Skin Cancer - Warning

[Sieg]

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.

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:


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/

[EBMC]

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.

[Fluid Power]

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

[Bucketlist2012]

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...

[Shmoov69]

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!

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by Shmoov69

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!

[Flash68]

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.

[RECOVERY ROOM]

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

[Beegs]

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!

[mpozziCPL]

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.