Skin cancer's secrets unveiled

news.com.au ^ | May 8, 2003 | World exclusive by Jen Kelly

[Tinman]

Thanks for posting. Having worked outside my entire life and now living in El Paso (Sun City), I've been to the dermitologist more than once to have "spots" removed.

Thankfully, only once was the term, "pre-cancerous melanoma" used.

Regards

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/132/32769.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}


this site has more info
if you just go here you
can check out other medical
problems

http://webmd.com/

[cgk]

And it isn't just melanoma. There is also basal-cell carcinoma that people should think about. I had what I thought was a recurring scratch on my forehead. It actually would disappear, then reappear after several months. Most of the time I forgot it was there before, the time between was so extended.

When I finally figured out this was a repeat "scratch" I couldn't account for, (I originally, stupidly, thought I scratched myself in sleep or something... I'm a bit of a klutz), I headed to the doctor. Sure enough, basal cell carcinoma. I was 29 years old, and the doctors theorized I'd had it for about 4-5 years. By the time I received treatment via MOHS surgery (Highly recommended to anyone who has this), they removed half my forehead down to the skullbone and had to reshape my face. Kind of an early facelift. I looked pretty surprised all the time for about 2 weeks or so. I cannot stress enough the importance of using sunscreen to my sun-loving 12 year old daughter. Because this is also genetic. I'm nearly 32 now and check myself constantly to be sure it isn't coming back.

[american spirit]

Your post interested me because I have a couple "pimple-like " growths high on my arms in an area that's never exposed to the sun much like a chest area could be. One area no longer has a pimple but now has a small circle, pinkish in color Just wondering if a melanoma can migrate to an area of your body where the skin is perhaps thinner?, more porous?, etc. .....not real sure if that's even possible but a trip to the doc is probably worth it.

[cgk]

From what I was told, you are at risk to any form of skin cancer from even "moderate" sun exposure. I also tan easily, never burn. But my family has a genetic disposition to basal cell carcinoma, so I got it young. Just be "vigilant" (smile) with yourself and always check for any changes, and you'll have nothing to worry about, because even if you spot something you'll have caught it early.

[rabidralph]

Here's some more info on Melanoma, with many tasty pictures.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Picture of the nodular thing? I may be heading to the dermatologist for something on a leg. Damn.

[cgk]

Bttt and here is a link for the most common form of skin cancer (and cancer) known:

About Basal Cell Carcinoma (with pictures for comparison)

Melanoma is dangerous and deadly. Basal Cell can be as well, if left unchecked.

[cgk]

Bump to post # 48. Link to other comparison photos of another, more common, skin cancer. (And the source link has more links to photos on other skin cancers.)

[Dianna]

The pics WERE very reassuring, but I still think I'm going in to see the doctor, just in case.

Check out the links after your post. One of them spoke about a "pearly" lump.

[luckodeirish]

I too dodged a melanoma bullet in 2001

Glad to hear you made it through. And your advice to others is great, even those of you who "tan easily". We need all Freepers healthy!

[EdReform]

BTTT for later...

[syriacus]

Thread read and thread bookmarked.

Thank you, HuntsvilleTxVeteran

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

You are welcome

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Low humidity means the sunshine is more intense. Hence more skin cancer.

[kstewskis]

Same problem here in AZ. Skin cancer is high because of low humidity.

I believe AZ is #2 right behind Australia.

It has nothing to do with the humidity (or lack if it), it's the intensity of the sun's rays. Your chances of getting skin cancer is just as high during our rainy, monsoon season in the summer, just as it is in the drier parts of the year.

[kstewskis]

Sam, i had squamous cell taken off my nose last summer. the doc told me that with my irish type skin/hair, i would probably never get a melanoma. i could be wrong, but i think the melanoma doesn't care about skin type.

Libby, don't believe that doc, he's not very well informed. You have the perfect type of skin that is at risk for melanoma. You are absolutely right, melanoma doesn't care about skin type.

And on a side note, a very dear friend of mine, Irish, contracted stg.III melanoma....and survived, thank God.

[kstewskis]

Good question. The answer is that a lot of humidity in the atmosphere tends to block the harmful ultraviolet rays. (It's about the only thing good I can say about humidity.)

Then how can you account for the harmful sunrays in places like Hawaii, The Carribean, Florida, ect??? This is extremely dangerous thought, I'd like to hear your sources. I know of no dermatologist (or scientist) who'd go out and tell their paitents to leave the sunblock at home "because it's humid, so no worry."

Rubbish.

[hang 'em]

I don't have time to give a physics lecture on this, but if you have lived in the Southwest and also the Southeast (same latitude) you know that the sun is far more destructive in the Southwest. Yes some of that is because generally the southwestern states are at a higher elevation, but mainly because there is more water vapor in the air (think cloud cover). Yes you can get a sunburn in Hawaii or Florida. If there were NO water vapor in the air (and I don't mean just at the surface of the earth, I mean integrated throughout the sun's rays trajectories through the atmosphere) YOU'D BE NOT JUST SUN BURNED, YOU'D BE TOAST!

[MichaelDammit]

Bump for more exposure....