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article imageOp-Ed: Skin cancer can be deadly

Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso] in Health | 26 comments | 340 views
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Skin cancer is more prevalent then what people realize. It can be and is deadly and we need to be aware of how we can protect ourselves from it.
The subject of skin cancer has once again reared its ugly head into my life. I have had it several times but thank God not melanoma , though there seems to be a question about that.

I had a red spot just above my right eyebrow that was not clearing up. Since I have come to recognize the signs I called and made an appointment with a dermatologist. She said she didn't think it was cancer but with my history she would do a biopsy. She also told me to make an appointment for the next week to have her check all over for skin cancer.

What I had was Actinic keratosis which she said would have turned into cancer. She also said that I was to come back in two months for her to see how it looks and so she could be sure that she had removed it all.

Tanning-beds or sunbeds are very dangerous and there is a 75% higher risk of developing malignant melanoma for those who begin using them when they are under the age of 35.

A study revealed that some of the UV rays that are radiated from sunbeds can have up to 15 times the intensity of the midday sun.

According to a dermatologist there is more skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Dr. Joyce Thomas, a cosmetic dermatologist said,
"There are over one million incidents of skin cancer a year."


Thomas's advice as well as every dermatologist that I have ever been to is to apply a sun block every day, summer and winter. My facial moisturizer has a sunblock in it.

She said, "
It is far better to use a daily sunscreen than to just use it when you are at the beach or laying out."


There is another type of skin cancer that is even deadlier than melanoma but it has been so rare that few doctors recognize it, or know how to treat it. The cancer is called Merkel cell carcinoma and is just now beginning to be studied.

It is more aggressive than melanoma and needs to be treated differently. It was only recognized about 15 years ago. But diagnoses have tripled in about a year to 1,500.

The first sign of the cancer is a painless bump. It is often reddish to purple and looks like a
a benign cyst. Even a dermatologist is not sure if they need to do a biopsy. The big danger of Merkel cell carcinoma is how rapidly it will spread once the bump appears. A third of those who get it die three years.

There three other types of skin cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

These are usually found in places on the body that have been exposed to the sun. Such as the ears, face and the mouth.


The symptoms for this type of cancer are a bump that turns into an open sore an ulceration, reddish, flat spot that is sometimes crusty, a bump that gets larger and a sore that won't heal

If it is not treated it can quickly spread to other parts of the body such as the lymphatic system, bloodstream, and nerve routes.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

This is the most common skin cancer as about 75% of skin cancer that are diagnosed is this kind.

These are found mostly on the face, neck, and hands.

It is highly treatable and rarely will spread to other parts of the body.

The symptoms include a sore that oozes or bleeds, a redness area that is irritated, a yellow or white area that resembles a scar, and a pink pearly bump

Melanoma

Melanoma is now the second most dangerous and deadly type of cancer there is. It can develop on any part of the body. The arms, legs and trunk of the body are the most common areas of the body where it is found. If it is detected early, it is considered highly treatable.

The symptoms for this type of cancer include a mole, freckle, or new/existing spot that changes color in size, shape, and color. It may have an irregular outline and possible be more than one color.

The best way to prevent getting skin cancer is to avoid being in the sun as much as possible and avoid tanning-beds.

When you are outside wear a sunblock and stay in the shade if possible.

Mothers put a sunblock on your children whenever they will be going outside. Winter or summer. My sunblock says to apply 30 minutes before sun exposure and to reapply after prolonged swimming, excessive perspiration or toweling.
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  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Bob Ewing
    		#1
    My father had melanoma.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Debra Myers (skyangel)
    		#2
    This is one of the reasons that I don't deliberately sit out in the sun anymore. I've seen women that are younger than me who use tanning beds all the time and they've in the process aged themselves to where they look older than me. No tan is worth getting cancer over!

    Good and timely post, Cynthia!
    quote
  • Sue D. Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Sue D.
    		#3
    What an excellent report Picasso. Scary too.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#4
    @ Bob Ewing
    My father had melanoma.


    I hope that it was caught in time Bob to be treated.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#5
    @ Debra Myers (skyangel)
    This is one of the reasons that I don't deliberately sit out in the sun anymore. I've seen women that are younger than me who use tanning beds all the time and they've in the process aged themselves to where they look older than me. No tan is worth getting cancer over!

    Good and timely post, Cynthia!


    Thanks Deb.
    The first time that I was told I had skin cancer I was shocked. I had a spot removed from my face and the dermatologist said that it wasn't cancer but she would remove it.
    So I was shocked when I got the call that I needed to come back as it was cancer. She was surprised also.

    If she would have given me a complete check at the time she would have seen the one that was on my back down just above my waist. I have quite a large scar there.


    @ Sue D.
    What an excellent report Picasso. Scary too.


    Thanks Susan as it is scary since people do die from it.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Brant David McLaughlin
    		#6
    Great journalism.

    But...um...it's pathetic that people are so unaware that they need this to be "news".
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Bob Ewing
    		#7
    @ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    I hope that it was caught in time Bob to be treated.

    well it did not kill him, a fall did that. He experienced severe pain and was given morphine for it.
    quote
  • Sue D. Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Sue D.
    		#8
    Picasso yes, scary. I do spend time in the sun but after getting sunstroke in Vegas, I grew up, and now I limit my time and use block and lotions generously when I am in my pool or the AZ sun.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#9
    @ Brant David McLaughlin
    Great journalism.

    But...um...it's pathetic that people are so unaware that they need this to be "news".


    Thank you Brant.

    There are many people that are unaware and there are those who think that it will never touch them.
    My youngest daughter used to go to tanning salons a lot. I always told her they were dangerous but she didn't care.

    I tell her now that she should check her skin and see a dermatologist once a year. She is fair skinned and I am sure that she will start getting skin cancer sometime.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#10
    HUGS to whoever put the picture up for me. As usual it is a great picture. :-) Thanks.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#11
    @ Sue D.
    Picasso yes, scary. I do spend time in the sun but after getting sunstroke in Vegas, I grew up, and now I limit my time and use block and lotions generously when I am in my pool or the AZ sun.


    I use a sunblock year around now and try to avoid the sun as much as possible.
    I have been told that I should wear a hat but I hate hats so very rarely will wear one.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#12
    @ Bob Ewing
    well it did not kill him, a fall did that. He experienced severe pain and was given morphine for it.


    That is too bad an accident like that would take his life.
    quote
  • Sue D. Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Sue D.
    		#13
    @ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    I use a sunblock year around now and try to avoid the sun as much as possible.
    I have been told that I should wear a hat but I hate hats so very rarely will wear one.


    I don't blame you and being from the Miami Beach area where I spend 34 years, it is hard for me, during the summer here, where it gets to be 115, to stay out of the pool.

    So, lotions and blocks it is because I am very aware of the danger of the sun, and not only skin cancer, but sun poisoning, heat stroke and sun stroke.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Bob Ewing
    		#14
    @ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    That is too bad an accident like that would take his life.
    he was just getting back into the swing of things after being diagnosed with melanoma when it happened.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#15
    @ Sue D.
    I don't blame you and being from the Miami Beach area where I spend 34 years, it is hard for me, during the summer here, where it gets to be 115, to stay out of the pool.

    So, lotions and blocks it is because I am very aware of the danger of the sun, and not only skin cancer, but sun poisoning, heat stroke and sun stroke.


    We had a cottage on a lake for years in northern Michigan. I would love to lay in the sun on a raft in the lake. :-(
    Real bad and we didn't know that much about skin cancer then.

    That is why it is so important for mothers to use sunblock on their kids. It takes years before the skin cancer will appear.

    I am sure that I will have to watch for it for the rest of my life.
    quote
  • Sue D. Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Sue D.
    		#16
    @ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    We had a cottage on a lake for years in northern Michigan. I would love to lay in the sun on a raft in the lake. :-(
    Real bad and we didn't know that much about skin cancer then.

    That is why it is so important for mothers to use sunblock on their kids. It takes years before the skin cancer will appear.

    I am sure that I will have to watch for it for the rest of my life.


    I am glad that everything turned out ok for you :o)
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#17
    @ Bob Ewing
    he was just getting back into the swing of things after being diagnosed with melanoma when it happened.


    It is always difficult to lose a parent but to this type of accident it had to be a shock and very hard to deal with.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#18
    @ Sue D.
    I am glad that everything turned out ok for you :o)


    Thanks Susan.
    I just hope that she was able to remove it all and I won't have to have more cut out. I see her again on June second
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Bob Ewing
    		#19
    @ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    It is always difficult to lose a parent but to this type of accident it had to be a shock and very hard to deal with.

    I was living in another city at the time but my parents were living with my sister and her young son found dad downstairs. It was a shock all around.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#20
    @ Bob Ewing
    I was living in another city at the time but my parents were living with my sister and her young son found dad downstairs. It was a shock all around.


    That was terrible for everyone. It had to be really hard for the boy to find his grandfather like that.

    It would be a shock and very painful for all the family just when he was recovering from the melanoma.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Bob Ewing
    		#21
    @ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    That was terrible for everyone. It had to be really hard for the boy to find his grandfather like that.

    It would be a shock and very painful for all the family just when he was recovering from the melanoma.

    It was difficult but my sister is strong and a good mom so that would have helped.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 8, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#22
    @ Bob Ewing
    It was difficult but my sister is strong and a good mom so that would have helped.


    It is always good when the mom is a loving and caring person. If they are then they can help to see their children through the difficulties in their lives.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 9, 2008 by  LewWaters
    		#23
    Growing up in South Florida, we were told to get out in the sun, it was good for us.

    Now they tell us to avoid it.

    My sympathies to all who come down with this deadly disease.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 9, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#24
    @ LewWaters
    Growing up in South Florida, we were told to get out in the sun, it was good for us.

    Now they tell us to avoid it.

    My sympathies to all who come down with this deadly disease.


    As a kid and even when my children were young we always thought that it was good to be in the sun. The only reason a sunscreen was ever used was just to prevent a painful sunburn.

    Even when it is the highly treatable skin cancer you still have to go through the one to two week pain of having a piece of your skin cut out and caring for the cut.

    Until I started to do this report I had never heard about this newer skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, that even most doctors do not know that much about.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 9, 2008 by  Chris V. (cgull)
    		#25
    Glad your fine now Cynthia. Your advice is right on the money. Some don't care and pay the consequences later. Best to take preventive measures as much as possible. As summer is coming it is better we are aware of this.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 9, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    		#26
    @ Chris V. (cgull)
    Glad your fine now Cynthia. Your advice is right on the money. Some don't care and pay the consequences later. Best to take preventive measures as much as possible. As summer is coming it is better we are aware of this.


    Thanks cgull. You are right some do not care and here is a good example from an email that I just received from Jaguar after she read this report.

    Good report.
    I am always concerned that I might have to deal with skin cancer, as
    well. Since my skin is quite fair, like Grandma T's pale Irish skin, I
    always burn in the sun. As a kid up north at the lake I was always in the
    sun & in the water - like you. As a teenager I'd lay out in the sun
    trying to get tanned like my friends - a waste of time for me since I do
    not tan, only burn. After reading your report, I might have to see a
    doc about some suspicious spots.
    :-(
    Sheesh, as for little sister - remember how we both tried to tell her
    it was stupid for her to go to the tanning salons like she did all the
    time?! That it would age her dramatically & she would regret it?! I can
    still remember her flippant answer that she didn't care how she looked
    when she got "old", it only mattered that she looked good *now*!
    LOL
    And now her skin is more aged & wrinkled than yours, our 71 year old
    mother!!! I wonder why that is, mom? You layed out in the sun an awful
    lot, but your skin is still beautiful, besides the cancer spots. My skin
    is beautiful & I'm 7 years older than Carrie. Is this the fate of
    people who go to the tanning salons, like her? Or does she just have "bad"
    skin that aged faster than it should have?


    I think that could be a consequence of the tanning booths.

    Why my skin is still nice and not wrinkled, I don't know. I have always had soft smooth skin, I guess I am just lucky. But I have always taken care of my skin even when I was out in the sun a lot.
    quote

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