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.
http://sieg.smugmug.com/Photography/Just-Because/i-ZxNL2wQ/0/L/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/Just-Because/i-BqWVZVX/0/L/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/

[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...:wow:

[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]

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:

[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.

[Sieg]

Mary - I'll never forget my first trip as a kid to Hawaii snorkeling. :dance:

Now get off that mountain bike kick and get focused on your hot rod! Looks like Stielow may be bringing some heat. :thumbsup:

[Sieg]

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!
Just got the call on the second biopsy from the tissue they hogged out, all's good...................for now. :_paranoid So much for wondering if I was genetically immune to the cancer stuff. :(

[camcojb]

Just got the call on the second biopsy from the tissue they hogged out, all's good...................for now. :_paranoid So much for wondering if I was genetically immune to the cancer stuff. :(
that's good news. :thumbsup:

[tjbruning]

Don't mess around with cancer! I'm thankful that my dad went in for regular check ups/physicals. His doctor caught his cancer early on before it spread... I have a few questionable "freckles" that I will ask my doctor about (sun burn related) and I will get my PSA level checked in the next year or two (before age 35). Not going to rule out genetics...

[booah]

In Australia it's a given, skin checks have to be regular. Just had both my son and daughter checked by the clinic, and they both know it has tobe an annual thing and they know what to look for. Theyre 15 and 17 yrs old, never too young down here.

[Sieg]

booah - and the cessies make fun of your swim shirts, go figure. :thumbsup:

[Bucketlist2012]

Just got the call on the second biopsy from the tissue they hogged out, all's good...................for now. :_paranoid So much for wondering if I was genetically immune to the cancer stuff. :(

Glad to hear it is all good.:thumbsup:

[Tony_SS]

Dont forget a good diet when it comes to warding off cancer of all types. Cut back on the lunch meats (nitrates), sugar, caffeine and increase intake of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, bok choy, etc).

Since my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, we've both changed our diet tremendously. We've all got fertile ground for it, so we use our diet as something we can control to ward off any disease. :thumbsup:

Some other things we do:
Drink Braggs apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice.
Eat apple seeds, raseberrys and other b17 enriched foods.
Take Juice Plus supplements.
Try to lead a stress free lifestyle.

:cheers:

[tones2SS]

Thanks for posting this. It's a great wake-up call.
Good luck to all with this skin cancer.

[Simmo]

We got no ozone layer down here, no it's no surprise we got the worst melanoma rate in the world. No good for your paint either.....

It's not the sort of stuff you get man points for ignoring.....get it checked out!

[Beegs]

Dont forget a good diet when it comes to warding off cancer of all types. Cut back on the lunch meats (nitrates), sugar, caffeine and increase intake of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, bok choy, etc).

Since my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, we've both changed our diet tremendously. We've all got fertile ground for it, so we use our diet as something we can control to ward off any disease. :thumbsup:

Some other things we do:
Drink Braggs apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice.
Eat apple seeds, raseberrys and other b17 enriched foods.
Take Juice Plus supplements.
Try to lead a stress free lifestyle.

:cheers:

Tony...great post! What ratio do you mix the Braggs and cranberry juice at? Apple seeds?? What is a Juice Plus supplement? TIA

[GregWeld]

Sieg -

If I'd have known about this - I'd have made sure to drop one of the heads on your foot... that way it would have taken your mind off this minor irritation.


Another one everyone should NOT shrug off --- Get a Colonoscopy! Colon cancer is a major silent killer. I'd post a pic of a REAL set of sutures where they gutted me like a fish - but you might puke... :rofl:

[Tony_SS]

Tony...great post! What ratio do you mix the Braggs and cranberry juice at? Apple seeds?? What is a Juice Plus supplement? TIA

Bryan,
I mix 2 teaspoons of Braggs to one part cranberry juice and 2 parts water.

The apple seeds are high in b17, there are others high in it too.
http://www.vitaminb17.org/foods.htm

Juice plus is an fruit/vegetable supplement that covers all the bases. I personally don't take it, its expensive. I buy it for my wife and kids and I try to double down on the veggies.

It's all about prevention and education. I love hot dogs and pork chops like anyone, but only in moderation and good diet with neutralize all of the bad stuff in those foods we all love to eat.

Just yesterday we had shrimp-kabobs with green, red, yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes and red onions. Good stuff!

I take a holistic approach to prevention and scientific approach to treatment along with holistic approach.

My wife's oncologist can not even tell her to eat 'banana's' for potassium. He had to perscribe her a potassium pill. That's the medical establishment for you for what its worth. It's all about CYA for doctors.

Prevention is the best medicine... :thumbsup:

[Sieg]

Had a follow up appoint to biopsy two other suspicious looking moles.
For educational purposes here's what they look like, so you can self-check.

http://sieg.smugmug.com/Photography/Just-Because/i-nKM5PvR/0/L/IMAG2152-L.jpg

http://sieg.smugmug.com/Photography/Just-Because/i-ftzQSW3/0/L/IMAG2153-L.jpg

The darker splotches with the mole is what got the doc's attention.

The pics were taken after they shot the moles with a local anesthetic. Then they take a disposable plastic handled rod with a small round stainless cutter like a hole punch about 3mm in dia and 4mm in depth and take a plug out for the biopsy. Add a couple sutures and you're good to go, the whole process was 30 minutes max.

I'll post the results later next week. :thumbsup:

[GregWeld]

Yeah -- ya kinda don't like the look of the area AROUND the mole... that's what would bother me. Hope it's nothing!