

Feel like I have dodged a bullet, there.

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Comments (10)

anneliese_32
15 years ago
Michael, I keep my fingers crossed that all is taken care off. I never liked to sunbath and wore sunscreen. While seing a dermatologist on account of something else, he discovered 2 pre-cancerous areas on my face, looked to me like a bit of dry skin area. He took care of it right then and there and now, 20 years later, I am still ok. Best of luck and take care.

Anneliese
sheila
15 years ago
Michael, sorry to hear about this . It does sound though that with care and check-ups you'll have this handled. Still, scary stuff when one hears the one has something cancerous.

Sunscreen give no guarantees, of course. I do think this is a good reminder to us all to not only use it but to use industrial strength.

Keep well, Michael.

Sheila
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mawheel
15 years ago
Michael, as one who has worn sunscreen and a hat year-round since the early 80s, I preach the gospel about overdoing the sunshine thing. I get yearly full body checkups and have done the face treatment four times over 27 years. That's the one where the medicine pulls potential cancers from the cells--and the first time or two, one looks as if they've been seriously burned. It's not fun, but seems to be effective for me.

I sure hope your dermatologist was able to get it all and that you'll be O.K.
mwoods
15 years ago
you sure did dodge a big bullet and were smart to finally go in when you did.Good for those dogs! Skin cancer is the most common cancer and also the easiest to treat. I'm happy things turned out as they did for you.You spend a lot of time on the water which is a double whammy sunwise.
rob333 (zone 7b)
15 years ago
I am very happy for you. It's no fun when you have to hold your breath for such things. I'm thinking of ya! Take care and feel free to post, you're family.

-Robin
Janis_G
15 years ago
Michael, I am so thankful that you did get to the doctor
and that you will be okay.
Give your buddy a hug for me.

Thank you for posting this not only because of the good advice
but also for letting us know you are going through this.
Sunflowers, prayers and good thoughts for you, Michael.
posieh
15 years ago
Best of all good wishes to you. Now, if the Grand kids will only listen! sunscreen and hats! and don't get fried out there!
petaloid
15 years ago
Thank you for letting us know, and I'm really, really glad this was caught early.
coconut_nj
15 years ago
Thanks for posting this Michael. I'm so glad you caught it early. It's hard in the South to not get skin cancer it seems. My Christy keeps getting spots of it that have to be treated. She was a ball player. Quite a few years ago now she had to have a lot of the top of her nose removed due to it so we keep on top of those small spots when they crop up.

Sunscreen is good and a heavy duty one is important, but reapplying matters and the hardest is to just limit the total time spent out in it. Really hard when you're trying to enjoy your life. Covering up is your friend.

Again, thanks for sharing and glad you're doing well.
User
15 years ago
Michael, glad to hear you have beaten the problem and will be getting taken care of. I wear long sleeves and a hat when working for this same reason and to avoid scratches. Learned from an old timer that a t-shirt and long sleeves will retain sweat and cool the body as it evaporates.

A close friend and teaching colleague passed from melanoma a few years ago. He was an active outdoors man, hiking and doing research on his passion, native plants. It is a valid consideration and thank you for sharing your experience.