Thread
READ THIS: Check Your Skin or DIE
As some of you know from another thread, I recently had to go through another head-to-toe examination by a dermatologist of every single freckle and mole and had to have a big freckle/mole on my stomach removed (there is now a dime-sized hole that I am recovering from).
My family has a history of a type of skin cancer known as melanoma.
As a cancer, it has one of the fastest growing rates as a cancer in Western or advanced countries.
Here are some facts:
- Every hour someone dies of melanoma
- It is the #1 cancer of young women between the ages of 20 to 29
- It metastisizes (or spreads) to internal organs in as little as 4 months
- It strikes people of ALL skin color types -- not just white Europeans (though more prevalent in fair-skinned people)
- It has the fastest growing rate as a cancer among children
- It usually occurs in freckles and moles but it MAY occur ANYWHERE on the body
PLEASE SEE THIS LINK
If you do nothing else today, CHECK YOUR SKIN AND MOLES FOR ***ANY*** SIGNS OF MELANOMA BECAUSE THE KEY TO SURVIVAL IS EARLY INTERVENTION.
CHECK THE SKIN OF YOUR LOVED ONES AS A GIFT TO THEM FOR THE NEW YEAR AND IF YOU REALLY LOVE THEM GIVE THEM A BOTTLE OF SUNBLOCK LOTION!
PLEASE READ THESE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE DISEASE AND REALIZE THAT IT *CAN* BE YOU OR A LOVED ONE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO!
I am letting fellow MacNNers know about this because it IS a concern to ALL of us. I am very fortunate because I have had every single suspicious lesion taken off as soon as I get them, but I know that because of genetics that I will always be at risk.
Remember, EVERYONE is at risk so check your skin and use your health insurance to get a check-up with a dermatologist or spend $60 for a skin exam. IT IS WORTH YOUR LIFE.
My family has a history of a type of skin cancer known as melanoma.
As a cancer, it has one of the fastest growing rates as a cancer in Western or advanced countries.
Here are some facts:
- Every hour someone dies of melanoma
- It is the #1 cancer of young women between the ages of 20 to 29
- It metastisizes (or spreads) to internal organs in as little as 4 months
- It strikes people of ALL skin color types -- not just white Europeans (though more prevalent in fair-skinned people)
- It has the fastest growing rate as a cancer among children
- It usually occurs in freckles and moles but it MAY occur ANYWHERE on the body
Quote:
|
Melanoma is a type of cancer, originating in the melanocytes, the cells containing color. Approximately 32,000 cases per year are currently diagnosed in the United States alone, and the incidence is increasing at the rate of 4.3% per year, one of the fastest increases in occurence rates of all cancers. In about 2% of occurences, the disease is present even though no skin discoloration occurs. This is called amelanotic melanoma. "According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one person dies from malignant melanoma every hour. The overall incidence rate for the disease is increasing faster than that of any other cancer and by the year 2000, an American's lifetime risk of developing melanoma will be one in 75. The disease is now the most commonly occurring cancer in women between the ages of 25 and 29 -- and is second only to breast cancer in women ages 30 to 34. " - Sept. 24, 1996 /PRNewswire; SOURCE: Schering-Plough Corporation. |
PLEASE SEE THIS LINK
If you do nothing else today, CHECK YOUR SKIN AND MOLES FOR ***ANY*** SIGNS OF MELANOMA BECAUSE THE KEY TO SURVIVAL IS EARLY INTERVENTION.
CHECK THE SKIN OF YOUR LOVED ONES AS A GIFT TO THEM FOR THE NEW YEAR AND IF YOU REALLY LOVE THEM GIVE THEM A BOTTLE OF SUNBLOCK LOTION!
PLEASE READ THESE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE DISEASE AND REALIZE THAT IT *CAN* BE YOU OR A LOVED ONE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO!
I am letting fellow MacNNers know about this because it IS a concern to ALL of us. I am very fortunate because I have had every single suspicious lesion taken off as soon as I get them, but I know that because of genetics that I will always be at risk.
Remember, EVERYONE is at risk so check your skin and use your health insurance to get a check-up with a dermatologist or spend $60 for a skin exam. IT IS WORTH YOUR LIFE.
This reads an awful lot like my Junk-folder.
I just want everyone to know, after having seen relatives die of this disease, that I sincerely do not want ANYONE to die of melanoma.
If I can help one person with a post here, and heighten awareness in any way, then PERHAPS *someone* out there will benefit.
It is a terrible disease that spreads fast and kills and IT IS PREVENTABLE.
As the adage goes: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
If I can help one person with a post here, and heighten awareness in any way, then PERHAPS *someone* out there will benefit.
It is a terrible disease that spreads fast and kills and IT IS PREVENTABLE.
As the adage goes: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
While I have to agree with - - erik - -, the cause is indeed genuine and iWrite is absolutely correct.
My father had melanoma. He ended up dying from unrelated causes, but just seeing that...
-s*
My father had melanoma. He ended up dying from unrelated causes, but just seeing that...
-s*
Sorry to hear about that Spheric. Truly.
It turns out that a lot of cancers that people had were indeed caused by melanoma (especially lung cancer, liver cancer, and brain tumors/cancer.)
Okama, another MacNNer, just revealed in the other thread (about hamburgers) that his mother died in 1997 of melanoma.
It is more common than people realize and when you have a suspicious lesion removed, waiting for that biopsy and reflecting on past sun worshipping activity (or lack of care or attention to your skin) is agonizing.
When I was younger I always thought, "It would never happen to me, I'm too healthy." I never cared. But, as an adult in my 30s, now I'm starting to see and experience what that lack of care to my skin has resulted in: Numerous skin lesions that arise from nowhere and need to be removed immediately.
I have had 9 lesions removed in two years. The one on my stomach (while I am pregnant no less) is the biggest. It was a normal-looking freckle that in a period of only 2 weeks turned dark brownish black and doubled in size. It was removed and rushed to pathology (overnight) by the dermatologist because it was so highly unusual.
It was a suspicious lesion called a "dysplastic compound nevus with irregular borders and color," and because of the rate of growth I had to go back and get a second excision done meaning that they widened the excision to make sure that it was gone. That is why I have a big hole above my navel at this time.
People with more than 50 freckles or moles are at a much higher risk for melanoma and my arms and legs have hundreds of them (history of red hair in the family.)
It is a very VERY scary experience that I do not want ANYONE to go through.
Please take care of yourselves.
It turns out that a lot of cancers that people had were indeed caused by melanoma (especially lung cancer, liver cancer, and brain tumors/cancer.)
Okama, another MacNNer, just revealed in the other thread (about hamburgers) that his mother died in 1997 of melanoma.
It is more common than people realize and when you have a suspicious lesion removed, waiting for that biopsy and reflecting on past sun worshipping activity (or lack of care or attention to your skin) is agonizing.
When I was younger I always thought, "It would never happen to me, I'm too healthy." I never cared. But, as an adult in my 30s, now I'm starting to see and experience what that lack of care to my skin has resulted in: Numerous skin lesions that arise from nowhere and need to be removed immediately.
I have had 9 lesions removed in two years. The one on my stomach (while I am pregnant no less) is the biggest. It was a normal-looking freckle that in a period of only 2 weeks turned dark brownish black and doubled in size. It was removed and rushed to pathology (overnight) by the dermatologist because it was so highly unusual.
It was a suspicious lesion called a "dysplastic compound nevus with irregular borders and color," and because of the rate of growth I had to go back and get a second excision done meaning that they widened the excision to make sure that it was gone. That is why I have a big hole above my navel at this time.
People with more than 50 freckles or moles are at a much higher risk for melanoma and my arms and legs have hundreds of them (history of red hair in the family.)
It is a very VERY scary experience that I do not want ANYONE to go through.
Please take care of yourselves.
Thank you iWrite for bringing this to everyones attention. I'm happy to hear that you have been very diligent about your medical care. Good luck to you in the future.
My father had numerous lesions removed. If I remember correctly they were squamous cell, still dangerous. He also ended up with another type of cancer and died.
My father had numerous lesions removed. If I remember correctly they were squamous cell, still dangerous. He also ended up with another type of cancer and died.
Both my mother and father have had melanoma lumps removed. My father will still go out on the golf course from 3 hours a day without sun screen. Being half mexican, I tan pretty easily, but I avoid getting burned at all costs. i usually wear a SPF 50 sunscreen when I am going to be out more than an hour total a day. When I go to the beach I always take a sun umbrella or buy another one if I forget mine. I never want to have skin cancer because it is very avoidable. Probably the most avoidable type of cancer, (but I am not positive of this.)
wdlove: Sorry to hear about your father, wd. That's too bad -- truly.
Kilbey: Good for you in wearing the sunscreen! My children have grown up with big bottles of sunscreen and handlotion mixture (I take handlotion called "Lubriderm" and I mix in -- with a kitchen mixer -- sunscreen with SPF of 50 then put the mixture in a plastic Ziploc bag, squeeze it down to a corner, then cut the tip of the corner off and squeeze the mixture back into the Lubriderm bottle) in their bathroom and I call them "Bottles of Love."
They know to put lotion on right after getting out of the shower.
Not only is this wonderful for the skin (because it traps moisture inside and keeps the skin soft, glowing, and healthy), but the sunscreen is on them also.
I've even got my spouse in the habit when we got married.
Melanoma is genetic -- that's a FACT. So, even if you have dark or olive skin your chance of getting melanoma, if you come from a family that has a history of melanoma, is as high as 50% regardless of the color of your skin. So, Kilbey, you're doing the right thing.
It's a terrible disease and people are full of regret AFTER they find out that:
1) Checking their skin regularly and
2) Protecting themselves from the sun
WOULD have helped prevent or lessen the progression of melanoma.
to all of you who check yourselves and loved ones out.
Kilbey: Good for you in wearing the sunscreen! My children have grown up with big bottles of sunscreen and handlotion mixture (I take handlotion called "Lubriderm" and I mix in -- with a kitchen mixer -- sunscreen with SPF of 50 then put the mixture in a plastic Ziploc bag, squeeze it down to a corner, then cut the tip of the corner off and squeeze the mixture back into the Lubriderm bottle) in their bathroom and I call them "Bottles of Love."
They know to put lotion on right after getting out of the shower.
Not only is this wonderful for the skin (because it traps moisture inside and keeps the skin soft, glowing, and healthy), but the sunscreen is on them also.
I've even got my spouse in the habit when we got married.
Melanoma is genetic -- that's a FACT. So, even if you have dark or olive skin your chance of getting melanoma, if you come from a family that has a history of melanoma, is as high as 50% regardless of the color of your skin. So, Kilbey, you're doing the right thing.
It's a terrible disease and people are full of regret AFTER they find out that:
1) Checking their skin regularly and
2) Protecting themselves from the sun
WOULD have helped prevent or lessen the progression of melanoma.
to all of you who check yourselves and loved ones out.
.
Got checked a couple years back... I've got a big weird birthmark on my back... dematologist determined it to be utterly harmless... but I've had the check every narking mole/freckle/dot experiance...
I still have the scar on my nose, just next to the eye from when they removed my mole. It was the only one they removed, the others looked normal to the doctor. For those of you scared of the "surgery", it's nothing, you don't feel it. It's not even surgery, it's a simple injection of anesthetic, which actually burns for a few seconds, then some tool which resembles a pen, except with a circular blade. Though, if any of you have any freckles or moles near your eye, like me, be ready for an annoying day, the anesthetic made my eye swell for the rest of the day.
Thanks for the info, iWrite. It is a very serious subject and I don't know whether to be sad or angry when someone gives a flippant response.
The truth is folks, it might happen to YOU. Early detection is the key to survival or any type of cancer. Denial has never saved anyone.
Having recently gone through my own health crisis (not cancer related), I speak form experience. I almost cry when I hear the denial stories from other patients while waiting in my Opthalmologist's office. If only they had gone in earlier for treatment/diagnosis.
The truth is folks, it might happen to YOU. Early detection is the key to survival or any type of cancer. Denial has never saved anyone.
Having recently gone through my own health crisis (not cancer related), I speak form experience. I almost cry when I hear the denial stories from other patients while waiting in my Opthalmologist's office. If only they had gone in earlier for treatment/diagnosis.
Dr. Wahnsinn: Are you okay? I hope so -- truly.
Thanks for the nice comments.
Yes, people who are young and carefree rarely think about something as harmless as an ugly or unattractive mole. Society conditions women to think of them as a "beauty mark" and for men to ignore it -- men shouldn't care about something as trivial as a skin lesion.
Yet, people are DYING of melanoma and it's a terrible death especially because it was 100% preventable. If you have a little lesion and it is a melanoma and you got it out before it went through the layers of skin to the fat layer below, your chance for being 100% okay is very great. Once it reaches the fat layer below then your chance for morbidity or death within 5 years rises to 50%. If it is a stage IV melanoma and it has spread (metastisized) then your chance for death within a year is 80%.
People need to pay attention to it.
You or someone you know or someone they know WILL get this and the key to survival is recognizing it and preventing it.
I just hope that people take it seriously. It is the #1 cancer among young people and kills fast.
Thanks for the nice comments.
Yes, people who are young and carefree rarely think about something as harmless as an ugly or unattractive mole. Society conditions women to think of them as a "beauty mark" and for men to ignore it -- men shouldn't care about something as trivial as a skin lesion.
Yet, people are DYING of melanoma and it's a terrible death especially because it was 100% preventable. If you have a little lesion and it is a melanoma and you got it out before it went through the layers of skin to the fat layer below, your chance for being 100% okay is very great. Once it reaches the fat layer below then your chance for morbidity or death within 5 years rises to 50%. If it is a stage IV melanoma and it has spread (metastisized) then your chance for death within a year is 80%.
People need to pay attention to it.
You or someone you know or someone they know WILL get this and the key to survival is recognizing it and preventing it.
I just hope that people take it seriously. It is the #1 cancer among young people and kills fast.