It’s officially summer, and while it’s not clear how the weather’s going to unfold over the next few months, it is clear that there will be sunshine on my shoulders. I love sunshine. I love the light and the warmth that it provides. I love that a sunny day can make you feel uplifted and inspired. I love all of these things, but I do not love skin cancer. Ultraviolet rays in sunlight are the major cause of all forms of skin cancer. If we’d known this fifty years ago, would we have done things differently? I hope so.
Over the past fifteen years I have accumulated a lot of second-hand experience with all forms of skin cancer. When my husband was first diagnosed, he had malignant melanoma and squamous cell and basal cell forms of skin cancer. Over the course of fifteen years he’s had dozens of biopsies, several surgeries, photodynamic therapy and radiation. He’s been sprayed and scraped. His body is covered with scars from dozens and dozens of cuts and literally hundreds of stitches. And it’s not over yet.
Skin cancers are usually a result of damage that was done years ago. Back when they sold lotions and creams to help you get a tan. It’s almost litigious. Today you can buy lotions, a.k.a. sunscreen, to help prevent damage to your skin. You should be using these products on a daily basis. If you don’t, you are putting yourself at risk. You may not like sunscreen, but I can guarantee that you will like Aldara or Efudex creams even less. These treatments for precancerous lesions are voracious and it’s not pretty.
Anyone can get skin cancer. Everyone is at risk. It doesn’t matter if you tan easily or if you have dark hair or dark skin. You can still get skin cancer. It is true that some people are more prone to develop skin cancer, but it is also true that taking steps to prevent skin cancer is now the responsibility of each and every one of us. Changes to the earth’s ozone layer have made prevention even more imperative and if you aren’t actively trying to protect yourself, you are passively allowing yourself to needlessly become a victim.
Skin cancer is one of the easiest forms of cancer to treat, but early detection is critical. Don’t rely on photo posters in your local pharmacy to self diagnose. Those pictures depict situations that are almost beyond treatment other than perhaps by surgical removal. Sadly, your family doctor may not even recognize skin cancer in its early stages. If you have a spot that you’re concerned about, insist on a referral to a dermatologist, especially if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer. Skin cancer is treatable, but it can also be a killer if not caught early.
Make sunscreen a part of your daily routine. If you don’t like how it makes your skin feel, you’re using the wrong sunscreen. Find something that absorbs and dries quickly and use it every day, all year long. In the summer, wear a hat with a brim when you’re outside. Hair has a very low SPF factor and the number of malignant melanomas found on the scalp is on the increase. Remember, UV rays can penetrate clouds. Use sunscreen even if the sun is not shining.
Although skin cancer usually shows up in adults, infants and young children are most vulnerable to sun damage because their skin is thinner and they have less melanin, which can help protect the skin. Tweens and teens are at risk of sun damage to their skin because they are less likely to use sunscreen and also because of tanning bed use. Melanoma is rare in children, but skin damage from sun exposure accumulates and our children could very well be facing a fight that could have been avoided. Promote sunscreen use through the use of sunscreen.
“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy” and I want that to always be the case. I’ll be using sunscreen on those shoulders before I head outside this summer. I hope that you’ll do the same.
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Cupola Corner Blog
