Sun Warning

[rk246]

Glad to hear you are doing okay, don't rush anything and let it heal up fully. It seems most country folk have the tendency to always want to be doing something, so they enter into work a little earlier than they should sometimes.

Anyway, we unfortanately don't have to worry about the sun as much here in Oregon, we have the liquid kind. It is something to always think about though...

Take care

 

[gsganzer]

You can never stress enough how important it is to get screened for skin cancer. Melanoma is probably one of the most invasive and fastest growing of all the cancers.

My wife's uncle was an avid sailor. He went to the Doctor back in August for some pre-op workup for an upcoming knee replacement surgery. While he was getting his physical, the Dr. noticed a mole on his back that looked suspicious. A sample was taken and a biopsy performed. It was too late, the melanoma had already spread to the lymph nodes etc. His funeral was yesterday, less then 6 months after discovery, he was 64.

It goes to show the importance of getting an annual physical and doing a self examination of any moles, odd patches of skin etc. It's not something to be taken lightly.

 

[N80]

I rarely discover significantly threatening medical problems during physicals on well individuals. With the exception of skin cancer. Did a physical on a young, healthy, dark skinned fellow last month. Had an odd mole on his back. I biopsied it. it was melanoma in its earliest stages. A wider excision will be curative.

So yes, get that yearly physical and get those skin changes looked at.

Remember 'ABC'

A=asymetry. If it is asymetrical it needs to be looked at

B=border. Normal moles have smooth, regular borders. Jagged or irregular borders need attention

C=color. Black, blue, pink and dark moles need to be looked at.

C is also for change. Any mole or skin lesion that changes rapidly needs to be evaluated.

And remember, melanoma can be deadly. Take it seriously. Also, even though melanoma is sun related, it can appear in areas that never see the sun, if you get my drift. So look everywhere when you check your own skin out.