Skin Cancer - Warning
 

This is just a friendly reminder that you should be doing routine self checkups or having a dermatologist check you out.

15 days ago I spotted a change to a mole on the backside of my left shoulder and sent a picture to a friend who's a surgeon specializing in oncology.
http://sieg.smugmug.com/Photography/...IMAG1978-L.jpg
What caught my eye was what resembled a cloud coming off the mole at 10 o'clock.

I went in two days later for a biopsy, results came back 7 days later on Tuesday am as positive melanoma, that evening this is what it looked like:
http://sieg.smugmug.com/Photography/...IMAG2056-L.jpg

I was fortunate and caught it very early, stage T1a. The biospy measured it's depth at .4mm, after the fact my surgeon friend said it becomes a real problem past .75mm.

Melanoma can kill you fast if neglected. BE ALERT!

Here's a decent online resource: http://www.skincancer.org/

I can relate first hand. I too went in almost fifteen years ago (my late 20's) for a mole that had changed. The doc said it was fine but was concerned about one on my back that I hadnt seen and sure enough it was Melenoma. I dont know what possesed me to even go in. Back then I wouldn't go to the doc for anything. I guess it was just fate. So no matter what the age, keep an eye out for it.

Had a spot removed on my eyebrow of all places. I am 43 and I go every 6 months for the full body check up. My doctor said that once you have had it, you are 50% more likely to have a repeat somewhere else. Serious stuff boys and girls....


Darren

I am going to make an appointment soon..

I spent 10 years in the swimming pool industry and then followed it with 10 years on the roofs doing Solar...

Not a good thing at all...The good news is that my Brain and Heart problems may kill me before Skin cancer does...:wow:

I've had a few basil cell spots taken out so far. I need to go back, haven't been in prolly 7-8 years. Working on a roof for about 15 years (mostly without my shirt on) prolly wasn't the best use of my brain!! LOL

Thanks for the reminder! Glad you caught it!

Thanks.

FWIW - My dermatologist isn't convinced sun is the primary cause. Get checked! :thumbsup:

Scary stuff... thanks for the reminder. I've had these little "sun spots" my doctor called them a couple years ago and said they were fine but I wanna get them checked out again... by a derm this time.

Thats why i like this site..Never know what you will be reading. Good info !

My back looks like I have been shot at, I have had six or seven "things" removed, atypical nevusis is what they describe it as. No melanoma yet, fingers always crossed! I have had a few test positive for pre-cancerous cells and they have had to go back and "hog" out more tissue to remove it all. Not to be messed with!

Good advice and wish the infor about skin cancer and protection from it had been out there when I was worshipping Soleil and it's rays.

Back then, we laid out all slathered with Baby Oil and I clearly remember one episode after a day spent on Huntington Beach. People asked what the difference was between a lobster coming out of the cook pot and me ... the answer was they're one and the same. Man, was I ever red.

Much better about applying sunscreen often and liberally when I know I'll be out in it.

Mary P.