‘melanoma’ post again…

In 2010, I posted re moles and malignant melanoma. Since that time, that specific post has had almost 53,000 visits suggesting it is a concern to visitors. Over the years, I have had areas on my forehead and cheek (Actinic keratosis) removed via cryo-burning. I went in the other day and the usual spots were treated and then the full body inspection. I am rarely in the sun exposing more than arms and head anymore…not like the old days of tanning beds or sunbathing. Well the doc muttered ‘hmmm, that’s concerning’ to a spot on my lower/middle back. A slice was taken, biopsy performed and today I received the call the sample was cancer. A ‘simple’ procedure will be performed and further testing re lymph nodes etc.

This photo is quite identical to my back…kind of unassuming and so easily overlooked. So take warning sun worshippers….I am reposting the original post and there are plenty of good online links re images and what happens with each variety of damaged skin…benign or malignant. My doc said, ‘you may be very careful now, but you did so much of this damage years ago and it is just now catching up.’

https://swittersb.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/moles-malignant-melanoma/

Any timely advice appreciated…

Received this plea from George Okos in the comments section of an older (2010) post I did re skin cancer….one of my most frequently viewed (52,668 times) posts over the years…if anyone can help George with timely advice relevant to European health care please assist him. He’s not asking for money…but timely treatment advice. Respond in the comments section, in the link below, to George…long shot but maybe……………?

HELLO EVERYONE! I HAVE A SKIN CANCER TUMOR, ON MY RIGHT CHEST. UNFORTUNATELY, VERY BIG.   STARTED GROWING, ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I LIVED IN UK, BUT I MOVED TO PORTUGAL. BIG MISTAKE!

VERY BUROCRATIVE COUNTRY, THE PAPERWORK IS UNBELIEVEBLE SLOW! THATS WHY I AM NOT ABLE TO GO TO DOCTOR. I COULD, BUT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THEY CHARGE 8000-9000 EURO FOR SURGERY. I DO NOT HAVE MONEY, AND NOBODY WANTS TO HELP ME! I TRIED, RED CROSS, SALVATION ARMY, A FEW CHIRCH, THEY NOT GOING TO HELP!

WHAT CAN I DO NOW? THE TUMOR IS PERMANENT BLEEDING, AFFECT MY LIFE! AM I GOING TO DIE?  HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT?   SOMEONE COULD GIVE ME A GOOD ADVICE?     THANKS! GOOD DAY TO YOU ALL!

 

Moles & Malignant Melanoma

Moles & Malignant Melanoma

Today at work, I noticed a young lady was wearing one of those support boots one wears after surgeries or sports injuries. I asked the usual ‘what happened to you?’ She hesitated, then offered an interesting story with flags for us all…she was bitten by a hobo spider on the ankle. Her leg swelled up and she headed to the ER. The ER doc looked at the bite and was concerned, but when he looked at the mole on her ankle, he was more than concerned. This young lady had noticed that odd mole on her left ankle for some time and was a bit annoyed with the occasional itch. A followup to a skin doc and tests confirmed the suspicions of the alert ER doc: a malignant melanoma. Invasive surgery resulted and so far they do not believe there was any permanent nerve damage or cancer. Time and rehab will tell.

A young (27 y/o) lady, not a sun worshipper, developed a mole on her ankle and but for a spider bite probably would not have received the immediate attention and successful intervention. Visit a skin doctor re any suspicious moles or skin oddities.

‘Malignant melanomas take the lives of more than 8,000 Americans a year, or about 13.5 percent of the people diagnosed with the disease, the Skin Cancer Foundation reports. Other forms of skin cancer are rarely fatal, although squamous-cell carcinoma can metastasize and result in death. But the situation isn’t bleak. If detected early, 99 percent of all skin cancers are curable.’ Skin Cancer

Skin Protection with a UV Buff Tube

I recently had a brief stint in front of news camera. The results provided proof of two things: One, I looked ghastly because of repetitive sun damage and two, I am more vain than I imagined as I saw how aged I looked from the years of sunburns and damage. Today, I saw a TV angler named Henry Waszczuk promoting the UV Buff. I had previously noticed this on saltwater anglers and suspected it was to protect from wind burn. The Cool Max fabric and the ability to wear the tube around the top of the head or around the neck and face does offer sound protection. I am surprised my ears have not fallen off yet, given the baseball cap and scorched ears. I do wear lots of sunscreen and reapply it a lot now…but the damage is done and I will not be in front of a TV camera again…   Check outhe Angler UV Buff Info     Saw them at Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene on 4/7/09.

Sunscreen (same old reminder, until that odd skin sore)

“I’m a little tired of reading and writing about sunscreen. Maybe it’s not the actual reading and writing that has me worn out. Maybe it’s the realization that I keep reading and writing about sunscreen yet the information is just not sinking in with the masses of sun-hungry people out there — according to the EPA, there has been a staggering 1,800 percent increase in malignant melanoma cases since 1930. Recent figures show a shocking rise in skin cancers among those in their 20s and 30s.” http://www.thecancerblog.com/2007/07/21/worthy-wisdom-suncreen-sunscreen-sunscreen/

“Sunscreens not only reduce sunburns, but the author knows from decades of patient care that sunscreens also definitely reduce precancers of the squamous type and they definitely reduce basal and squamous-cell cancers. No wonder these patients felt protected. They could see the results for themselves, less cancers and better-looking skin. Even if Dr. Berwick is right, there is no reason to abandon sunscreens just because they might be ineffective against melanoma, a cancer that affects only 1 in 100 to 125 Americans. Sunscreens certainly work against other cancers, as well as prevent painful sunburns. However, Americans who are susceptible to, or at risk, of melanoma should be concerned…”

http://www.skincancerinfo.com/sectiong/sunscreens.html

Without overloading you with the same old sunscreen admonitions, the gist of everything I read was that if you have a history of melanoma in your family, then sunscreens are not a true safeguard for you to abuse your skin. You or your loved one(s) are at a much higher risk with or without sunscreen so wear the appropriate clothing and reduce your time in the sun. This limits your activities but extends your life. Whether on a high mountain lake, the tropical flats, a high desert river or a remote bay in Alaska the sun is often welcomed for a sense of well being and vitality. But, we all know how harsh it can be. How many passes do we get until there are consequences?