Pat
Supporter
On a different note, I'd like to encourage all of you that live in tropical or temperate climates to visit the dermatologist. Living in Florida it's something we do but this time it hit very close to home. I was having a mole looked at on my back when the doctor examined my arms. Above my elbow was what looked like a little pink dot. He felt it and did a precautionary biopsy.
Well last week it came back positive and this morning I had the area removed. I never ever would have thought that particular area would have been skin cancer. The five other spots he biopsied were negative including the mole that was the reason for my visit. .
In the US, Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 68,130 cases of skin cancer in 2010 and most (about 8,700) of the 11,790 deaths due to skin cancer each year. It killed my mother when I was a kid.
Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor.
•Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
•Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
•The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
•A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain
The best ways to lower the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer are to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time and to practice sun safety. You can continue to exercise and enjoy the outdoors while practicing sun safety at the same time. Here are some ways you can do this:
• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Seek shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest. Practice the shadow rule and teach it to children. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
• Slip on a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.
• Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (about a palmful) and reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.
• Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
• Wrap on sunglasses: Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.
• Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.
• Avoid other sources of UV light. Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin.
Many of us sail, play tennis, golf and of course do things with cars. If you have had lengthy sun exposure, sunburns (even as a child) or are over 40, consider a visit to the dermatologist. It may save your life.
Well last week it came back positive and this morning I had the area removed. I never ever would have thought that particular area would have been skin cancer. The five other spots he biopsied were negative including the mole that was the reason for my visit. .
In the US, Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 68,130 cases of skin cancer in 2010 and most (about 8,700) of the 11,790 deaths due to skin cancer each year. It killed my mother when I was a kid.
Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor.
•Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
•Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
•The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
•A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain
The best ways to lower the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer are to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time and to practice sun safety. You can continue to exercise and enjoy the outdoors while practicing sun safety at the same time. Here are some ways you can do this:
• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Seek shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest. Practice the shadow rule and teach it to children. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
• Slip on a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.
• Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (about a palmful) and reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.
• Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
• Wrap on sunglasses: Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.
• Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.
• Avoid other sources of UV light. Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin.
Many of us sail, play tennis, golf and of course do things with cars. If you have had lengthy sun exposure, sunburns (even as a child) or are over 40, consider a visit to the dermatologist. It may save your life.
