Black is the New Pink - Fight Melanoma

Thank You!

2012-02-21T20:21:00.001-08:00

About one year ago, late in the evening like tonight, I was playing around with PowerPoint. Call it electronic doodling. I had been pondering recently about the passing of my brother and how I should continue his message of melanoma awareness. I had no idea that I was about to launch a campaign that would literally spread worldwide. I was just doodling.

I had decided that the best way for me to convey Jeff’s message was to write a blog. I had kept a personal one for several years, but it was only a potpourri of personal insights and opinions, and read by very few. Still, rather than clog that blog with sometimes depressing thoughts of Jeff, I thought I’d try to share the melanoma awareness message in a separate blog and find a way to spread the word about the blog. It was worth a shot. But it needed a name and a look to draw attention.

Naming the blog “Black is the New Pink” wasn’t the hard part. I’ve conveyed the origin before…when Jeff muttered “I wish black was the new pink,” it stuck with me as something I should remember. So the title of the blog was decided upon, but the “look” was hard to grasp. That’s why I started doodling on PowerPoint (I don’t have better drawing software). After a few nights, I came up with this:

I have a good friend who’s a designer, so I decided to get her opinion. She fed back that the color transition was a little too flashy, the font was too narrow to read from a distance, the beveled edge should be eliminated (something about looking amateurish) and the ribbon sucked. (She was never shy to express her opinion). I had to agree, and soon discovered that it was dang hard to draw an awareness ribbon on PowerPoint. But I did it and developed the title and logo that you see at the top of this post and every. I didn’t get a second opinion from my friend…this one just “felt” right.

Something inside me came alive when I created the logo. Frankly, it’s a bit boring and simple, but when I finished tweaking it, I literally heard a voice inside me to tell me, “Let’s get started.” I couldn’t sleep that night because I was excited for no reason at all. All I knew is that I was starting something.

I didn’t write my first blog entry until a couple of weeks later. I spent that time learning to design the blog page (I’m still tweaking it) and figuring out how to make a specialized page on Facebook to help get the blog noticed. The voice reminded me (and continues to remind me) that it’s not me that needed noticed, but the message that needs to be read. That’s when the excitement really started.

So here I am…once again sitting at my computer in my bonus room late at night just as I was about a year ago. My smile continues, but it’s brighter even more tonight. Earlier this week, my blog received its 20,000^th page view. And my Facebook page received its 1,000^th “like.” Wow! I remember reading other blogs when I first began with 200 “Likes” and wishing I could get just half that amount. I never would have guessed I’d have this level of interest in one year. And the voice reminds me…it’s the message that’s important, and it will continue to be so.

I find it fitting that my first few “Likes” were from friends and relatives close to me, but my 1,000^th “Like” is from Dubai, United Arab Emirates! Amazing! I wasn’t joking earlier when I said worldwide!

Thank you for embracing the thoughts and message of “Black is the New Pink” and thank you for finding recognition in a late-night doodle from a year ago.

How I spent My Half Day Off - Patient Day with the MRF

2012-02-16T20:32:00.000-08:00

Dr. David Ollila and the McDonald Family

I recently attended the “Melanoma Patient Day” symposium held by the Melanoma Research Foundation along with the University of North Carolina Division of Surgical Oncology and the UNC Department of Dermatology. The Rev. Carol was there as well and I encourage you to read her account of the day. (Yes Carol, that’s two straight times I’m riding your coat-tails). Still, I’d like to share a few observations and information that I learned...most of them shared by Carol and some a little more unique.

I was surprised by the first presenter who basically stated that there’s no proof (yet) that sunscreen helps to prevent melanoma. There IS a recent study in Australia that suggests it MIGHT help. I had to wonder if his (Dr. Antony Young) findings have been repeated by other studies, or if his results stand alone. This seems to be contrary to almost everything else we read…so I’ll keep a close eye on this topic and keep you posted on what I find.

Dr. Young also mentioned that sunscreen is designated as a cosmetic in Europe, but as a drug in the US. He stated that in response to an attendee who asked him if the chemicals in sunscreen are safe. He assured us that the FDA, which monitors sunscreen, has performed their due diligence to assure the lotions are safe.

One last Dr. Young observation…he states that a person should use roughly 100 grams of sunscreen a day to protect one’s skin. This equates to 3.5 ounces of lotion a day. That’s about half a bottle of standard sunscreen each day. Dr. Young acknowledged that sunscreen isn’t cheap, and cited one calculation that a family of four taking a week long holiday in Spain might likely spend more money on sunscreen than the holiday itself.

The second presenter discussed “pink” melanoma, or that which has little or no pigment. It was pretty technical, but everyone ended up scanning their arms and legs after this one…it was rather eye-opening.

Dr. Keith Amos presented a very graphic discussion of surgical margins…aka, how much to cut out the melanoma and how to stitch it all back up. I would have preferred a disclaimer at the beginning of this one…it was very graphic. But it was also quite interesting to see advances in such work. Who would have thought there’d be “advances” in reducing scars?

The discussion on Lymph Nodes by Dr. Justin Baker was interesting to me, despite it also being rather technical. Since I don’t have melanoma, I have only read about people having lymph nodes removed, etc. But I didn’t really have a full understanding of why. This presentation taught me.

Nurse Patricia Long discussed the lack of, and therefore the need, to have a celebrity face to melanoma. She cited the Michael J. Fox Foundation as well as Live Strong and the Christopher Reeve Foundation. But she noted there was no one speaking for melanoma, despite a few celebrities that she presented as having it (Sam Donaldson, Cybil Shepard, and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name a few). She mentioned the counter-melanoma group…mostly Jersey Shore and a show I’d not heard of before called Sunset Beach (I think) which was a reality show based out of a tanning salon (think Miami Ink, but tanning beds instead of tattoos). While this had some interesting facts, I wish there could have been some additional discussion. Unfortunately, it was time for the group to take a break and folks high-tailed it to the snack bar before one hand was raised for questions. I would like to have asked what the bigger organizations (such as MRF) were doing to try to secure a celebrity endorser? (Ironically, I saw Anderson Cooper’s piece for “Out Run the Sun” the night before). Also, I would like to have at least informed the crowd that there is a vast and growing online community for support, education and advocacy.

During the break, I had the privilege of talking with a few folks.

· One couple is starting a new website called Cancer Warriors, sharing a healthy and more holistic type of approach fighting melanoma. (The website is not yet complete, but I’ll share it upon release).

· I talked briefly with a gentleman named Dennis. He caused the first round of applause at the symposium before it even started by standing and holding a sign that read “Stage 4 Melanoma Survivor.” It was a touching moment.

· I introduced myself and talked with Shelby Moneer, Health Educator from MRF. I brought “Black is the New Pink” business cards with me to help spread the word about this blog and the Facebook community. She saw my card and said, “Hey, we ‘Like’ you!” I was flattered that the MRF ‘Likes’ my Facebook page. I told her I liked them back!

· Three other individuals (I am SO bad with names) approached me once they over heard my BITNP connection. I was thrilled t have ‘real’ people before me expressing thanks for my shared links, articles and thoughts. I had trouble wiping a smile from my face the rest of the day!

Back to the presentations, there was one scheduled prsentation regarding “Protecting Teens from Tanning Beds.” Unfortunately, this one was bypassed for some reason. I was quite disappointed in that this is a very timely subject and I was interested in what North Carolina might be doing to address tanning beds in the legislature. I’m aware of one bill that floundering “in committee” but would be anxious to know if there is any new legislation planned. I guess I won’t know for a while.

Dr. Georgina Long talked about the history and details of BRAF. I found this one a bit technical, but again quite informative. Great results and they’re now starting clinical trials for Stage 3.

Dr. Moschos gave a presentation on brain metastasis. This was probably the most technical discussion and I got rather lost. What caught my attention most is that he recently moved to UNC from the University of Pittsburgh, where my brother first sought treatment. I believe I recognized this guy’s name and wondered if he had treated Jeff.

Lastly was a very touching presentation by the McDonald family who chronicled their now eleven year old daughter’s journey through melanoma. They first thought it was a tick, then a wart, then went months before having this growing location on her inner thigh removed by a plastic surgeon. They finally got a diagnosis and it was touching to hear of the obstacles she overcame. I caught up with the McDonalds afterwards to thank them personally and share my brother’s story (and another business card) and discovered that they line in the same town as I! I hope to find them visiting Facebook or BITNP soon!

Overall, it was a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Carol and sitting nearby as we watched the presentation. I also enjoyed meeting others and hope to meet again soon. I plan to attend this symposium again next year and invite everyone to visit an MRF (or other organization’s) educational forum near you!

What It's Like To Have Melanoma...From Someone That Knows

2012-02-13T20:13:00.000-08:00

When I first began writing this blog, I decided that I wanted to learn all I could about melanoma and how to prevent it (mostly to understand why it took away my brother). Since that time, I’ve shared dozens of articles on my Facebook page about new advances and treatments, and I’ve attempted to convey startling and somber facts in order to shock a few tanners and “non-believers” (those who think melanoma is “just skin cancer”). I’ll continue to do what I can to educate, inform, and sometimes entertain with regards to melanoma. That’s one reason I’m excited about attending the Patient Day Symposium in Chapel Hill, NC on Wednesday, February 15. This will be a chance to listen to and talk with real people and perhaps gain a more personal perspective on what I try to share. But there’s one thing that I hope I can never ever share with you. What it’s like to have melanoma.

Unlike many bloggers in the melanoma community, I do not have melanoma. I may be allowed to roam the lobby and commons area of the Hotel Melanoma, but there’s no way I’m allowed into the resident area. And, no offense intended, that’s the way I like it. But at the same time, I sometimes feel frustrated when writing because I truly do not know what it’s like to have melanoma. I feel the emotion and pain in so many blogs, but there’s no way I can even come close to expressing that experience without having had it.

But someone has.

You probably read “Attitude of Gratitude” by the Rev. Carol. She has Stage 3 and shares quite a bit in her blog and her Melanoma Prayer Center on Facebook. She recently wrote a post called “Come Over To The Dark Side…Of Melanoma.” In it, she expresses very well what it’s like to have melanoma. She expresses the anxiety, the fear, and the effects on family members. Carol tells it all. And it’s quite effective.

So consider this posting of mine more of a hand-off. Read the good Reverend’s blog and pass it on. Share it with people who have no earthly idea what it’s like. Share it with someone who doesn’t have melanoma.

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

2012-02-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of news and discussion lately about tanning beds. A congressional report came out stating that tanning salons were being deceptive with their “facts” in an effort to bring in new clients. Several states have introduced legislation to ban or severely limit tanning bed use. And New South Wales in Australia made news when they voted to ban the beds for minors. It seems that the beginning of the end of tanning beds is near. But let’s not forget those who were not affected by the sun or tanning salons.

A video of a young lady, Kelsey, who has had melanoma since she was 14 was recently posted on YouTube. At age 19, she’s been through it all…and her fight continues. What’s interesting in her first video is that she states that she stayed away from tanning beds. Unfortunately, she still has a higher risk for melanoma. She’s a red head, therefore is two to three times more likely than others to be diagnosed with melanoma.

The Melanoma Education Foundation website posts a list of high risk factors that have nothing to do with tanning beds, known as Uncontrollable Risk Factors. Essentially, if one of these factors applies to you, you have an increased chance of melanoma. I present the list below, with the associated “risk multiplier” for each factor. Some of the increases are startling:

Risk Factor Risk Multiplier

50 or more normal moles 2x – 4x

One atypical mole 2x

Red/blonde hair, blue/green eyes, 2x – 3x
and or light complexion

Heavily freckled with no atypical moles 3x

Personal history of non-melanoma cancer 3x – 5x

Undergoing immunosuppressant treatment 4x – 8x
or medication

Ten or more atypical moles 12x – 14x

Heavily freckled with many atypical moles 20x
but no family history of melanoma

Personal history of melanoma 9x – 28x

Two immediate family members (parent, 100%
child, or sibling) have had melanoma

Many atypical moles and one immediate 100%
family member has had melanoma

Having certain skin diseases such as lupus Very High
or xeroderma pigmentosum

Taking a photosensitizing medication Unknown
or treatment

What astounded me most were the two factors that state there is a 100% likelihood of being diagnosed with melanoma. I thought for sure I misunderstood that, so I contacted the MEF directly. Steve Fine, the president of MEF emailed me to confirm that the risk is indeed 100%. Wow.

What this tells us is that, even if you don’t tan, you need to get checked regularly…especially if you have one of these higher risk factors. Sure, tanning and sunburns contribute to skin cancer and melanoma (see their site for “Controllable Risk Factors”) but the beast can still affect you without the aid of UV rays.

Just ask Kelsey.

Fellowship and Melanoma

2012-02-06T21:31:00.000-08:00

When I write some of my blogs, I sometimes mull over a particular topic for a couple days. All weekend, I was mentally composing such a blog post and was ready to put fingers to keyboard when I got my “me” time tonight. But then, as often times happens (more so than not actually) I was touchingly distracted.

I first thought of this “Black is the New Pink” concept about a year ago (warning…one year anniversary summary blog is just around the corner). If I were to describe my experience over the last year with one word, it might be “fellowship.” I never would have imagined the fellowship and bond that I’ve witnessed in the melanoma community. Whether you call such folks molemates or residents of the Hotel Melanoma, they all bond together to support one another in an uncanny “one group, one mind” kind of way. I realize that headlines and comments from others tend to inspire multiple blogs on the same subject, but there have been times when a topic arises seemingly out of nowhere, and yet Facebook and the blog-osphere seems to be focused upon it. It’s the power of all as one I suppose. But at no time does the “melanoma collective” come together like when one of their own is in need of thoughts and prayers. I witnessed this as I logged on this evening to write my aforementioned thoughts.

Steve Hock has shared his story with very candid photos and comments. I only started to follow his journey a few weeks ago, but I found it fascinating. Steve has faced one obstacle after another and yet he seems to move past with a smile and incredible optimism. He seems to have no fear (a necessary trait of skate boarders I would assume). Unfortunately, Steve has hit a pretty big bump and was readmitted into the hospital where he reported that his brain tumor was growing back.

In true molemate fashion, you are rallying around Steve. Calls for prayers, thoughts and good vibes have been sent out from several personal Facebook pages and blogs. The collective is focused on Steve’s health and of the well-being of his family. It is truly amazing to witness (once again) how this community of people…each with a common bond of melanoma…come together so fluidly.

While I don’t have melanoma, I am proud to be associated with this group of people and honored to have witnessed this fellowship over the past year and every day. My prayers of course go to Steve and his family. My admiration and utmost joy goes out to everyone in this community. I’ve said before that “great things are happening” with regards to medical advances to fight melanoma. But greater things are happening each and every day among the people…the warriors in the fight.

A Short Rant at the Tanning Salon Deception

2012-02-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

You most likely have already heard about the congressional report about tanning salons lying to customers to get their business. Investigators, posing as 16-year-old girls called 300 tanning salons across the country. Ninety percent of the salons assured the callers that there was no health risk and over seventy-five percent claimed there were health benefits to indoor tanning! Over half stated that there was no increased risk of skin cancer.

Amazing…but not surprising.

About 25 years ago, I was a young, single, somewhat geeky and skinny male that was looking for any advantage to “look better.” I had an after work routine of work-outs and/or socialization (aka…going to the bars). On Tuesdays the Thursdays, I also included a trip to the tanning salon. Thursday night was “Ladies’ Night” at the local bar and I wanted to have that glow. I had signed up for a total of 10 sessions, each one lasting between 15 and 20 minutes. I was told to set the timer myself (I sometimes set it for 25 minutes) and wipe down the bed with Windex afterwards. That was my entire maintenance instruction. I do recall that I was told tanning beds were safer than the sun. The topic of cancer never came up (I was too unaware to mention it)…only that the UV rays that burn you aren’t used….only the “good” UV rays.

Yep, the good ones that cause cancer.

So again, it’s not surprising that this recent report shows misinformation in the tanning industry. Twenty-five years ago, I blame naivety on the owner’s part. Now…it’s plain old deception. There’s no excuse at all!

On a happier note, there is legislation in several states right now regarding tanning regulation and/or banning. One has to believe that this congressional report will only help these measures get passed on the state level. Furthermore, New South Wales I Australia recently passed a tanning ban. This was in large parts to efforts by Jay Allen…a person with whom many melanoma warriors are aware. Thank you Jay!

This report is big. It’s great news. And it’s making great things happen!

Patient Day at UNC...February 15, 2012. Be there!

2012-02-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, February 15, 2012 the Melanoma Research Foundation, the University of North Carolina Division of Surgical Oncology, and the UNC Department of Dermatology will present a full day of melanoma education dedicated to melanoma patients and the people who support them. I plan to be there!

Per the brochure, there will be a variety of topics discussed as follows:

· Sunscreens: Can They Protect Against Skin Cancer?

· Diagnosis of ‘Pink’ (Amelanotic) Melanoma

· Why Does My Scar Look Like That? Understanding Surgical Margins for Melanoma

· The Current Role of Lymph Node Surgery in Melanoma Treatment

· High-Profile Melanoma Patients: Underutilized Resource

· Protecting Teens from Tanning Beds: An Update about the National and State Policy Debate

· The BRAF Story — From Target to Treatment and Beyond

· Understanding the Biology of Melanoma Brain Metastasis as the Basis for More Rational Treatments

· Melanoma: A Parent’s Perspective

For a list of speakers, please check the MRF website.

I think this will be a very exciting day to talk to those involved directly with melanoma research and awareness, plus a chance to meet with folks from BITNP and beyond face-to-face!

If you’re interested in attending, please go to the MRF website page to register or call (800) 673-1290. Deadline for pre-registration is Friday, February 3. The symposium itself will begin at 12:30 on the 15^th of February and end at 4:30. I think it will be an incredible afternoon of information and sharing.

I hope to see you there!

Dr. Nemesis I Presume

2012-01-31T20:41:00.000-08:00

There is a short list of “opposing doctors that I can recall. James Bond had Dr. No as his nemesis. Austin powers had his Dr. Evil. And now, Melanoma Warriors have their own opposing doctor…but it’s not who you think.

Dr. Mehmet Oz recently made a comment on his show about rethinking the use of tanning beds for certain health benefits. He did use the words “not for tanning,” but it was too late…molemates everywhere were shocked and disappointed that Dr. oz would even suggest stepping near a tanning bed. He later wrote a blog on his website to reassure all that he still has a strong stance against the use of tanning beds, but that he was nevertheless intrigued by what his guest, a doctor, had to share. I personally believe that Dr. Oz was merely offering up encouraging conversation with his guest so as not to create a negative impression on his show. The only problem is, when Dr. Oz talks, many impressionable viewers listen, and that was the danger of his comment. The guest’s comments however were indeed intriguing, but I was appalled by the suggestion to use such devices for therapy. Dr. Oz’s guest was Dr. Joe Mercola. Remember that name. He is the nemesis to Melanoma warriors, not Dr. Oz.

Dr. Mercola is described as a cutting edge and often very controversial medical expert. Such doctors in the past have been met with skepticism and criticism, only to later be hailed as cutting edge and innovative. To some extent, Dr. Atkins of the famous Atkins' Diet was such a person. Many claimed success following this diet while nutritionists all debunked his no-carb approach as hogwash. Now, lower-carb (not no-carb) diets are suggested more so than low fat and one wonders if this trend would have taken place had not that crack-pot Dr. Atkins been stubbornly promoting his diet. So is Dr. Mercola destined for the same path to higher praise? I’m not a medical professional by any stretch of the imagination, but with regard to his views on tanning beds, I think not. Why? He sells them

Dr. Mercola sells tanning beds.

That says it all. But does this one entrepreneurial venture alone make him our nemesis? No, but there’s more. On three separate occasions, the U.S Food and Drug Administration warned Dr. Mercola and his company to "to stop making illegal claims regarding his products' ability to detect, prevent and treat disease."

I ran across an article from the good Dr. Mercola titled “A Surprising Cause of Melanoma.” He cites a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology which suggests that “the sun is likely nothing more than a scapegoat in the development of melanoma, and the sharp increase may actually be ‘an artifact caused by diagnostic drift.’” In other words, people are being misdiagnosed with melanoma skin cancer even when they have only a minimal, non-cancerous lesion, and these diagnoses appear to be skewing disease rates significantly. In short, he seems to be claiming that melanoma rates are not truly increasing.

The article goes on to discuss the importance of Vitamin D, the benefits of UVB rays to produce such vitamin D, the “best time” for UVB absorption (high noon to 1:00), and, surprise, the use of safe tanning beds…which he sells. He also suggests participating in a Vitamin D deficiency study…for a fee of $60 per year.

Admittedly, both his appearance on The Dr. Oz Show and this article are intriguing...and maybe, just maybe medically sound. But I don’t buy it. Again, I’m not a medical professional, but I think there needs to be a lot more study on such claims. I believe that people should enjoy life in the sun, but with caution by using sunscreen and avoiding the hottest part of the day. I believe in taking Vitamin D3 supplements (but not too many). And I believe I’ll side with the more established organizations who claim UV radiation from tanning lamps cause cancer, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, The Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, the Skin Cancer Foundation and many others.

Dr. Oz, please air a public statement about the error of your previous “rethinking” and I’ll forgive you. Dr. Mercola, until your theories are substantiated by mainstream and respected medical groups, keep your tanning beds to yourself.

The Earlier They Learn, The Less They'll Burn

2012-01-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

A new study by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York states that pre-adolescent kids (pre-teens to teens) are not regularly using sunscreen, despite the fact that many had suffered earlier sunburns. It was noted that the kids (yes, kids) felt that they looked better with a tan. In fact, some claimed that they looked healthier with a tan.

This has to change.

There are many great skin cancer awareness PSAs and anti-tanning campaigns, but most seem to be aimed at teens and young adults (mostly women). That’s not a bad thing at all, but I think this new study shows that education needs to happen earlier. I’d personally like to see it start pre-pre-teen…beginning in early elementary school. Or earlier from the parent to their child! When a child is taught to look both ways before walking across a street, or not to talk to strangers, he should as routinely be taught about sun safety. A child probably won’t understand skin cancer or wrinkly skin, but they might listen when one explains that the sun can provide bad sunburns.

My nine-year-old daughter asked me this past summer if the sun was bad. She had seen my efforts regarding this blog site and the BITNP campaign and simply assumed that the sun must be bad. I explained to her that the sun was life-giving and provided energy and warmth. The sun is good! “So why are you telling people to stay away from it?” I tried to explain UV rays and got a blank stare. Then I thought of an analogy.

“Think about water. Is water good?”

“Yes…because you need to drink water and you can swim in water and the plants need water. So yes, water is good!”

“But what happens if someone that doesn’t know how to swim goes into deep water?”

She stared…thinking deeply. “Well, I guess water is bad?”

“No…water is good, but you have to be careful around it. If you aren’t careful, water can be trouble.”

“So…wearing sunscreen in the sun is kind of like wearing a life jacket in deep water?”

I couldn’t have worded it better myself.

I don’t know if my kids (both now 9 going on 18) will maintain daddy’s respect for the sun. They’re entering pre-teens and already becoming a little rebellious. But having taught them early in life, they have a fighting chance. I would hope that they do not succumb to peer-pressure and that they stay away from tanning beds. Better yet, I hope they become mini-advocates against tanning. She’s in Girl Scouts now and has already asked me if there’s something she can do to help out BITNP within her troop. Atta girl.

I’ve been working on a presentation for pre-teen classrooms…or Girl Scout troops. It’s a work-in-progress and I hope to have at least a working draft in May when I plan to speak to the troop. But for now, there are some great resources for educational material from the Melanoma Education Foundation and the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation. Check them out and try to spread the word to the kids in your life.

The earlier they learn, the less they burn. And yes, I just made that up. :)

Talking About D Facts

2012-01-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing gets the ire up on someone that’s been affected by melanoma more that another person defending the use of tanning beds. The defender will usually mention that a “base tan” helps to protect from further sun damage (wrong). But more often than not, they put on their most confident face when they mention the need for Vitamin D. Recently, there were two very different talk shows which had guests that both used the Vitamin D Defense.

Dr. Oz has a medical talk show that has millions of followers. He is an Oprah spin-off, so he can do no wrong in the eyes of those viewers. One episode earlier this month had a segment called “Why you should not trust your doctor.” His guest for this segment was Dr. Joe Mercola, a doctor that has cutting-edge but rather controversial suggestions regarding health. He suggested to ignore the family physician’s advise to take Vitamin D supplements and to use tanning beds instead to absorb the vitamin more effectively. After Dr. Oz expressed concern (echoed by moans in the crowd), Dr. Mercola went on to explain that the beds should be “safe”…meaning they should emit mostly UVB as opposed to the more dangerous UVA rays. After some more discussion, the beloved Dr. Oz stated that he would “rethink” tanning beds. He did mention that he had no interest in suggesting them for tanning, but that he felt there could be some benefits.

The American Academy of Dermatologists immediately responded with the following statement:

“The AAD is disappointed in a recent statement from Dr. Oz that he is rethinking the benefits of using tanning beds to obtain vitamin D. Research shows that using tanning beds increases your risk of skin cancer. If you would like to express your concern, post a comment on the Dr. Oz webpage (directly beneath the video). We hope you'll help the AAD correct this misinformation that may lead the public into thinking that indoor tanning is a healthy activity.”

Dr. Oz has since issued a follow-up statement including the following:

“My beliefs are firmly aligned with those of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): Research shows that ultraviolet radiation from the sun and indoor tanning prematurely ages skin and can damage the DNA in skin cells, leading to skin cancer. The bottom line is both UVA and UVB rays cause cancer.”

The second talk show was “Chelsea Lately.” Her guest was Pauly D of “Jersey Shore” fame. He’s the one that seems to be most addicted to tanning. I watched a little of an episode recently in which he came back from Italy (to film a season of the show) where they had no tanning beds. He literally ran into a tanning salon yelling “Emergency, Emergency!” and requested to tan in their most intense booth at maximum time, and then have a second session. On his appearance on Chelsea’s show, his skin was indeed fully tan and became the topic of conversation.

After Chelsea suggested that he spray tan rather than use tanning beds (quoting the fact that one has a 75% more chance of getting skin cancer after using tanning beds), Pauly D responded “No, no, no…there’s Vitamin D in there!”

Vitamin D is the tanorexic’s best defense. Dr. Mercola suggests using tanning beds and Pauly D touts it as the healthy reason to get the glow. But what’s the real story?

The Skin Cancer Foundation has a great section on Vitamin D. However, one argument that the tanning industry often mentions is that such foundations are funded by sun lotion companies and thus the studies are biased. So I consulted the Mayo Clinic website to find supposedly unbiased facts. They mention the benefits of Vitamin D, or in other words, the reasons to have sufficient Vitamin D in your system:

“The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It is used, alone or in combination with calcium, to increase bone mineral density and decrease fractures. Recently, research also suggests that vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.”

They mention that, yes the sun is a significant source of Vitamin D…perhaps the best source. However, they go on to say that “as little as 10 minutes of exposure is thought to be enough to prevent (Vitamin D) deficiencies.”

10 minutes!

The Mayo Clinic goes on to list fish, eggs, fortified milk and cod liver oil as other sources of Vitamin D. ( I personally take Vitamin D3 supplements at the advice of my general practitioner.) Nowhere, I repeat, NO WHERE in the Mayo Clinic information was there mention of tanning beds.

This information was repeated in other medical info websites. Not those that are accusingly sponsored by sun screen companies, but legitimate medical organizations. (Although the Skin Cancer Foundation IS legit…but that’s an argument for another blog)

So my conclusion (and remember, I am NOT a doctor…please consult one for real advice) is as follows:

It's important to get plenty of Vitamin D.
The sun is a great source of Vitamin D, but only 10 to 15 minutes a day is needed. Any more than that (unprotected) can be dangerous and cause sun damage.
One can boost his/her Vitamin D intake with supplements (about 1000 iu per day) and proper food.
Tanning beds are NOT a healthy source of Vitamin D.

The next time you hear someone advising you to use tanning beds for Vitamin D, ignore them. And share with the D facts.

Real People of Melanoma

2012-01-06T21:01:00.000-08:00

This post is meant to be read by those who think skin cancer is no big deal.

"It can be cut out and then it’s gone."

"A tan is more important than worrying about simple skin cancer."

"I have to die of something, so it might as well be skin cancer."

Have you muttered any of these words when reading an article about the dangers of tanning? Have you walked into a tanning salon, defiant of the literature received on skin cancer? Well, feel free to continue doing so, but please take a few minutes to read this post. If you still have the urge to go tanning or avoid having that mole looked at...fine.

What I want to do is introduce you to some real people. I started to blog almost a year ago as a way to cope with my brother's death. Yes, he died of melanoma (that's the nastiest skin cancer in case you didn't know)...and I promise not to make this a sappy read and bore you with his details. But in the process of blogging and sharing my thoughts, I've come across some real people that have had real experiences with skin cancer. These are not “models” or medical anomalies showcased as freak shows…these are real people facing different kinds of skin cancer every day.

Christina has skin cancer on her face. It's not any type of massively deforming tumor or obvious cancer other than a few spots on her face, but its real cancer nevertheless. Really, it appears like it's just a condition on which one can treat with a topical cream. And that's kind of what's Christina went through a few months ago. She was required to apply a topical chemotherapy to her face for two weeks every year. Yes, chemotherapy. It's not the blood infusion type that conjures up the awful images of "real" cancer...just a simple skin application…one that peels away the face, quite literally.

She said in her blog that the pain was unreal...and at night when she slept (something she was unable to do most nights) her face literally stuck to her pillow. It hurt to smile...it was excruciating when she yawned...it pained her to talk. She's a teacher…so she had to teach through the pain. Her face is mostly healed now, but the next year and round of chemotherapy will come only too soon for Christina.

Karen is a mother who noticed "an ugly freckle" on her leg. See it here on her right calf?

Frankly, it looked like a simple mole seen on many people. She had a dermatologist look at it and discovered it was Stage 2 melanoma. (Stage 4 is the worse). She had the mole "simply cut out" successfully...here's what her "simple cut out" looked like right after the mole removal.

You see...when they "cut out" any skin cancer, they cut out a large area because skin cancer spreads. It spreads FAST! A small 3mm mole may result in a several inches cut and scar along one's leg, chest, neck or face.

Another real person is Chelsea, age 24.

She's had surgery to remove the cancer from their skin and lymph nodes, but has had to continue the fight because melanoma has a nasty habit of spreading...even when it’s thought that it’s been completely removed. In fact, there’s as much as a 30% chance of recurrence of melanoma for those who had it before. You can that here see that her neck and under her arm have been scarred...but she's also had to go through quite a few other procedures.

In short, it's not been a fun ride for Chelsea. She’s doing pretty well now, she's had many days of being very sick and has had to spend a lot of time and money going to a cancer center in New York for her treatment.

Oh yeah, that's a good point...tanning sessions might be expensive, but it's nothing compared to the expense of having cancer. We’re not talking hundreds, but thousands of dollars. For Stage 4 melanoma patients, there’s one drug that costs $30,000 PER DOSE! And if you think insurance will cover everything, you better think again. Not only does each person here have to battle cancer each day, they have to battle insurance companies even more so.

Here's another lady named Tina. I have no cancer photos of Tina...just this nice one with her and her daughter.

Tina was doing pretty well, but then her melanoma returned, got nasty, and spread to her bladder. She said it was a very painful experience...and it caused other complications. Tina passed away a few months ago...leaving her daughter and husband to continue fighting the insurance companies.

I have one more lady to introduce you to...Amanda. I admittedly haven't talked to this girl like I have the others, but her story is pretty powerful. Here's her photo before she got skin cancer.

Here's her photo after the tumors invaded her face and body.

There’s really not much more I can add that the photos don’t already say. You can watch this video to see more of her story. Amanda died at age 31.

Skin cancer doesn't affect only pretty young women. In fact, more guys suffer from the disease than women. However, many guys just don't share their photos and thoughts as much as women do. You know how guys are...tough as nails. But Eric decided to share his entire battle on You Tube.

He discovered his cancer as a mole on his ankle...like so many others. He fought for a long time, but the cancer just kept on coming. It invaded his lungs, spine, brain and his entire body. Now I apologize for the graphic nature of this next photo...but I wanted to show you a photo of Eric's leg...not long before he died.

Yes, that’s his leg. His flesh was literally rotting away as his grapefruit-sized tumors penetrated his skin. But believe it or not, Eric was "lucky" in that he became paralyzed from the chest down and couldn't feel this painful condition.

Again, these are REAL people...not rare medical subjects, but real people encountered online while I wrote my blog. Each has his or her own story, battles and losses and some successes. I wanted you to meet these people because even the best skin cancer Public Service Announcements convey pretty people that look normal. They share their story of survival, but you really don’t get a good feel for the true pain they went through.

Admittedly your chance of getting skin cancer is relatively low...about 1 in 50. And melanoma is the rarest form of skin cancer, so you have an even lesser chance of getting that. But after you’ve seen these real people that have battled melanoma, it’s easy to see how one should do everything in their power to prevent it.

There are two main things to remember with regards to preventing melanoma. First…avoid the UV rays. It’s obviously impossible to avoid the sun completely, so wear sunscreen EVERY day…no matter the weather. And do NOT use a tanning bed. It’s concentrated UV rays and there’s absolutely nothing healthy about it.

Secondly, visit your dermatologist annually and check your skin yourself monthly, if not more often. Early detection is key! Get to know your skin and notice any changes. If you see something suspicious, don’t wait the year…see your dermatologist now!

Wear sunscreen and get checked. It’s that simple to avoid becoming one of the real people of melanoma.

Post Script: I appreciate those who shared their photos for this blog post. I believe I received permission to use all these photos over the last few months. If I am mistaken, please contact me at fightmelanoma@live.com and I will remove ASAP. Thank you again.

The Care and Keeping of Your Skin

2012-01-03T20:55:00.000-08:00

We took our twins to the pediatrician last week for their annual check-up. They're both nine years old, so the doctor asked us if we'd had a talk with my daughter regarding upcoming changes in her body. We had to some extent, but he recommended some assistance from a book by the American Girl folks called "The Care and Keeping of You."

I then asked the doctor about such literature for my son and he shrugged. Apparently there are a couple of books out there, but none as good as this one for girls. I suspected that I'd play the role my father had when he tossed me a Playboy during my adolescent years and stated, "Here...figure it out. But ignore Page 47...that never happens to anyone."

After the appointment, we headed for the library as we often do every week or so. My daughter found the book immediately (we had found a similar one for my son...without a centerfold) and she started to read before we returned to the car. I had glanced at the table of contents when checking the book out...topics included "Braces," "Bras," and "Big Changes." I decided to make sure that all book-inspired questions from my daughter would be immediately passed along to my wife as I vowed instead to stop time and keep both my kids at this perfect pre-teen age. But as we drove home, I heard my daughter inquisitively say, "Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

I looked at my wife as she casted her "oh no you don't" gaze back at me. "Sure honey," as my mouth got dry.

"Do sunburns cause wrinkles?"

"Um...yes they do. Why do you ask?"

"There's a section here on the sun and how it can damage your skin. It even mentions skin cancer!"

We discussed this as well as the other questions I eventually passed along to my wife (after a hard shoulder punch) until we finally arrived home. I mentioned "Just Dance 3" as we walked in the door as a successful diversion. The kids flew to the Wii as I grabbed the book to take a closer look. Sure enough, at the top of Page 34 was the title "Sun Sense." The first paragraph read as such:

You may think a tan looks great now, but wrinkles and spots don't look good on anyone. Doctors agree: there's no such thing as a safe tan. All skin, regardless of type, is damaged by the sun. Exposing your unprotected skin can give you a blistering-hot burn and lead to allergic reactions - and skin cancer.

The page goes on to discuss peak times when the sun is most dangerous, an explanation of SPF numbers, and a reminder to apply sun screen even on cloudy and winter days. What an incredible surprise to find this information in such a well-read (over 3 million copies sold) and recommended book! It gives me hope that, while my little girl grows up, she'll be getting good advice from others as well as from me and her mother.

As for my son...he just needs to ignore Page 47.

AIMing for November 17, 2012

2012-01-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

In late October of 2010, I had a thought of how wonderful it would be to meet some of the fellow bloggers in the Hotel Melanoma world. I have read dozens of blogs with many of the writers sharing inspiring and moving thoughts. Some have become good “virtual friends” while others have sadly passed away in their fight against melanoma. Still, I wondered what could happen to bring some of us physically together.

Literally that same evening, I received an email from Rev. Carol Taylor, founder of the Melanoma Prayer Center and the Melanoma Grief Chapel, as well as writer of the blog “Attitude of Gratitude.” She was asking if I’d be willing to join her and two others (Chelsea Price of “Adventures With My Enemy Melanoma” and Rich McDonald of “Hotel Melanoma”) in organizing some type of fund-raising event. Wow…talk about timing.

We had collectively decided to organize a fund-raising walk…but eventually realized the logistical challenge of four people across the country trying to organize one single event. I’m not sure we could have pulled it off, but then Rich (I think) suggested that maybe we should pull together our efforts and support an already existing event. Brilliant! As it so happened, Chelsea was about to participate in the AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk in Charlotte. Based on her incredible experience, and the support and assistance from event organizer Anne Bowman, it was decided that we would work towards raising money for the 2012 AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk! But best of all, we’d all finally be able to meet one another. Even Rich said he’d come in all the way from Colorado!

I’m happy to announce that a date has been set for the 2012 walk…November 17, 2012. I’m sure we’ll have more details as the date draws closer, and soon some of us may start soliciting donations. Honestly, asking for money has never been my strong suit as (1) I also have many financial struggles and find it difficult to give hardly any money and (2) I’m just not an “asking” person. But, eventually I will ask for you to either join us in Charlotte, NC on November 17, 2012…or to support one of us as we walk to support the fight against melanoma.

November 17 is the 322^nd day of the year. I am writing this on January 2^nd, the second day of the year. That means you have 320 days to save up to donate. Saving one dollar a day would allow a donation of $320! Of course, that's a lot of money to many (including me), so consider setting aside only a quarter a day. That itself would add up to an $80 donation! Even a dime a day would add up to $32…so crack open that jar and start dropping in your change today. In a few months, we’ll be asking for your help.

Last year the Charlotte event raised over $35,000. My personal goal (not endorsed by others yet) would be to exceed $50,000 in 2012. What a wonderful gift to the world…all from a few coins a day!

Even more wonderful would be if you could join us in Charlotte! Putting faces and feeling hugs from all these people we’ve read and shared with would make it the best day imaginable. I would love for each of you to be a part of it!

I'll have more to share on this event soon. Stay tuned!

Sound Advice

2011-12-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

I read an article the other day citing a study from Nancy University in France stating that some multi-vitamin pills containing vitamin E, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc increase the risk of malignant melanoma. Ironically, during a visit to my general practitioner last month, I asked about whether or not I took too many supplements and vitamins. For the most part, he supported my intake with only minor warnings for overuse of a couple supplements. Overall, he didn’t completely didn’t completely debunk this study, but he seemed to think that there were far more studies supporting the individual benefits.

It has been stated that “data” can be manipulated to benefit any side of an argument. I’ve also heard it be said that any point of any argument can find some quote or passage from the Bible to back it up. I have to believe the same is true of all the studies published or discussed about almost any medical issue. The study in France was not about melanoma, but of whether or not multi-vitamins served any benefit to people at all. In short, the study stated that there was no benefit, and in fact there were some statistical relations with increased melanoma risk as I mentioned above. I would guess that further medical studies should be performed to validate this finding as my doctor implied.

I also read a letter in the Calgary Herald from a gentleman citing research from the UK which found no evidence for sun bed use as a risk factor for melanoma and only a small non-significant increased risk for those under 25. Of course, this counters many other studies I’ve read from many reputable sources that state that tanning beds can be a direct contributor to melanoma.

Several melanoma survivors and warriors have issued warnings to others to not do your own research on the medical specifics of melanoma. I have to agree with that. For one thing, the true experts…your doctors, dermatologists and oncologists and their staffs are the ones that deal with your situation every day. They are human and may not be perfect, but they are far more focused and informed than a large majority of internet articles and bloggers…including yours truly.

What I’m trying to say is, you can find any study which supports exactly what you don’t want to read, and yet you can find the same to help give you confidence. The important thing is to always, ALWAYS confide in your doctors. Ask them the questions…ask them to validate or debunk the article you’ve read. Listen to other warriors who have been there as they share their experiences, fears and struggles…but always seek the medical advice from the professionals.

And that’s my advice for the day.

Don't Be Missed

2011-12-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas has passed without my brother, Jeff. He is included in so many holiday memories…from the EARLY Christmas mornings where we’d sneak around checking out Santa’s gifts, to the infamous Christmas golf ball, to more standard memories. This year, more than last, he was truly missed.

He passed away in November last year…about the same time we all start decorating our houses for Christmas. The post-funeral mourning sort of meandered its way into the holiday season…so missing him last year was more like an extension of his initial passing. But this year, Christmas showed up with no pre-Thanksgiving grieving, but with the normal fanfare and anticipation that only one’s children can amplify to the most enjoyable levels. No, this year we’d have no grieving period. But damn was he missed.

Don’t get me wrong…I had a fantastic Christmas with my immediate family. Santa confirmed to my kids that they were indeed good this past year…to record spoiling (and bankruptcy) levels. The food prepared was delicious and filling. And the company of my wife’s family visiting for Christmas dinner was excellent as always. We always keep it simple and have ham sandwiches (real ham…not Oscar Meyer deli meat), three bean salad, potato salad…almost as if it were a summer picnic. After dinner we exchanged gifts. We surprised my in-laws by having their old 8mm home movies converted to DVD. This of course spawned all sorts of stories of Christmases and relationships of the past. This was exactly like the type of conversation Jeff and I would have had.

I laughed at their stories and had genuine interest of the various uncles and their hijinks of yester-year. But deep inside, I missed my brother. I wasn’t grieving any more…I was just missing him.

I’ve been suffering from blogger’s block lately because, frankly, I’ve had nothing but family and “Jeff thoughts” of late. My intent in this blog was never to be a Jeff Grieving site…but to be an outlet to create awareness for skin cancer. So in that regard, let me add one melanoma-related thought.

Melanoma kills people. It kills family. It makes those family members be missed. To keep your loved ones from grieving your illness or your death, do what you can to prevent this mostly- preventable form of cancer.

Don’t be missed.

Ignore the Boundaries

2011-12-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

My Facebook page “Likes” have surpassed 800. Thank you SO much…I never would have thought that a few months ago that I would even have 20 people following my page. It means a lot.

One of my personal traits (quirks most likely) is that I tend to make lists. I can make a great list of projects (and not complete one), Christmas gifts (but hate to shop) and just random stuff. For my Facebook page, I started to keep a list of all the people that have “liked” it. All 800 plus!

I recently modified the list a bit and included where folks live. Many people keep such information private on their Facebook page (I don’t blame them), but I still have a pretty good idea how widespread the readership has reached. By my count, I’ve been visited by at least 33 states and 10 countries! My Blogspot statistics show that I've had nearly 15,000 pageviews fomr even more countries. Amazing! Honestly, it’s not the location of “likers” that amazes me, but the diversity of the people.

I’ve been very pleased to see teenagers follow our words, and humbled by compliments from those who are more elderly and wiser than me. There are people who have very strong Christian faith, those who follow other faiths as devoutly, and some that follow no set religion at all. I’ve seen photos of heavily tattooed or pierced individuals, and images of pure untouched innocence. And I’ve sensed great wealth from a few and financial hardship from others. All these people from all walks of life are brought together by one thing. Melanoma

That nasty sneaky brutal son of a gun…melanoma…has proven to be a force to bond across many boundaries. While the Beast prefers lighter-toned skin and the practices of tanning addicts, it still touches all races. It bows to no higher power as it invades people of any religion or belief. It ignores any age difference. It has no political preference as I’ve seen it affect conservative tea partiers and liberal occupiers.

Unlike forces of nature like earthquakes or tsunamis, melanoma feels far more personal to those who have been attacked. A storm may affect hundreds in an isolated area, but the disease has a way of affecting thousands worldwide while still feeling like it’s picking on the one person. The only way we can beat it is use its own power against it.

Melanoma ignores boundaries and so should we. We need to bond together as individuals spread around the world to raise awareness and fight this thing. We must forget whether or not the person next to us worships in the same house, has a different sexual orientation, or is more or less well-off than yourself. It’s time to clasp hands and join as one to fight melanoma. It’s a lesson that the disease itself teaches us.

Ignore the boundaries.

Mrs. BITNP

2011-12-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

I don't like this one

I’ve not really introduced my family to the BITNP gang. I suppose I tend to keep my personal life private…even though this is a forum where many folks share some pretty personal stuff. Still, I try to keep this blog related to Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness with occasional personal stories of my brother Jeff who inspired this campaign. But today, I’ll take a moment to talk about my wife Kim.

I won’t share much…she’s shy that way and would probably rather me just keep quiet. But she’s allowing me to share a recent experience. Like me, she’s blonde-haired, fair-skinned and rather “moley”…and she also used to lifeguard during the summers years ago. I guess in this case, likes attract.

I had encouraged her to see her dermatologist for quite some time. She’s had acne and Rosacea issues in the past, but I was more concerned about a few spots on her back and arms. (I wonder from where I got that paranoia?) She finally went for an appointment about 2 weeks ago.

She told me in the evening that a “spot” had been cut out and that the doctors were taking a look at it. Having read many of your accounts, I looked forward to receiving a simple voicemail or letter that said everything was fine. What we got was a voicemail to call the office back. Naturally, I got a little worried.

It turns out it was an atypical mole…a dysplastic nevi. As many of you know, this is something “to keep an eye on”…and I know that many of you simply have the doctor cut it out. We trust this dermatologist, so for now, we’ll keep a very close eye. I took photos and measurements of several moles and she has a return visit scheduled in three months. This seems aggressive behavior for “a mole”…but I’m glad it’s being taken.

Kim doesn’t share the same interest or fascination with Facebook and online networking as I…so she’ll probably rarely be online. But I told her that this group of individuals…fellow Molemates and BITNP’ers …is one of the best groups of people from whom to gather info and support. Still, I’ll most likely be her voice here and I hope that I won’t have much to say. I hope it continues to be “just a mole.”

Melanoma: Prevent It!

2011-11-30T20:45:00.001-08:00

My name and “the Big C” was mentioned in the same breath about 6 years ago. I was at the most fun part of my annual physical (smirk) when the physician’s assistant said she felt a large lump on my prostate. After she let me pull my pants up and limp back to the exam table, she told me that I should see an urologist as soon as possible. About two weeks later, I visited Mr. Long Fingers and he confirmed the same finding…a big ol’ lump. He scheduled a biopsy within the next couple of weeks to see what could be found. After fishing around (literally…it felt like fish hooks), he announced a few weeks later that the results were confusing at best. He wanted to go fishing again with a bigger pole. After I submitted double the samples and implanted my finger prints onto the metal exam table, we met again another few weeks later. The results were negative…thank goodness. Then he muttered…”but the previous confusing results suggest that you are very high risk for prostate cancer. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had it when you turn 50.”

I’m 49 now.

When I first entered this phase of my life, I did a lot of online reading about prostate cancer. I think we all do that when we receive some type of new information. But after he cleared me and announced my potential for revisiting the fishing-hole exam room, I started to read up on prostate cancer prevention. What I found was, except for a few supplements or vitamins, the best way to prevent prostate cancer was eat right and exercise more.

Okay…fine.

I can’t say I’ve followed the advice closely. I’ve tried to eat better and tried to exercise more, but like most other people, I could do better.

But I digress. My point is there really is no prevention for prostate cancer. And as I have read a little about other cancers, including breast cancer, the same preventative measures are listed. Eat right and exercise more. Cancer in general is just a mystery. That’s why millions a year are spent on research to find out what causes the disease. This goes for all cancers…with the possible exception of one.

Melanoma.

There are a variety of possible causes for melanoma, but the one main undeniable cause is exposure to UV radiation. This includes UV rays from the sun and those obtained in tanning beds/booths. Does this mean that everyone that uses a tanning bed or sunbathes on the beach will get skin cancer? No. Did most people (greater than 3 out of 4) that was diagnosed with melanoma get it from exposure to UV rays? Yes. We’re talking 75% of the people that have melanoma today probably would not have it had that done one thing in the past.

Prevented it.

And not from simply eating right and exercising more. They would have prevented it by avoiding the sun’s ray by wearing protective clothing or sunscreen and by staying the heck away from tanning beds. Right now, we lose about one melanoma patient an hour…24 per day. Had the 75% that had melanoma due to UV rays simply avoided it by protecting themselves, 18 people would not have died from the disease today.

There have been great strides in treating various cancers and we hope that one day, there is a cure for all. But until that day, the best way to remain cancer –free is to not get it at all. There’s no set rule for most cancer…but for melanoma and skin cancer, there is. Do yourself a favor by wearing sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds. You CAN prevent melanoma.

It's Been a Year...But I Know He's Watching

2011-11-14T21:11:00.001-08:00

I have incredibly mixed emotions about today, November 15. I’m greatly saddened that my only brother passed away from melanoma one year ago today. And yet, in carrying on his campaign to raise melanoma and skin cancer awareness, I have “met” so many wonderful people and felt that I’ve contributed to the cause and grown as a person. Don’t get me wrong…I would trade this great experience with BITNP in a heartbeat to have Jeff back. But alas, that’s not to be. So today, I choose not to commemorate his death, but honor the life he’s continued to instill in me. I miss him…and think of him every day. But I also know that he’s with me. In fact, he told me so.

I used to keep another blog...one that shared random thoughts. Some were funny…some were touching…many sucked. But I enjoyed writing. I never really knew what to write about...only that I enjoyed sharing my thoughts. I had no real focus to my work, and I really only had one full time reader. That was Jeff. His passing is one reason I haven’t written in that blog for about a year. My last posting was about…well, I’ll let you read it. I’ll edit it a little, but the following is basically what I shared about a year ago:

If you’ve read some of my Facebook postings, you know that I engage in a hobby known as geocaching. Basically, geocaching is a global scavenger hunt. The location of hidden objects can be found on the website, Geocaching.com. If you type in an address and find the link to a map, you’ll see that there’s most likely a hidden object nearby. There are about 5,000 “treasures” hidden within a 10-mile radius of my house. In fact, there are well over a million such treasures, or caches, hidden world-wide from county parks or city blocks and even the International Space Station. I bet there’s one near you!

Caches are rated 1 to 5 for both difficulty and terrain with 1 being the easiest. Seeing as I’m not a rock climber or scuba diver, I tend to look for ones rated 1.5 or easier. Whenever I travel out of town, I can load the latest cache locations into my GPS along with previous logs from other geocachers and a description of what I’m looking for. Caches can range in size from smaller than a thimble to a rather large water-proof box. I’ve found all sorts, although there are some types that are more common than others.

A 35mm film canister makes a perfect geocache container. Other geocachers hide the caches for others to find. One simply places a log inside for geocachers to record their find and perhaps adds a coin or little trinket as a reward. All caches contain a log on which the finder will sign his or her geocaching name (mine is MountieAl). Most small caches contain only a log. The “treasure” is in the hunt itself, not the end prize. Anyhow, one takes this small container and hides it in a tree stump or other such place. One very common hiding location is within a light pole in a parking lot. Most poles have a metal or plastic skirt at the base of the pole which can easily slide up, thus making a perfect hiding place for smaller caches underneath. And yes, most cachers will giggle when announcing they’ve found a cache “under a skirt.”

Jeff read a few Facebook postings of my initial geocaching finds and asked me about the hobby. After I described it, he started looking for some in Ohio, especially while walking his dog. I remember the first day he found one…he called me on his cell phone asking questions and giving me updates. He was so thrilled at the first find, and I could tell he was hooked. “Jadestep” was introduced to the geocaching world. As he always did with things that interested him, he quickly became very involved in the hobby and even helped organize a few Geocaching gatherings. He started to become one of the more involved geocachers in the Akron area.

When Jeff and I attended my step-mother’s family reunion in June, we made sure to go on a Hurricane, WV area “cache run” together. We found about eight caches that day…a record for me at the time. When we finished, my dad commented that geocaching was the first thing Jeff and I had done “together” in a long, long time. And it was true…somehow this silly little hobby bonded us closer than we’d been in years.

During that trip, Jeff commented that he had wanted to hide his own on a guardrail near the Walgreen’s in Hurricane. He always liked puns and many geocaches were given such titles which would also offer up a clue to the hide. His idea for this cache was “Guarding the Wal.” Jeff was always quite clever. Sadly, he never got to hide that cache.

Before I traveled to WV for Jeff’s funeral, I loaded the caches along my travel route into my GPS as I usually do. Granted, I had no intention of making this a caching trip, but seeing as how he loved to geocache, I thought it appropriate to be able to find one or two during the trip...perhaps at a rest area along the highway or near a restaurant during a lunch or dinner break. But honestly, my mind was far from caches as I drove up the day before his funeral.

On the morning of the funeral, I decided to take the car out to fill up with gas while the rest of my family prepared for the somber day. As I drove past that Walgreen’s in Hurricane, I noticed an icon on my GPS indicating a newer cache had been hidden near the drug store only a couple weeks prior. Again, I hadn’t planned on seeking any caches, particularly on the day of Jeff’s funeral, but curiosity got the better of me. I drove past the guardrails and into the parking lot. The GPS directed me to a light post on the parking lot edge, with a sign attached stating “Area Under Video Surveillance.”

I pushed a few buttons on my GPS to read about the cache and look for any clues. What I read gave me chills. I jumped out of the car, lifted the skirt (giggle) and grabbed the 35 mm film canister. There was only a log inside, as suspected, and I signed it “MountieAl for Jadestep.” I returned the cache to its hiding place for others to find and then sat back in the car with my heart racing. Tears started to well up as I drove off.

It wasn’t the content of the cache, nor even the coincidental location of this geocaches that had me rattled. It was the title of this geocaches that had me shaken…and yet smiling. The name?

“Big Brother Is Watching.”

(true story…100%)

So you see, my brother DID tell me that he’d be with me. He’s watching my life’s path and guiding me. And that’s why on this day…a day that marks a year since feeling great sadness, I feel great joy and confidence.

I miss you big brother…now let’s go find another cache.

A History Lesson

2011-11-10T19:57:00.001-08:00

“You’ve come a long way baby!” Remember that slogan? It was for Virginia Slims cigarettes…a tobacco product marketed for women. The concept was that smoking was traditionally a man’s privilege, but not a woman’s. However with Virginia Slims, smoking was not only acceptable, but fashionable and chic. “You’ve come a long way baby!” (Check out the old TV ad) It was a successful marketing campaign that echoed the Women’s Rights movement of the 60’s and 70’s and probably created many fashionably sick women.

But women weren’t the only demographic targeted for smoking needs. Remember the Marlboro Man? What better icon of masculinity…complete with cigarette in his mouth.

As we look back now, I think most of society realizes the fallacy of such claims. Smoking leads to lung cancer or other devastating health conditions…it was a bad thing and still is. Of the friends I have that smoke, every one of them has muttered “I need to quit someday” as they light one up. It’s a bad habit…it’s a proven medical killer…and even the smokers know it’s a bad thing. My mom smoked practically all her life. Bel-Air was her brand. She died in 2005 of lung cancer.

I know this is a skin cancer and melanoma blog site, but it’s also Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This cancer is the biggest cancer killer. And it’s possibly the nastiest of all. Please keep those we’ve lost or those struggling with the disease in your thoughts and offer support of some sort. And don’t blame them for smoking…it used to be the fashionable thing to do.

I’d usually stop my thoughts here, but I’d like for you to think about lung cancer a little longer…and the parallels to melanoma. Smoking was fashionable. Tanning IS fashionable. The tobacco industry was quick to point out the “cool” aspects of smoking. The tanning industry currently touts the cosmetic benefits of a glowing tan. Years of awareness campaigning and class action lawsuits made all of society realize the truth about smoking…even the current smokers realize it’s a bad habit. What about tanning and its relationship to melanoma? Is it time to repeat history?

Occupy Tanning, Inc.

2011-11-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

I’m not an economist…if I were I’d probably not be living paycheck to paycheck. But I suppose the whole thing with “Occupy Wall Street” is that the increasing gap between the haves and have-nots…the 99% versus the 1%...is what’s under scrutiny. I guess they’re protesting to create change and a wealthier society. I’m sure it’s far more complicated than that, but that’s my general take. But as interesting as some of these protests are, I witnessed and took part in another impromptu “Occupy” campaign.

A few days ago, someone posted parts of a Q&A page from a tanning company’s website. Tropi Tan shares a lot of “information” about the tanning process. Here’s what they say about “why do we always hear that tanning is bad?”

Tanning is an important issue to the dermatology industry because skin cancer represents the only subject that its lobbyists can promote as critical or life threatening. Unfortunately, in their zeal to scare consumers into their offices, lobbyists for the dermatology industry have twisted the facts and exaggerated many research findings. They continue to mislead the public about the dangers of tanning, whether indoors or outdoors.

There is also the issue of the “Almighty Dollar.” The fear of the sun generated by dermatologists feeds a multi-billion dollar industry lead by huge special interest groups who conduct and promote most of the research on skin cancer. Lobbyists for pharmaceutical firms that sell billions of dollars worth of sunscreens and SPF cosmetics have teamed with the dermatology industry to promote a misinformed campaign of sun abstinence.

Conversely, there is no major industry except the indoor tanning industry that makes money by promoting the positive effects of sunshine. The indoor tanning industry consists of small companies that can’t match the marketing power of the multi-billion dollar "sunscare coalition."

Over the last few years, thousands of indoor tanning professionals have supported an organization – the Indoor Tanning Association – which was founded “to protect the freedom of individuals to achieve a suntan, via natural or artificial light.” This organization is currently working to develop a national advertising campaign that will increase public awareness of “smart” tanning, the importance of avoiding sunburn, and the many positive effects of regular, controlled UV exposure.

Nowhere on this “information” page do they mention that…um…well…tanning is bad because it significantly increases the risk of skin cancer.

So, where does the “Occupy” part come in? Once this was posted on Facebook within the linked group of melanoma warriors and “mole mates,” it spread fast like…well…you know. One person suggested visiting the company’s Facebook page and giving them a piece of our collective mind. And boy did we ever! Within minutes, their page was visited by many folks with some sort of relationship with melanoma. Facts were posted. Opinions were shared. And the company’s “Get an hour’s tan for only $1.05” really came under fire. For a little while there, we all Occupied Tanning, Inc. Not surprising at all, our comments were all deleted by the next morning. But I’d like to think that someone read one or two comments and thought twice about tanning.

Personally, I wasn't trying to put anyone out of business...but merely offering the other side of the tanning story to anyone that might be considering a $1.05 tanning session. The tanning industry has a legal right to stay in business, but the consumers have the right to all the facts as well.

Many people will see the Occupy Wall Street protests on TV and switch the channel…others will observe more casually like I have. But one or two key folks might hear their message and take action to make change. The protestors won’t be the one’s making the change…but they are the people attempting to inspire change. And that’s where change starts…from ideas and inspiration. Perhaps our little “Occupy Tanning, Inc.” inspired one person that could lead to a healthier society.

Keep sharing the message!

Someone Will Hear You

2011-11-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

There are days when I have to wonder if anyone is listening to my rants and thoughts regarding Melanoma Awareness, and there are days when I know that steps are being made in the right direction. This week had both.

A few days ago, a lady made a comment on one of my Facebook photos. The picture showed my first BITNP prototype t-shirt, and hers was one of many varying comments. This comment stood out in that she mentioned that she had a t-shirt graphics business and invited me to check out her website. Having long neglected my t-shirt requests, I immediately visited the site.

I won’t mention the name of the business…if you really want to look it up, go dig in my Facebook page. But the gist of the business’ name was “Acme Printing and Tanning.” Yes…you read the second part correctly. She not only was in the business of printing t-shirts, she also owns two tanning beds! To her credit, she stated that they run the tanning salon with strict rules and allow no one under 18 to use the equipment. I told her that while I support the right for adults to visit a tanning bed, I couldn’t condone the act, thus cited a conflict of interest for doing business with her. And while our “business” correspondence was cordial, I couldn’t help but wonder if she even read the content of my FB page. And if she did, does that mean my message isn’t getting through?

Today, I attended a local annual tradeshow at which my company and I participate. It’s more of a chance to network with colleagues around the area, compare notes and just experience some decent professional fellowship. Of course, I had met with many of the sales guys in attendance over the years, and many knew of my brother’s passing last year. Most of the condolences had long past (which I was glad about) and it’s been business as usual for the last few months. For those with whom I’d had lunch in the past and shared casual conversation, I most likely mentioned this BITNP blogsite and my FB page. I never really thought much about it…it was simply small-talk between business discussions and a little chance to get the word out.

Back to today’s tradeshow, I made my rounds before the show actually started to visit with a few of my closer colleagues. Most exhibits had bowls full of candy, a stack of brochures, and some trinket like a pen or mouse pad with their company logo. When I approached one colleague, he and his associate were placing little bottles of lotion and hand sanitizer on the table. After the handshake, he smiled broadly and said, “Well, what do you think?” I joked that he should stick with selling printed circuit boards rather than get into the lotion business when he told me to take a closer look. It was hand lotion…and as I read the label, he said, “I thought of you as we picked this out…it’s SPF 30.” He went on to describe to his associate that my past conversations inspired him to get checked recently (he had “a spot” removed…nothing serious he said) and mentioned this blog. I couldn’t help but smile the rest of the tradeshow.

Later in the day, one of my close colleagues and friends back at my workplace called me. She just left the dermatologist and gave me a report. She has very light-toned skin and freckles, so she was a little worried. She’s probably one of my biggest offline supporters (and a regular reader of this blog), so I was relieved that she had a clear check…and happy that she visited my same dermatologist. (How she was able to get an appointment within a week is beyond my comprehension). She thanked me for inspiring her to visit the dermatologist… and I thanked her for getting checked.

I’m not posting these stories to toot my own horn…but to inspire you to do the same. You might encounter a few (or many) people that just don’t seem to get it. But before you realize it, people DO get it. People may not always seem to listen…but they hear. And hearing the message requires that someone deliver the message. So please…wear your sunscreen, get yourself checked if you haven’t and deliver the message! Someone will hear you.

MelaFind

2011-11-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

A new device called MelaFind was approved by the FDA this week. This device includes a scanner and a computer program that analyzes images of skin lesions. Apparently, MelaFind missed only about 2% of those spots that were later biopsy-proven to be melanoma...an amazing success rate!

According to one article, one drawback is that the device has a high rate of false positives. About 90% of the time, spots that MelaFind identified as suspicious turned out to be benign. This seems alarmingly high and would cause undue stress on the patient, but apparently a panel of dermatologists had an even higher rate of false positives.

The FDA passed MelaFind by a slim 8 to 7 margin with the primary resistance being the high false calls. Ironically, I mentioned photo-mapping of moles to my dermatologist yesterday and he digressed into a few comments about the non-reliability of digital imagining techniques. It seemed that his opinion was that technology had not yet caught up to the trained eye. What this told me is that, despite this device being available for use, my dermatologist would most likely not use it. I would imagine other dermatologists would be hesitant as well.

So I suppose this is a good news bad news scenario. The good news is, doctors have another tool to assist in the fight and diagnosis of melanoma. The bad news is that it may lay dormant and rarely be used. Let’s hope whatever decision your doctor makes is the best decision for YOU.

Finally, the best news out of this…melanoma is once again a headliner in the medical news. This has been a banner year for development in the fight against melanoma, and any mention on the news helps raise awareness. Remember, the best weapons against this disease is awareness and prevention.

Checking Out My Birthday Suit

2011-11-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

About six or seven years ago, I started an annual tradition. My brother discovered he had melanoma on his back…I believe it was Stage 1...possibly Stage 2. Either way, he mentioned that his dermatologist stated that siblings of melanoma patients are higher risk and should be checked annually. For once, I listened to my older brother and made an appointment. The first appointment I made was on November 1, and I’ve tried to make subsequent annual appointments on the same calendar day. It’s the day after my birthday and I figured it was as good a day as any to have my birthday suit examined.

I had my annual visit today. This year’s visit differed than previous years because of my growing awareness of melanoma and skin cancer. I was actually nervous driving to my appointment, although I really had no concerning spots on my skin. I had three minor spots I wanted to point out…two of them having been mentioned by other medical professionals. But in general, I had no real concerns. All I really had was the growing paranoia that comes with knowledge.

I told the doctor of my recent months scouring websites and information regarding skin cancer. I asked him questions I hadn’t asked before. “How do you compare a patient’s condition year-to-year without taking photographs?” “What recommendations do you have for self-exams?” “What are your thoughts on tanning beds?” I won’t share all his thoughts here (I failed to ask for permission to convey his thoughts online), but it was nice to have a face-to-face discussion with a medical professional and not merely read another online article.

I walked away from my appointment with my questions answered and an announced clean bill of health. Still, I had an unsettled feeling. You see, in the waiting room of the practice, I saw all sorts of ads, displays and brochures for many skin care products. This practice was not just a general dermatological practice, but they also offered many cosmetic services. I have no issues with this…there are certainly many aspects of skin health that a dermatologist handles outside of skin cancer. But still…I didn’t see one brochure, flyer or even mention about skin cancer prevention. This disappointed me.

I decided to check their website this evening and found several sections related to various skin conditions, including one on skin cancer, one on sun damage, and another on “Teen Tips.” While they mentioned that the sun can add to skin aging and sunburn, there was no mention of the dangers of tanning beds. Of all sections, one would think the Teen Tip page would have some warning regarding UV tanning.

I checked other local dermatologist’s websites and found the same…rarely a mention of tanning beds or other skin cancer dangers. Well, there was one local practice that mentioned tanning bed dangers, so I emailed them and thanked them for posting such info. Then, I decided to take action.

While my dermatologist’s practice had no email address posted, they do have an address…so I wrote an old fashioned letter (snail mail). In it, I wrote the following:

I would like to make one suggestion. As I mentioned today the decision in California to ban tanning beds for teens, I would love to see <your practice> add a paragraph in your website with regards to teens and tanning beds. As you most likely know, melanoma and skin cancer is rising in younger adults and teens…and studies suggest much of this may be due to tanning beds. I can understand your practice not taking a more political stance with regards to an imposed ban, but I think a statement in your “Teen Tips” section, amongst the acne information, informing teens of the dangers of tanning beds would be a responsible act on <your practices>’s part. An additional mention in your “Skin Cancer,” or “Sun Damage” sections would be recommended as well.

Small actions…small steps…create great strides. I’ll keep you posted on any response…and encourage you to send a similar letter or email to your local dermatologist practices.

Thanks to my clean bill of health, I hope to be making such small steps for many years to come…all dressed in my birthday suit.

One Small Step...

2011-10-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

It's a super busy time for me and the family lately. My father is visiting as he and his wife pass through on their annual migration from West Virginia to Florida; my daughter has joined Girl scouts; my son is equally involved; and the "holidays" for us definitely starts pre-Halloween. So my apologies if my blog time falters a tad and I seem to neglect my efforts to address melanoma awareness.

I wanted to share one quick note. I had a business meeting the other day with a gentleman named Jim Downey. I've known Jim for about 10 years now as he's worked in sales for product with which I'm directly involved. I'd say that our relationship has become more of a friendship than that of strictly business acquaintances. We know each other's favorite sports teams as well as various potlicial views. We might not always see eye-to-eye, but we have a good respect for one another. And, he knows of this blog and my mission to spread awareness regarding melanoma.

At the end of our 20 or 30 minute discussion, he said he wanted to share something more personal. He smiled and said, "After we'd talked in the past, I decided to go visit the dermatologist. I want to thank you for insisting I visit." It turns out nothing serious was found with Jim, but he did have some pre-cancerous spots removed from his scalp (actinic keratosis). I was happy to hear of his relatively clean bill of health, but even more thrilled that he was inspired to get his skin checked in the first place.

Cleaning the house for family visits, helping a child learn a scouting oath, assisting another in a social studies project...they're all important but often overwhelming. It makes one wonder if the wheels are merely spinning in the mud and nothing is really moving. But then one hears of something positive...an affirmation that at least one little step forward was made while attempting to raise melanoma awareness among all the madness of every day life.

That's what it's all about. Making small steps. Making people aware.

Make sure you take one smal step each day to make others aware.

Thank You Barb!

2011-10-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a quick follow-up to my previous blog about spotting the black ribbon on a Breast Cancer Awareness display at the mall.

One of my many great readers on my Facebook page, Barb Maxwell, decided to contact the American Cancer Society regarding the use of a black ribbon. Well, she got a response!

Thank you for sharing your important concerns with your American Cancer Society. Congratulations on your survivorship! I am truly sorry to hear about the loss of your friends to breast cancer, and understand and concur with your desire to see more done to raise awareness for melanoma, as well.

As black is melanoma’s signature color, I can see how the sign you saw could lead to confusion and frustration, and sincerely apologize for this oversight on our part. I appreciate your bringing this matter to my attention, and have made certain to forward your feedback on for further action.

The American Cancer Society takes the battle against melanoma cancer seriously, and works to fight the disease and its effects through research, education, advocacy, and patient services. If you are interested in opportunities to volunteer with the Society in promoting melanoma awareness, please reply to this message, and I will be happy to forward your request to our advocacy coordinator.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts with the American Cancer Society. Your feedback is invaluable.

Sarah
Online Cancer Information Specialist

Thanks Barb for taking my thoughts a step further! Addressing such concerns more directly is the first step that all of us can make in increasing Melanoma Awareness. This is certainly a lesson learned in advocacy!

Also thank you to the American Cancer Society for replying to Barb's concern. Let's hope they truly "forward the feedback" and perhaps also have a more aggressive Melanoma Awareness campaign during OUR month of May.

And finally, thanks to all of you who have read my words and the thoughts of others and started discussions online, in person, and through email and advocacy campaigns. Like the letter above says, there are opportunities to do more, through the ACS, MRF or any other such group.

We'll Support Your Pink, But Let Us Keep Our Black!

2011-10-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

I visited the Pink Palace today…otherwise known as the neighborhood mall. My kids commented on how much pink there was and asked where the pumpkins and ghosts were since it's October. I explained that it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and that many stores have special deals in which proceeds from sales go to breast cancer research and awareness. I explained to them that it’s a good thing and that’s why so many people and stores participate. And it is.

Then my daughter said, “Look daddy! It’s YOUR ribbon!” Sure enough, I looked at the Lady Footlocker display and saw this:

Well, obviously, it’s not “my” ribbon…it was part of a display for "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer." Still, I was a little taken back in that breast cancer awareness is a pink RIBBON campaign…but here before me was a black ribbon associated with breast cancer awareness.

Melanoma awareness isn’t as established, and there’s a mixed of orange and black awareness colors, but the primary associated color is black. Black ribbons represent many other things (mourning, remembrance, and gang prevention among others)…but when it comes to cancer, it belongs to melanoma awareness.

I understand the main color of the display was pink, with black lettering. But when it comes to the actual ribbon…breast cancer awareness folks, PLEASE stick with pink. We melanoma folks are having a tough enough time establishing our own presence without having our ribbon color be used by others.

(And for those that might call me hypocritical since I use the word “pink” in my own campaign, you may have a point. But I've only used a black ribbon, with the exception of the black AND pink ribbon when discussing the genetic link between the two cancers.)

"...That's what you could do for me!"

2011-10-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

Giuliana Rancic appears on the E! Network as co-host of “E! News” and “Fashion Police.” She’s been appearing on a Style Network reality show where she and her husband Bill have been documenting their struggles with infertility and attempts to conceive via IVF. In the most recent episode, she was seen heading into a clinic for her next round of treatment. Knowing that hormones increase the spread of cancer, the doctor ordered a mammogram prior to the treatment...”just in case.” They found breast cancer.

I know...we melanoma folks tend to have a bit of pink envy. While supporting the fight against ALL cancer, we get a little riled at the high profile nature of breast cancer awareness over all others. But I wanted to share this story because of a remarkable quote that Ms. Rancic shared.

"I had a friend call me yesterday, and she said, 'I'm so sorry, can I do anything for you?' And I said, 'Just call your doctor tomorrow and make an appointment. That's what you could do for me.'”

That’s such a powerful statement and I think a message we’ve all conveyed. The best thing someone else can do for us is make an appointment to get checked. That’s all we’re trying to say!

Well, I take that back. The melanoma bunch has a two-fold message. “Get checked...and wear sunscreen!

Did You Hear?

2011-10-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

Photo from executivehealthexams.com
© 2011 EHE, Inc. All rights reserved

Did you hear? Governor Brown of California has signed a bill into law which bans tanning beds for minors! This is incredible news! But let me ask this again…did you hear?

When I scan the internet for links for my Facebook page, I typically do Google and/or Bing searches for melanoma “news” and “videos.” When word of Yervoy and other drugs came out, there were videos a plenty. With this news from California, I saw plenty of links to news articles, but no videos. There seemed to be no videos that aired on the broadcast news. I eventually dug deeper and found one at CBS News. Unfortunately, the text accompanying the video read “the health police are at it again.” Hardly a glowing report on a potential life-saving decision. It seems the broadcasting of this news was quite limited.

Next I checked a couple of major cancer organizations. These aren’t just the melanoma people, but groups that encompass ALL cancers. Since I recently “liked” this group, I looked at Stand Up 2 Cancer’s Facebook page. Nothing. Not one word. I then looked at the American Cancer Society FB page. As of right now, there is only one comment about the California law…and it’s posted by yours truly.

This is disturbing to me. I feel like melanoma is the young teenager that still has to sit at the kids’ table during holidays. Sure, this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the color pink has completely taken over this month (which ironically used to be about orange and black which just happen to be the two melanoma colors). Perhaps the focus on Breast Cancer has these all-cancer organizations so focused on pink football cleats and pink Pringles containers that they simply didn’t notice this news that’s very important to the melanoma bunch.

Then again, it could be that these all-cancer groups don’t want to rock the boat. After all, not everyone is celebrating this new law. There is a HUGE tanning industry that just took a big hit and, frankly, many patrons of these solariums just don’t get it. They believe the government is taking away a legal right to tan. (Note, they only banned the use of tanning beds from minors…teens can still legally get skin cancer the old fashioned way under the sun). I have to admit that I understand their argument. I don’t agree with the tanners' point of view (because I’m informed of the truth) but I understand. If it was determined that consumption of M&M’s caused mouth cancer and thus the sale of M&M’s was banned, I’d be fighting that decision to the Supreme Court. But then again, maybe if there was overwhelming hard evidence from a number of medical organizations around the world, I might eventually be convinced to eat Skittles.

Thankfully, organizations like the Skin Cancer Foundation, MRF, and AIM at Melanoma are getting the word out and spear heading these new laws and campaigns. Most of all, they’re working to educate people on the dangers of UV radiation and trying to get the point across that skin cancer is preventable by being sun and UV smart!

Did you hear that? Preventable! I hope others hear that as well.

Linked to Pink?

2011-09-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But did you know that Melanoma could have a direct link to the Pink Cancer? It’s true! An article in the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website explains how having one of these cancers raises the odds of developing the other. (Thanks to the curator of Hotel Melanoma for bringing this to our attention).

Dr. Gillian Murphy of the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, states that patients with melanoma or other skin cancers have always been at higher risk of developing other malignancies , but with breast cancer, there’s a fourfold increase. Per Dr. Gillian, this “raises the possibility of a genetic predisposition linking the two cancers.”

This is good news for a couple of reasons. First of all, research for one type of cancer may now aid in research for the other. Any little bit of new information we learn about one just may indeed help out the other.

The second reason is admittedly more selfish. Melanoma Awareness needs a boost…and the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign is about a big a boost as a campaign can get. In the month of October, you’ll see about as much pink as you will traditional autumn colors. Whoever first marketed the idea for this pink awareness campaign was either a genius, a sales whiz, or really darned lucky. But imagine…a small amount of proceeds from everything donning a pink ribbon goes to Breast Cancer Research or Awareness. And not just t-shirts and hats, but candy, detergent, and even Chick-fil-A meals! I know that there is never enough money for research, but by golly, the Pink Warriors have a good thing going.

This might sound like jealousy. It’s not. Despite this blog’s name “Black is the New Pink,” I’ve had the utmost respect for the Pink Ribbon campaign. No…not jealousy. Envy. Like an LA Clipper fan that envies the Lakers. Like a NY Mets fan that envies the Yankees. It’s not hate…it’s envy. And in my case towards Breast Cancer Awareness, it’s respect.

I would love to see the Melanoma Awareness campaign be half as effective as the Pink Ribbon campaign. Unfortunately, we have a few things going against us. For one thing, the gurus that determined the cancer awareness ribbon colors assigned Melanoma the color black. This is appropriate in that the word “melanoma” literally means “black tumor.” But unfortunately, black ribbons also represent death and mourning. Orange is an alternate color I’ve occasionally seen associated with Melanoma Awareness…but black dominates for now. I doubt that Keebler would don the black ribbon on their packaging for fear the public would think the elves died.

Another thing going against us is that non-melanoma skin cancer is so damned treatable. This is a good thing if you discover your skin cancer is non-melanoma…but it’s a bad thing for melanoma’s street cred. “It’s Just Skin Cancer.” No…it’s not…but most folks just don’t get it. Until they get it. I don’t wish for non-melanoma cancers (such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) to become more deadly, however the fact that they’re very treatable creates an ironic barrier for Melanoma Awareness Campaigners.

Partnering up, or perhaps merely riding the coattails of Breast Cancer Awareness might be Melanoma’s big break. Whether it is or not, we at least have our small rebellious forces of Melanoma Warriors…screaming from our blogs and Miles For Melanoma events…and hoping to be heard.

In this spirit of breast cancer awareness, I’ve prepared a little treat. I’m not a programming genius, but I made up a movie (my first attempt ever) with my own little take regarding the link between Breast Cancer and Melanoma. I apologize for no sound to this movie. It’s a little over a minute long, so the silence shouldn’t be too overbearing. If any readers have some suggestions regarding a freebie soundtrack or enhancement, feel free to inquire and I’d be willing to make an adjustment. Until that point, please enjoy what I’ve prepared…and by all means share it!

"People Need To Know..."

2011-09-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

It was a year ago today that I last saw my brother alive. After his announcement a few weeks earlier of having Stage IV Melanoma, I decided I’d best go pay him a visit. My father encouraged me to “do it soon.” So I drove myself 5 ½ hours from the Raleigh, NC area to near Charleston, WV to stop by my dad’s. He then drove me and my step-mother three hours more up the road near Akron, Ohio. It was a long trip with a lot of time to think.

I hadn’t known how sick my brother Jeff was. After all, it was less than a month earlier that he made the announcement, with the proclamation that he “felt fine.” The only symptoms he had at the time were some memory loss and eye problems. His humor and attitude over the phone was always upbeat. But then again, my family has never been one to share bad news with me. Maybe because I’m the baby…maybe we’re all just that way. Whatever reason, I came to realize that Jeff’s condition was pretty bad.

On the way up, Dad asked me to call Jeff’s wife, Debbie to let them know when we’d arrive. It was then I found out that Jeff had just arrived home from the hospital. He had been having complications from his medicine due to his diabetes and had spent two nights under observation. (His balancing of diabetes and cancer was eventually to be his biggest challenge in coming weeks.) Dad also made an eleventh-hour statement that I might not recognize Jeff when we arrived.

We arrived around dinner time. Neighbors were just leaving after having brought over some food to eat. I actually talked to the neighbors and Debbie before I saw Jeff. I recognized him. He was bloated from the steroids, his head was completely shaven, and he had a dazed expression, but he still had the same smiling eyes and mischievous smile. He was still my brother.

We stayed for two nights. Our “purpose” was to help winterize their yard…gather the lawn ornaments, sweep the deck, clean the flower pots, store the deck furniture…that kind of stuff. But the truth is we just needed to visit. We all knew what this trip was. We (mostly Jeff and I) were hopeful that there would be a recovery…that he would fight and win. It was just skin cancer, right? Boy…did I learn otherwise.

Jeff’s attitude was nothing short of amazing. We still shared quirky little inside jokes. When we’d play cards and he lost the hand, he would joke that it didn’t take much to beat a man with cancer in his brain. When he'd cough (the cancer had spread to his lungs as well) he'd say, "I hope I didn;t cough up any cnacer on you." When there are moments that he obviously didn’t recognize me (which happened often that weekend), he would laugh and say “oops…my brain just farted.” I don’t think my dad appreciated the humor, but I did. It was something Jeff and I always shared and it was refreshing to witness.

At some point during the visit was when Jeff made a comment about wishing the black awareness ribbon could be as popular as the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon. “I don’t have breast cancer, but all I can find is ‘pink stuff.’ I have melanoma…and people need to know.” It was that moment, that VERY moment that I became aware of this disease. I had no idea what I’d do (and I still don’t), but I promised him I’d do what I could to let people know about melanoma…what it can do…and how to prevent it.

On the morning before I left, Jeff and I went geocaching together. I’ve mentioned geocaching here before, and I’m sure I’ll mention it again in the future. It was one activity that probably drew us together more than anything else in years. He had hidden one cache not far from his house, and I wanted to find it. I wanted to make it my 300^th find…it deserved a “milestone” status. He took me to several others that day…trying to remember the tricks to some, and laughing at me when I struggled to find a few. I did indeed find his, as my 300^th. We had a good time and shared a lot of geocaching stories while driving around. Sadly, a week later, he had no recollection of our time together. This awful disease was eating him alive that quickly. Thank God I was smart enough to take a photo of us together that day…my favorite picture of us ever.

After returning to his house, we had a quick bite to eat and then loaded up dad’s car for our return trip to West Virginia. We’re not a hugging family, but Jeff and I shared an awkward hug. I told him I’d see him again and he made some joke about my dad’s driving and that I should be more concerned for my own life than his. We smiled...never really shed a tear…but we knew. We both knew.

Obviously I miss my brother, but I very much want to continue his words, “People Need to Know.” People need to know…that they can prevent the occurrence of melanoma by making sun-smart choices. People need to know the dangers of tanning and tanning beds. People need to know that it’s important to get your skin checked by a dermatologist. People need to know to learn your own body and know when something’s not right. And people need to know that melanoma kills. You, dear reader, most likely know all these things. But you have to spread that knowledge to those who don’t…and let people know.

Slip, Slop, Slapping into Autumn

2011-09-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Autumn begins September 23, 2011. That means that summer has ended and sunscreen can be put away into the medicine cabinet for several months until warm weather returns.

Or does it?

Think about it. Particularly in North Carolina and the rest of the south, most people stay inside during the summer. It’s hot. Not just a little warm…but HOT! Sure, the swimming pools are open and there are plenty of outdoor activities, but your main concern is to find air conditioning. But now that it’s late September, the temperatures rise only into the 70’s and 80’s. It’s the perfect weather for getting outside in your shorts and short-sleeved attire. It’s great weather for golfing, playing tennis, hiking, or attending a college football game. It’s a great time to be in the sun. That should be your first clue that you still need to protect yourself.

But what about when the weather gets colder? You have to remember that UV radiation is not dependent on the warmth of the day. If the sun is shining, it’s dragging UV radiation along with it…even if it’s freezing outside. This also includes cloudy days. If you can see your hand in front of your face, there’s enough UV radiation to cause sun damage.

Make sure to always follow the basic rules of sun protection:

· Slip on longer sleeves and/or protective clothing

· Slop on the sunscreen (and apply more than you think necessary)

· Slap on a hat (your scalp gets more sun than any other part of your body!)

· Seek shade

· Slide on some sun glasses (yes, you can get melanoma in the eyes!)

“Slip, slop, slap, seek, and slide.” Remember it…year round!

A (Hopeful) Sign of Things to Come...

2011-09-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

I apologize for having not posted many thoughts lately. As I alluded to in a previous post, we had a “work force adjustment” at my company. Luckily, I survived the cut, but my workload has near doubled as a result. I have been simply too physically and mentally exhausted to keep up any fresh thoughts on this blog or my Facebook page. But things are stabilizing now, so I should be back to my blogging self in no time.

I want to share something quite exciting. This past Saturday, my family and I went to our family haircut. As I mentioned before in yet another post (wow, I never realized I shared so much of my personal life here), my wife, kids and I all visit the hair stylist every six weeks or so as a group. I had a little dilemma in that it was a hair AND tanning salon. We really like our stylist Shannon, but there was something about the tanning booths in the back room that gave me the willies. However, this past weekend, we were greeted with the following sign inside the shop:

“Sorry to announce we will no longer be offering tanning…”

Sure enough, I saw that the “Legacy” and other tanning equipment sitting in the back unplugged. My immediate reaction was to say, “Yea!”

I asked Shannon why they decided to quit the tanning business. She went on to explain that there were three reasons. First, there’s the recent 10% federal tax on tanning. Secondly, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Radiation Protection apparently has significantly increased the fees to operate radiation-inducing equipment. And finally, the recent introduced legislation to require teens to have a doctor’s prescription to use a tanning bed was the last straw. Oddly enough, although that legislation sits in limbo, it still had a direct effect on closing down one tanning operation.

A part of me was a little disappointed at first in that this was a small local business being adversely affected by government regulations. It’s tough enough for small businesses to make it nowadays, so I felt some sadness that their livelihood may have been affected. But when I asked how much business was lost, I was told, “not much…just spotty business around prom time.” My guilt flittered away immediately and I happy to know that (a) a local business will most likely continue and (b) a few prom-aged girls might be unknowingly spared a horrible disease.

A fourth reason for turning off the beds was cited: the big-named tanning salons in town. These are the places that truly need to be regulated more…but we’ll take one victory at a time.

Finally, let me just say that Shannon is not the business owner, so the decisions one way or the other were not hers. But I found two comments she made during my haircut rather interesting. First, “I’m kinda glad those things are turned off…I have to wonder how safe it was to work here.” And secondly, “my husband’s mother (I think) died of melanoma…so I’m not unhappy to see them go.”

Neither am I…neither am I.

Remember...

2011-09-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

September 11 is a day for remembering. It’s the National Day of Remembrance and Service. The reasons are obvious.

We all remember where we were 10 years ago. It was one of those days that you can specifically answer the question, “what were you doing when….?” I was at work when I heard…the infant internet was so slow due to so many people searching for information. We found a TV and turned it on. Work came to a stop as the world paused for hours. We all went home early to be with our families. I had no kids at the time, but my wife and I went to church afterwards…then spent the evening watching the news. What a day…to always be remembered.

What does this post have to do with melanoma awareness? Nothing…and everything. Today is not the day to preach about anything other than remembering. But I ask that you remember those who have fought melanoma, worked to raise awareness, and were lost. Like the terrorists, melanoma is a cowardly attacker with no concern for the person attacked or their families. It’s vicious…and it needs to be stopped. It took an awful act 10 years ago to make this country aware of the threats against us. It took the attack of melanoma on my brother Jeff about one year ago to make me aware of the disease. It’s best that we don’t wait for another attack…but prepare and increase awareness. We need to take precautions. Security in the airports…sunscreen in the sun.

I don’t mean to ride the coattails of this day of remembering…on September 11…and I apologize if my choice to make such comments on this day is offensive. Our focus TODAY should be on the events that reshaped this country. But I ask that on other days, remember the Tinas, Erics, Tabithas…and Jeffs. Remember those who were attacked by melanoma…and take action to prevent this from ever happening to others.

Always remember…

T-Shirt Update

2011-09-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

When I first started this "Black is the New Pink" awareness campaign, I figured I'd just write a few words in a blog and that would be that. But then I saw so many t-shirts announcing various causes and charities, so I thought a BITNP t-shirt would be a nice way to spread the word even more. I bought a $2 black t-shirt from AC Moore and a pack of printable iron-on sheets from OfficeMax and made my first shirt.

Frankly, it looked like a home-made printable iron-on t-shirt, but others seemed to like the design and idea. So I made another...this time with the BITNP header on the back and the black ribbon on the pink field on the front. I liked this design...as did others, but it still had that iron-on look.

I had other ideas. My "Skin Cancer IS Cancer" design seemed to get a lot of positive feedback as I've found it plastered proudly on many blogs and websites. Unfornuately, I couldn't recreate that design successfully with an iron-on...I needed professional help.

In the meantime, I've been receiving inquiries..."Where can I get that shirt?" "Are the t-shirts for sale?"

<sigh>

I was very frustrated. I could think of no better way of spreading the BITMP message than with t-shirts, hats, or other such trinkets. But frankly, I'm an engineer, dammit...not a marketing director.

I was told to visit CafePress...a website where one can set-up one's own online store. They'd manufacture the merchandise, sell it, ship it, and offer a little commission, which I'd gladly forward onto MRF or the Skin Cancer Foundation. It seemed like a winner to me, so I started to set it up. I decied to go with my black design with the header on the back and the ribbon on the front. I felt that this was the best design for mass appeal. However, once I got it designed and set-up, CafePress assigned a price of $29.99. Yikes! I can't ask strangers to shell out nearly 30 bucks for such a shirt when I really don't know what the quality would be. So, I decided to not pursue this particular site.

Ironically, I logged onto Blogger to share this evolution of the BITNP t-shirt, but was side-tracked by reading a couple of other blogs first. And wouldn't you know it, on Chelsea's blog was an ad for VistaPint...a t-shirt and merchandise website. I quickly submitted the same design and came up with a price of just over half of the other site! Whoo hoo! The only problem is, they don't seem to have an "online store" system set up like CafePress. Not to be denied, I've emailed VistaPrint with my problem and hope to hear something positive soon.

Anyhow, my original intent was to petition you...the readers...and ask if any of you have any suggestions. Personally, I don't have the time to hand-make every shirt...and I don't have the financial means to stock-pile and ship shirts myself. The CafePress online store concept is ideal...but I can't very well charge $30 for a t-shirt...$20 maybe, but not $30. Heck, I can get shoes cheaper than $30. (Have I mentioned that I could use some fashion help?)

I look forward to your comments...and I really REALLY hope to have something soon so that you might be able to wear your BITNP message as much as I do!

Simple Gifts

2011-08-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

With the opening of the college football season just a week or so away, excitement levels are rising. I’m a graduate of West Virginia University and we WVU fans are crazy about our football. After all, we have no pro sport teams in our state, and while Marshall University fans are as enthusiastic (and they have their own movie), the Mountaineers carry the name of our state with them. It’s not just a college-wide pride; it’s a state-wide pride.

What really sets the WVU anxiety blazing is what happens just before the game. “Simple Gifts.” It’s the soft and gentle popular section of Aaron Copeland’s score of “Appalachian Spring.” You’d know it if you heard it. The WVU Marching Band (also known as the Pride of West Virginia), like many other university bands, plays certain songs as part of their pre-game show: the fight song, the alma-mater, the National Anthem, etc. While the Pride adds John Denver’s “Country Roads” and the hillbilly anthem “Good Ol’ Mountain Dew” to the repertoire, the addition of “Simple Gifts” is what stirs the heart of many Mountaineers.

The band starts in a “WVU” formation and marches in complex patterns while playing the soft tune, ultimately marching into a tightly packed circle with all instruments facing in. Then the band turns during a drum roll and a part of “Fanfare for the Common Man” kicks in and the crowd goes wild. A louder more enthusiastic rendition of “Simple Gifts” starts back up again as the band members march out in expanding circles. I can’t really say why, but this has always been a goose-bump inducing scene and always will be. But this year, it’s even more stirring.

My brother was a manager for the football team when he attended school in the mid-70’s. He loved working the practices and the sidelines during the games. He made lifelong friends with many of the team (and he got me a great autographed football for my 15^th birthday that I still have today) and followed the team closely for the rest of his life. A couple years ago, he shared with me that the pre-game show was on YouTube, and we both would watch “Simple Gifts” every day for the week or two prior to the new season.

It was about a year ago that he discovered that his melanoma had returned and knew that he had a very VERY difficult fight ahead. He posted the news in Facebook on Friday, September 3, and attended a WVU game the next day. Despite the devastating news…or perhaps because of it, he insisted on watching his Mountaineers play.

Two or three weeks later, he attended his last game. The two hour drive to see a game got to be too much and I believe he knew it could be the last time he saw the blue and gold. When I talked to Debbie (Jeff’s wife) months later, she told me that Jeff had the most incredible time, despite the fact that his body was failing him. She said that during the pre-game show, he started to bawl. Jeff admitted through his tears how much he truly loved the university that gave him his education, transformed him into a man, and introduced him to his life-long love, Debbie.

My cousin Steve Dunlap (yes…we have a lot of cousins in West Virginia) is a defensive coach for the Mountaineers. He had heard of Jeff’s condition and invited my brother to the locker room after the game. Steve gave him a true behind-the-scenes tour. Jeff met players, saw facilities seen by only a select few, and was presented with an official coach’s shirt and hat. He called me when he got back home and I had never heard such excitement from my brother. This tour was truly a dream-come-true. It was an incredible gesture from my cousin and the university that Jeff loved so well. It meant so very much to him and gave him such great joy.

One couldn’t ask for more from such a simple gift.

Where To Look

2011-08-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

I was looking through the Melanoma Education Foundation website (check it out) and found a good graphic on where melanoma originates on caucasion males and females:

©Melanoma Education Foundation

It astounded me that half (50%) of all melanoma found on men occurs on their trunk...and mostly on their back. (That's where my brother first found it on him). It's important to use a mirror when checking yourself...or better yet, a partner that can check for you.

And for readers and friends of darker tones, the MEF has this to share:

"Common locations of melanomas in the Asian, Hispanic, and African-American population are on the soles of feet, palms, between toes and fingers, and under toenails and fingernails (especially the large toenail and thumbnail)."

Below is a photo of a melanoma spotted under a toenail that might be mistaken for toenail fungus:

©Melanoma Education Foundation

Check yourself monthly and have a board-certified dermatologist take a look at you annually!

The Gorgeous Tan?

2011-08-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was at the grocery store when the male teenaged check-out clerk looked past my shoulder and muttered, “Wow!” I turned to follow his drooling gaze and saw an attractive young woman walking into the store. She was wearing a light blue spaghetti-strap top, white summer shorts, and flip-flops; had short dark hair; and sported a gorgeous tan (with tell-tale tan lines near her neck).

Oops…I said a bad word there…didn’t I? Put down the heavy objects and let me continue (this includes you Chelsea).

I admit that I always had a “thing” about tanned girls. I also had an attraction to freckled girls as well. I grew up in a “baby-oil as sun-block” environment, so I pretty much everyone of the opposite sex was either tanned or freckled in the summer. Basically, I was programmed to appreciate sun-kissed skin. And this was my initial impression of this lady walking into the grocery store.

But then the black wristband twisted my arm a bit and I reassessed my thoughts. Did I really think she had a gorgeous tan, or was she a gorgeous girl with a tan? As I think back now, I was as attracted to certain girls in high school and college in the sweater-bundled winter months in West Virginia as I was during the summer months. It wasn’t the tan after all.

My point is that one doesn’t need a tan to look attractive. Take a look at these two famous celebrities:

Can you imagine what Nicole Kidman or Anne Hathaway would look like with a tan? Neither can I. Their natural tone is so incredibly beautiful that anything other than “natural” would be a negative distraction.

But it’s not just about being pale. Can you imagine these beautiful women with unnaturally lighter skin?

©www.billboard.com and ©www.unseensports.blogpot.com

No matter the shade, dark or light, it's the natrual look that's best.

I’m not the only one to think this. I ran across a website asking which of Angelina Jolie’s “look” below was preferred:

A whopping 70.74% of the voters chose the “pale,” more natural look.

Again, it’s all about NATURAL tones. One should embrace one’s natural skin tone. Staying out of the sun, AND TANNING BEDS, helps keep your skin naturally beautiful. It also reduces skin aging and inhibits the formation of wrinkles. Keeping one’s skin naturally beautiful might even make this crew a little more attractive:

Well…maybe.

Remember, getting a tan just makes you more tan…it’s doesn’t make you more beautiful.

An Awful "Legacy"

2011-08-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

A potential legacy of cancer

If you recall from an earlier post, I get my hair cut at a local salon that also owns UV tanning equipment. I returned again today (wearing my BITNP t-shirt) and decided to poke around a bit (with my camera) while the rest of my family was getting their locks trimmed. I’ll have a more detailed post later, but I had to share this one discovery.

There’s one tanning system they have called “The Legacy.” It’s a “tanning tube” in which one inserts their legs only as they sit in a raised chair at one end. I suppose this is catered towards the female clients that want those glowing tanned legs as they wear summer shorts.

Legacy.

Can you believe it? The only legacy this machine will make is an increased risk and occurrence of skin cancer! Considering that 38 percent of melanoma on women is discovered on the legs, this is an appalling apparatus. I just couldn’t believe it!

Again, I’ll have more to share later on solariums, but I just wanted to share this ironic and shocking discovery.

Ugh.

Continuing the Work

2011-08-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

The company I work for had a lay-off earlier this week. Fortunately, I wasn't directly affected and I still get a paycheck. However, one of my colleagues was let go, so now our under-staffed engineering group is even more overloaded. His presence will be missed, not only professionally, but personally as well. It's always a "hit" when someone has to leave. You lose another opportunity to share a joke, chat about the weather, or just have someone else present during your work day. But despite the lay-off, the real fact is that we have to keep working that much harder to ensure the success of our company's mission. It's a cruel bump in the road, but ultimately, we have to move on and continue the work.

Also earlier this week, one of the more inspiring and sharing melanoma warriors passed away. Eric and Jill Sizemore shared Eric's struggles in his last months, documenting the aweful affects of full-scale Stage IV melanoma. Their videos were informative, heart-felt, and sometimes horrific to watch. Their message was a must-see, must-read for anyone that just doesn't have a clue about the seriousness of melanoma.

Of course, Eric will be truly missed...more so by those that actually knew Eric...and especially Jill. He was an advocate against tanning beds and for melanoma awareness, but he also seemed to be someone with whom almost anyone could get along. I could tell he had a good sense of humor as well as a good sense of faith. His fight to the end was as inspiring as anything I've witnessed. He will be missed. And Jill and family could use your prayers.

But like my work place, Eric's work needs to continue. We need to continue spreading the word about sun safety and tanning dangers. We need to document our own struggles...either in blogs, videos, or just sharing our stories with friends and strangers. Those of us who have simply accepted the fight on behalf of a loved one, or those of you who fight a similar struggle as Eric's need to not give up. Great advances have been made in treatments in the last few months. But the best treatment is prevention...and that's what Eric's message has been. That's what ours needs to be.

Eric's passing was a cruel bump in the road, but his work...and our work will continue.

Eric Sizemore

Where the Boys Aren't

2011-07-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog and my Facebook page some three or four months ago, I remember reading other pages to get ideas and inspiration. I recall that one FB page (perhaps Melanoma Girl’s) had over 400 “Likes!” I was so impressed…not by the numbers, but by the number of opportunities she had to spread her message. Every time she’d mention a thought about using sunscreen, over 400 people might read it…and they might share it…and so on and so on. At the time, I was struggling and hoping to reach 25 “Likes” by emailing and messaging friends on my personal Facebook. (25 “Likes” allows one to create a shorter URL…mine being www.facebook.com/fightmelanoma)

This week, I received my 400^th “like.” I’m literally shocked…and thrilled. Again, it’s not about the numbers, but about the opportunities for people to read the articles and links I share. I’m sure nowhere near 400 follow my thoughts on a daily basis, but every person that does read helps to spread the word.

Since I’m a bit of a data geek, I decided to take a closer look at the numbers. I discovered that the people that “like” my page live all across this country…and beyond. I’m not sure how many states, but quite a few. Many countries are represented as well, such as Canada, Australia (cursed leader of the melanoma world), England, Germany and the Netherlands. However, one statistic stood out among other. Over 93% of those that “Liked” my page are female!

So what does this mean? Does it mean that men don’t surf Facebook? Does it mean that men don’t research melanoma online? Or do they simply not want to face it? I have no idea…I’m a male that’s become a bit paranoid and tend to over-surf every ailment I have. I think I’m the exception.

Men accounted for nearly two thirds of the deaths by melanoma in 2011 (one I knew personally). Melanoma can be expected to affect one in every 39 men in their lifetime while women are affected at a rate of one in 58. Men over 50 are twice as likely to develop and die from melanoma when compared with women. By these stats, it seems that men should really being taking a greater interest in what’s being said…far more than only seven percent of the population.

Maybe that’s the connection. Men are either not listening or they’re stubborn about seeing a doctor about “that spot.” “Eh, I’ll see if it goes away.” “Working in the sun is good for me...no way it’s gonna kill me.” “It’s just a spot...the doc is just going to cut it out and leave a scar anyway…just leave it.”

Guys, as much as my ego loves the attention from over 370 women from all over the world, it’s time we start to wake up and take skin cancer and melanoma seriously. You don’t have to “like” my Facebook page, or even read my blog, but please take notice and get educated somewhere. And spread the word to your buddies.

Pale Skin is In...Thoughts of Tina

2011-07-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

Tina and her daughter Teya

Just found your blog. I think you are doing a wonderful job honoring your brother and as a stage IV melanoma survivor I appreciate the awareness you are creating. Also, I love the name of your blog. I too hope that one day melanoma awareness is just as great as breast. Keep up the good work!

These were the first words that Tina Sullivan shared with me on April 10, 2011. Others had shared comments before, but Tina continued to offer up praise and kind words and became a loyal reader…even as her own battle was going through its ups and downs. Her encouragement was what really lifted BITNP off the ground…it’s what made me want to continue writing about something that I was really only learning about as an observer.

She shared stories of struggle and hope with me and many others through her blog, “Pale Skin Is In”. I learned through her words and the words of her followers that Tina was a strong and beautiful person. And she had a great support team of family and friends. Even when Tina became so ill that she was unable to write, her husband continued posting updates of her condition…as well as the occasional reminder to continue the fight against melanoma. I can’t help but imagine that she demanded (sweetly) to keep the fight going as she fought her own battle.

Tina passed away today. Her husband Todd shared the following:

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I let you know Tina's journey has ended. She went peacefully this afternoon, and was surrounded by family. Tina's story of her battle with melanoma touched many people, and was an inspiration to all - she will be missed dearly...

Very true.

As I’ve said before, melanoma warriors have a new angel watching over and leading the battle. An angel indeed.

Getting a Grip on Sunscreen Safety

2011-07-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

I read a post over at the Hotel Melanoma that commented on bad golf, and that reminded me of a bad experience I had with sunscreen recently. Believe it or not, sunscreen almost led to others being seriously hurt. Before all the melanoma warriors and anti-tanners jump all over me…read on. I’m still just as adamant about supporting sun safety and skin cancer awareness.

This past Saturday, my wife and I surprised the kids with a trip to the local driving range. They’ve been wanting to hit some balls with “real golf clubs’ for a while, and it had been almost a year since I’d grabbed my own clubs, so we figured this would be a good outing for all.

We arrived around 5:00…after the peak sun hours, but the temperature was still in the 90’s and there was not a cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful day or golf. I grabbed three clubs from my bag: a wedge, a mid-range iron, and a driver. We paid for a couple bucket of balls and picked out a few stock clubs for the rest of the family. My daughter is a leftie, so she was stuck with a kid’s iron while my right-handed son was given a child’s driver.

I showed my son the proper grip, etc. and he hit a beautiful shot. The boy’s got a natural swing! My daughter, who’s more athletic, was a bit more challenging to teach because of the “mirror image” method of teaching her left-handed swing. Eventually, both were swinging and hitting and having a good time. After a quick lesson with my wife, I finally got to hit a few.

Now I’ve had some major tendonitis in my right shoulder for a while, so I wasn’t sure how my swing would be. I hit some balls gingerly with the wedge at first and everything felt fine. Then I hit the iron equally well. As I reached for my driver, my daughter (ever the vigilant one) asked if I had brought along sunscreen. She was right…it had been since before noon that I last applied it and the sun was still pretty bright. So I went back to the car to grab the spray and lotion.

We typically use spray for the arms, legs, and neck. We use the lotion for the face and ears as my kids squirm away from the spray. They do from the lotion as well, but I can usually slop on enough to do the trick. This routine was repeated again until the entire family was glistening in protection.

With sun-safety assured, I returned to my golf swing and grabbed the driver. I heard my daughter mutter to her brother, “Hey…daddy’s got the big club now!” So of course, I decide to give this ball a good whack for showmanship. A steady backswing followed by a strong flowing swing and “WHACK!”

My ball didn’t fly as far as I had hoped, but my disappointment in driving distance was quickly overshadowed by the realization that I no longer had a club in my sunscreen-slickened hands! My kids exclaimed “WOW!” as my wife asked what the heck I was doing! Fear struck through me as I realized my driver was hurtling through the air somewhere, yet I didn’t know where. I was relieved to see that it wasn’t heading into the range…the thought of informing the groundskeeper to halt other golfers while I walked into the field to grab my club was an embarrassing proposition. But the concern raised as I realized that the club was most likely heading towards other practicing golfers!

I turned around in time to see it come crashing back to earth from about 30 feet up…luckily well behind mostly oblivious golfers. My family was rolling on the ground, literally, with laughter as I meandered to the wayward driver and discretely picked it up and walked back. A gentleman who was a few feet away merely said, “that’s one helluva swing you got there.”

So let this be a reminder to all who use and apply sunscreen spray and lotion. Bring a towel. The sunscreen WILL save your life…and the towel may very well save another’s.

Ask For It and It May Come!

2011-07-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last month, I wrote a post called “What’s the UV Index Where You Live?” Within, I wrote “I emailed one local TV station to ask why they don’t post the UV index…once I hear something, I’ll post their response.” Guess what? They responded.

Well, at first they didn’t, but I noticed over the last week that they started posting the UV index:

I then found a video report on their website which I also posted on my Facebook page: http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/video/9869796/#/vid9869796

I just found it very ironic that they started posting the UV index so soon after I wrote my email, so I went ahead and emailed them again through their website. This time, they responded as such:

Dear Alan:

Thank you for your e-mail now and from the recent past.

As you can tell, we take all suggestions seriously. I am pleased we are able to provide this important information.

Sincerely,

Steve

Steven D. Hammel

Vice President & General Manager

WRAL-TV

Cool!

It’s these little things that make a big difference. I never really thought my inquiry would lead to a true change, but it just goes to show you that merely asking or speaking up CAN make a difference. So I encourage you to do the same. Suggest to your local TV station or newspaper to do a piece on Melanoma, inform them of the “Dear 16-Year-Old Me” video, or ask them to post the UV Index every day.

Whatever it is, ask for it.

Caching and Remembering

2011-07-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

As I’ve browsed the skin cancer blogosphere and roamed the halls at the Hotel Melanoma, I’ve encountered two types of folks. The first are those who share their personal experiences with the disease. The second are folks who share their thoughts and awareness campaigns in honor or memory of a loved one that battled melanoma. My blog and Jodi’s 5K run are dedicated to those who have passed and we intend to carry on their messages. We are inspired by our loved ones ever day. But some days, we simply just miss them. Today was such a day for me.

About two years ago, I started a hobby, activity… I’m not sure how one might categorize it. Anyhow, I started to geocache. In simple terms, geocaching is the act of using one’s GPS to locate items hidden by others. The coordinates are listed in geocaching.com (where else?) along with a description and an online log of all the people who have visited. You can log on to the site if you’re interested in more detail. It’s rather neat in that there are thousands of hidden “caches” (many containing cheap trinkets…all containing a log sheet) all over the place. For those familiar with the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NY, there’s a cache hidden at E 70^th St between 1^st Avenue and York Avenue. But I digress.

A couple of months after I started geocaching, I told my brother about it. Jeff is seven years older than I, so we never really got into the same things. And once we both were well into adulthood, we simply lived too far away from one another. He last lived near Akron, OH and I live near Raleigh, NC. Because of the age and physical distance, we really never talked but once a month or so on the phone, if that. Anyhow, he took great interest in geocaching, and before you know it, he and I were calling each other weekly to describe our latest caching adventures. He became the one person I looked forward to sharing such stories with and I believe he felt the same. Sure, we’d share with our wives, but only Jeff and I really understood one another regarding this hobby. This silly high-tech scavenger hunt really brought us closer together.

I didn’t stop geocaching after Jeff died, but I was never as enthused about it. I enjoy going out into the woods or scanning hiding places in office parks (yes, we have our fair share of encounters with “secuirity”). Earlier this year, I even got three “first-to-finds” in one day…a difficult feat since many cachers are devoted simply to being the first to make a find. When I found my third, I grabbed my cell phone and started to dial my brother. Then I realized he’d been gone for 4 months.

Damn.

I hadn’t been caching recently until this past Saturday. I went to the aforementioned 5K walk/run in the morning, and then decided to attend a geocaching event close by afterwards. Two events closely linked to my brother. I was inspired to go find a couple of caches as I drove home…just for Jeff. Today, I saw where a few new caches were hidden along my commute route. I decided to stop by one and look. I found myself at a dead-end road with plenty of trees surrounding the area. I carefully trekked through the woods as I stared at my GPS, carefully avoiding spider webs and tick-infested trees. I felt I was zeroing in when I heard a loud buzzing. A wasp was right next to my face…and I freaked out. Like Indiana Jones running away from the ball, I flew through the brush and spider webs and back to my car. And then it occurred to me…there are spiders on them thar webs! So I followed my out-of-woods sprint with the “there’s a spider on me” dance. Thank goodness the area was isolated or else I would have surely been seen as totally crazy. Once my heart-rate settled, I saw the humor in it all, I started to laugh. Another geocaching adventure…and I instinctively reached for my cell phone.

Damn.

Melanoma has a devastating effect on those it invades. Blogs written by those who have suffered (or are suffering) through the disease's attacks are an incredible read and very eye-opening. But also know that it's not important just to protect yourself from melanoma, it's important to protect your loved ones. Don't be afraid to remind a relative or friend to apply sunscreen. Don't be too shy to mention that their visit to a tanning salon is a really bad idea. Losing a loved one to melanoma has lasting effects on you as well.

One footnote to this is that when one finds a cache, one goes back online and logs the find with any comments regarding the condition of the cache or any side stories (such as a notice that there may be wasps in the area). Ever since Jeff’s passing, I’ve written my log entries with the following closing, “Thanks for placing this cache, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!” It’s my way of bringing Jeff along on another adventure.

Denny's Challenge

2011-07-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I participated in my first Miles for Melanoma event. Denny’s Challenge is a 5K run/walk to raise money for melanoma research, donated to the Melanoma Research Foundation. This year’s event raised around $6500, beating last year’s inaugural amount of $5000. This is an incredible accomplishment from a small, but growing event.

The origin of this event is a pretty neat story. Let me share it directly from the event website, as written by her daughter Jodi:

At the age of 59, my father-Denny Neely, lost his valiant battle against cancer. In January 2008 he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. An eight centimeter tumor was found situated between his aorta, stomach and pancreas- survival on average with this diagnosis is 3 months. My father began clinical trials with some of the best doctors at the Hillman Cancer Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. An uphill battle from the start and through many setbacks; my father remained optimistic, never gave up hope and promised to fight this disease all the way to the end.

On July 3rd of 2009, 18 months into the fight, the tumor had grown, multiplied, attached, and attacked his vital organs. As he lay in his hospice bed, seeing in all of our faces that he was near the end, he challenged all of us in the room to a fifty mile race. The room laughed because we knew he was serious. Here’s a man that at this point could barely walk, could barely talk calling his shot like a thin, frail, Babe Ruth.

My dad was always challenging us to dig a little deeper in the storehouse, in the gut, in the desire to achieve. Today we extend that challenge to you. The 1^st sixteen individuals to finish the Denny’s Challenge 5k, together will have totaled fifty miles fulfilling the last goal of a fighting man. So call your shot, dig deep and run, walk or give toward Denny’s fifty mile goal in his memory and to raise money so we will one day find a cure for melanoma.

So, I took that challenge…knowing I had no chance whatsoever to finish in the top 16. But I showed up this past Saturday morning with my BITNP T-shirt (the new white colored version considering the heat of the day) and my best pair of walking shoes.

Sportin' the new shirt

One thing you might not know about me is that I’m quite shy. I’m much more outspoken with fingertips to keyboard than I am face-to-face. So I was basically a wall-flower as I watched everyone else stretch and prepare for the run. Wait, this is a walk too, right? I was a little intimidated by groups of people obviously from the same running clubs, and by pulse-measuring, ostrich-waltzing runners going through their pre-race routine. Yet, when it was time to start, I still took my place on the field, heard the horn blow to start the race, and started hoofing.

This was my view within seconds:

Almost last...and yes, that's a toddler beating me!

Oh, I wasn’t last…just in the bottom 1%. But you know what? I didn’t care and I had an incredible time. I caught up with a lady named Sue that works with the aforementioned Jodi. I learned a lot about Jodi’s cause, and was very impressed with her drive to get the word out about melanoma. A couple of other folks came up behind us…they turned out to be Denny’s brother Rich and his wife Rose. I was impressed that they flew all the way from New Mexico to enter this event. I learned a little more about Denny…and all during an incredible, healthy walk through a wonderful tree-lined course with good company and conversation. It didn’t feel like a race at all, but I felt like I was on a winning team.

We finished in just under an hour…in time to see the 16 medals given to the top finishers, and to hear Jodi give her final thanks to all that participated, along with one final reminder about sun-safety and melanoma.

Jodi Neely Wiley - Denny's Daughter

Yeah, there were runners there that were there for the times and medals, but the real winner was Jodi who continues her father’s wish and message.

I encourage everyone to participate in a Miles for Melanoma event. There’s another in the Raleigh area in October…I’ll definitely be attending and perhaps it will be a little cooler. I’m sure there will be one near you.

Eric's Story

2011-07-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

I want to share the story of Eric Sizemore. No, I'm not going to write it, I'm merely sharing it. He and his wife will actually tell it to you.

While I don’t know Eric or his wife Jill, they seem like pretty ordinary people. There seems to be nothing truly spectacular about them…nice people that you’d like to have for a neighbor and perhaps call friends. Unfortunately, Eric has advanced melanoma that has spread throughout his body. Sadly, too many people have experienced the same battle as Eric, whether through one’s personal fight, or through witnessing a family member or friend. Eric’s experience reminds me so much of my brother’s, it’s sometimes gives me the willies.

What makes Eric’s story special is that he is sharing it. I know…many others have written blogs about their melanoma battle, but he’s sharing even more. He and his wife, Jill started a blog at http://www.melanomasucks.blogspot.com/ in January, 2010. The postings were sporadic, but very effective as they showed the progression of disease on Eric’s leg. The postings stopped around April, 2011, but they started to post videos updates in March as his melanoma overtook his body…from the small pencil eraser-sized mole on his leg to the “too numerous” tumors in his legs, spine and throughout his body. This is what makes Eric stand-out. His videos are real, raw, tender and sometimes very difficult to watch. But his story needs to be seen and shared. I guarantee that anyone that watches the full series of his videos (13 in all thus far…I think) won’t go away feeling the same about melanoma. Please watch Eric’s video series. And send a prayer his way for a miraculous recovery.

Remembering Jeff...Again

2011-06-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

Last (and Best) Photo of Me and Jeff...September, 2010

I wrote this piece on my personal blog over seven months ago. I suppose it’s somewhat of a eulogy of my brother. There are some aspects you might not understand, not having known the two of us...such as the golf ball and geocaching...but I think you’ll get the gist of his life and our relationship by reading this. I’m reposting it because today, July 1, is my brother’s 56^th birthday. It’s also my twins’ 9^th birthday, so while I mourn my brother’s passing, I experience great joy (and nervousness) every July 1 as I watch my children eagerly approach their “pre-teen” years. My day will mostly be devoted to them, but since my awareness campaign and this blog have been dedicated to my brother, I thought I’d honor Jeff this one moment by sharing my words from last November.

My brother Jeff Estep passed away last night (November 15, 2010) after a brief bout with Melanoma that metastasized to his brain and lungs. He left us far too soon.
I can’t really compose my thoughts at the moment…but I thought typing random memories and thoughts may help me a bit. There seems like so few…and yet so many, if that makes sense. While I stop to think of specific memories about Jeff, I have trouble coming up with much at all. But then something happens and a memory will hit me like a ton of bricks.
One such occurrence was as I was putting the dishes away the other evening. I grabbed a paper towel that I had bread sitting upon and I suddenly recalled that it was Jeff that taught me how to fold up a paper napkin and not spill all the crumbs (corners in first). Of all the things to remember, that’s one specific lesson I remember.
Christmas…oh my. As we prepare the house for Christmas decorations, many memories flood on in. He and Debbie love Christmas so very, very much. Even when I visited in September, there was a Christmas tree in Debbie’s dressing room. It’ll be hard to have Christmas without Jeff coming to mind. And I know that Jeff wants us all to enjoy Christmas…not to shed a tear for losing him, but cast a smile on the beauty of the season…and the beauty his life left behind.
I remember the Boy Scout Indian Hand signals we used to use as kids. Our plan was to get up on early, and I mean EARLY, on Christmas morning to see what Santa had left behind. We’d not talk, but walk stealthily through the darkness with flashlights while communicating with Indian hand signals learned from the Boy Scout handbook. Of course, upon first sight of the Christmas tree and decorations, we forgot all hand signals and made a bigger racket than we did the year before.
We had a couple Christmas traditions...one that I’ll keep to myself. It was very juvenile and sophomoric…but it was ours. I know Jeff is smiling when I mention it.
The golf ball. What a wonderful tradition that was. Exchanged over several years, we would alternately give this old Elmer Fike golf ball to one another for the holidays. Until my last attempt pretty much destroyed the ball, we would both look forward to either receiving the ball, or the delight in watching the other receive. It was a tradition followed by many…and enjoyed so much by the two of us.
The two of us. We were seven years apart. When I enjoyed Bugs Bunny, he was into American Bandstand. When I started watching Dick Clark, he was back to watching cartoons. He entered WVU as I was still in elementary school. Eventually I also attended WVU…and a very large reason I did so was because of witnessing Jeff’s experiences in college. It wasn’t the partying…and there was some. It was just the whole experience and how I witnessed my brother grow up from a geeky acne-faced teen to a responsible young man. Whether he knew it or not, watching that was as much of a mentorship as I ever had.
He so loved that college. One of the highlights of his last couple months was attending a game and having his cousin, Coach Dunlap, take him on a tour of the locker room and inner sanctum of the team. I’d never heard him talk in such a giddy way than he did about that day.
I take that back. There was another time, at WVU that he was more excited and full of life. That’s when he met and fell in love with Debbie. He could never have asked for a better partner than Debbie. The love they share is incredible. And once again, showing his love and devotion became another standard I hoped to follow.
Like I said, we were 7 years apart, so we were never really “close” close. We were brothers, but not the call-every-day type. It’s just how we were wired. Or maybe it’s perhaps how I’m wired. Regardless, we still were brothers. And when he lost his job in Florida several years ago and lived with me in NC for a short while, that’s the first time we really shared our brotherhood. We shared secrets of growing up…stories of our experiences. While that was a tough time for Jeff and Debbie, it was a very special time for me.
Recently, Jeff and I shared the hobby of geocaching. I’m not sure why, but that hobby brought us closer than I ever recall. We actually started to become a pair of brothers that would call one another often…just to share stories of the hobby and, of course, toss in a few tidbits about life as well. The last photo I ever had taken with Jeff was when we went geocaching together in September. That’s most definitely my favorite photo of us, ever.
He was with me when I got my first birdie in golf, and he was the obvious choice for Best Man in my wedding. But I guess the greatest legacy I have of my brother is his shared birthday with my kids. How ironic that they were both born on his 47th birthday. They’re a product of my love for my wife Kim…and yet a reminder, even once a year, for the love I have for my big brother.
One final memory I'd like to share, although I apologize for the dark humor. When we were kids, we played cops and robbers or some variation of the game. Whoever played the robber would ultimately get shot and play out a death scene. Every time, the robber would mutter, "The treasure....the treasure is...the treasure is hidden in the....." and then die. My father told me that on Jeff's real death bed, that my brother muttered something illegible three times before taking his last breath. Most likely he told Debbie that he loved her, but a part of me thinks that maybe, just maybe, he was playing that game one last time. That was his sense of humor. And I think he's safe with his treasure.
I do love you Jeffrey…and I’ll miss you. God bless you.

Sunblock Gone Bad

2011-06-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, I have to lighten things up. I ran into a piece on the Huffington Post that showcases Sunblock Failures. While most or just odd, I thought I'd share a few that actually gives a little sunscreen advice. Enjoy:

1. If you wear sandals, don't forget to apply sunscreen to your feet!

2. When applying sunscreen to your back, realize you can't reach your entire back by yourself!

3. Wear a hat. But, um...also wear sunscreen!

Witnessing Ignorance During A Good Haircut

2011-06-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

My family and I went to our family haircut this past Saturday morning. Yes, despite having all different hair styles, we tend to get our locks cut during the same hour-long appointment every six weeks. It works out, it’s convenient, and it’s a money saver. But I had a little issue with my recent appointment. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with our hair cuts. The lady that cuts all our hair does an incredible job and we’re very happy with how we look when we leave. Even my mother-in-law goes to this gal. No, my current personal dilemma is related to the fact that the business is a hair styling…and tanning salon.

For the most part, I’ve somewhat ignored the coffin-like beds in the back rooms. They’re there, but they seem rarely used. We’ve been going to this establishment for a number of years and I never recall anyone using the beds, until this past Saturday.

An older lady that looked like she was in her sixties was the patron of the tanning service. She was dressed in a sleeveless blouse and shorts…appropriate for the mid-90 degree heat of central North Carolina. I could see that her skin was deeply freckled and she was quite tan. Very tan in fact. I wondered why she even wanted to use the bed…she was THAT tan. Her appointment was short…less than 15 minutes. As she left, she asked if she could come back on Monday. It turns out that they were going to be closed this Monday, so she immediately made an appointment for Tuesday.

After she left, one of the hair stylists asked the other why the lady was so anxious to return for another tanning session. It was stated that she was going to the beach for the Independence Day weekend and wanted to get a base tan. She’d been visiting the tanning bed every day for the past week.

I kept my mouth shut. While I don’t agree with the use of tanning beds, they ARE legal and it’s the responsibility of each person to decide whether they should use them or not. (I’ll not get into the tanning for minors debate right now). This lady obviously decided she “needed” that tan…it’s her choice. It’s a stupid choice.

I wasn’t mad at the business. They have every right to have such a business, and I can only assume they run it well within the law. They seem like really good people, and I won’t judge them based on my personal disgust at the tanning industry.

I was mad at the woman. Not at the personal choice to make her freckled (and I saw a couple moles) skin look more leathery…but at the example she’s making of herself. I’m sure she has a child and possibly a grandchild (or maybe she wasn’t as old as she looked)…someone that looks up to her. She’s setting an example that tanning is okay. I would bet she’s had a couple pre-cancerous or basal cell carcinoma spots removed in her lifetime…and thus has solidified her opinion that skin cancer can simply be cut out. It infuriated me to witness her disregard for what she was doing to herself, but more so to the image she was possibly portraying as acceptable to others.

I’m not a picket sign-welding activist type by any means. My written speech is more effective and clearer than my spoken word. I almost wish I would have said something to this lady, but I didn’t. I have to wonder if I can keep my mouth shut during a future appointment should someone else seem to make poor decisions. I don’t want to jeopardize my family’s acceptance into this hair salon, and I respect our stylist too much as a friend to want to do anything to affect her business, especially in this economy. This is my dilemma.

Most likely I’ll continue to be quiet, but I’ve realized lately that the word NEEDS to get out more than I share here. I love sharing my thoughts, and sharing information via my Facebook page. I don’t plan on stopping for a long time. At the same time, I wonder if I’m preaching to the choir.

I have some thoughts of how to change that…of how I can get the word out and help to educate those who need to be educated. I won’t share just yet, but I’ll announce it soon. (I learned after announcing I would have t-shirts available soon that there are unforeseen issues lurking about. On which, by the way, I’m still working). In the meantime, I’d be interested in hearing your stories on getting out the word…of increasing the community’s awareness of skin cancer and melanoma.

Keep spreading the word while you keep spreading the sunscreen!

Chemicals in Sunscreen

2011-06-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation with a good friend today who shared a story about her daughters' visit to the beach with their grandparents. She said that they all had a good time and the grandmother had a glowing report on the girls' behavior in general. But then she said one interesting thing...that one of her grand daughters uses too much sunscreen. "I told her she just loads it on, she's not going to get a tan at all." Needless to say, my friend responded to her mother with "Yeah, and she won't get burnt either, and therefore lessens her chances of gettng skin cancer." (Atta girl)

She went on to mention to me that her fair-skinned daughter has "endured teasing from friends and people who just think their comments are funny, considered it, and at the cusp of teenagerhood has decided that fewer wrinkles and a lesser chance of skin cancer at 50 is more important than a tan now." (Atta girl..again) It's sad to think that we have to fight not only ignorance about skin cancer, but peer pressure as well.

But the point I wanted to bring up is that the grandmother apparently muttered something about "chemicals" when discussing the use of sunscreen. This is an arguement/opinion that I've heard before, so it prompted me to dig into the article I linked in my last post. Here's what the article had to say:

With regard to ingredients, many dermatologists recommend products with micronized titanium or zinc oxide as the most effective sun blockers that leave no white residue on the skin. There is some concern, based on animal studies, that the most popular ingredient in sunscreens, oxybenzone, may disrupt natural hormones, but the scientific evidence is scant.

Another chemical, retinyl palmitate, sometimes listed among the inactive ingredients, has been linked to skin cancers in animal studies. Because it is converted into a compound that can cause birth defects, it should be avoided by women who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant.

However, although more studies of these possible risks should be done, Consumer Reports concluded that “the proven benefits of sunscreen outweigh any potential risks."

- NY Times

Chemicals in any lotion or cream is a valid concern...so I won't downplay anyone's fears. At the same time, one has to learn that sun exposure can be a deadly thing as well. A "simple" sunburn can have major consequences. So if you have a fear of sunscreen chemicals, seek reliable natural alternatives. Stay in the shade...wear protective clothing...wear a proper hat...research "natural" sunscreens (if they exist and are reliable). Don't assume a "base tan" provides ample protection...it doesn't. Whatever your choice...be sun smart and sun safe!

And to my friend's mother, I'd say, "your grand daughter isn't the palest girl on the beach, she's the brightest girl on the beach!"

All About Sunscreen

2011-06-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

I was going to write an information piece on the new sunscreen rules (to be applied next year) but I ran across an article in the New York Times that explains it far better than I ever could. The important thing to realize is that we probably don't put on enough sunscreen now...so make sure to reapply it every two hours. Also, don't just apply it when you go to the beach or an outdoor activity...make it a part of your daily routine. If you work indoors like me, spray it on in the morning to prevent "commuter tan." Take a can with you to spray if you go outdoors at lunch, and reapply before commuting back home.

But as I said, the following article has so much more to share, so please read!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/health/21brody.html?_r=1

Cat's in the Cradle

2011-06-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

A personal note…this post really has little to do about melanoma or skin cancer, but is a memory of my brother Jeff who is the inspiration for my blog site and current awareness campaign.

Typically, a posting with a song title is more likely found over at the Hotel Melanoma (check out Rich’s blog if you haven’t yet, and prepare for some toe-tapping). The title of this posting is indeed that of a song, but it has further meaning for me.

A little over a year ago, I had a dilemma. I had only a limited amount of vacation days at work, and two out-of-town events to which I was invited. One was a family reunion, but technically not my family. A couple years after my mother died, my dad married a wonderful lady named Kitty. Apparently her family, the Finch’s, held a family reunion every two years, and my dad asked me, my wife and my kids to attend the one scheduled in June, 2010. I really don’t know Kitty’s family at all and wasn’t sure I wanted to drag the family 6-plus hours to West Virginia to spend a day or two with strangers.

The second event was my 30^th high school class reunion. I had attended a different university than many of my high school friends, and then my life and career path took me on a far different course than theirs. While I kept sporadic touch with few acquaintances over the years, I essentially lost touch with many friends from my past. I might have had little interest in attending the reunion, but Facebook helped me reconnect with many, and the temptation to go back for the reunion was strong. I knew my wife would be bored with the events and my kids would not have wanted to hang around daddy and some other old people.

I wanted to attend both, but again, my vacation days only allowed me to attend one. For me, it was a toss-up. Spend time with family that, while our time together is rare, I’ll most likely see again soon…or visit old friends I’d not seen for decades. At times when I had trouble making such a decision, I’d call my brother Jeff, so I did. He shared some of the good times he had at his class reunions and also mentioned that he went to the Finch reunion two years prior and had a pretty good time. Well, at least he would be there…but still I was undecided. Then Jeff said four words…”Cat’s in the Cradle.”

My dad was 76 last spring. While he was in generally good health, he wasn’t getting any younger. Each time I saw him…at a frequency of every 3 to 6 months…he appeared to age every bit of it. His advancing aging stopped somewhat when he met Kitty…she reinvigorated him quite a bit after his depression following Mom’s death. Still, he was 76…and this is what my brother was referring to. Essentially, it was much like the Harry Chapin song. The father-son relationship in the song is such that the father is always too busy to play with his son time, yet the son continues to admire the dad. And when the father suddenly has more time later in retirement, his son is grown and too busy to spend time with his dad. What my brother was hinting at was that I should pick the family reunion and spend time with Dad…because we really didn’t know how much time we all had together.

I decided on the Finch reunion. And I had a great time. But the best part was that I got to see my brother and his wife for the first time in a few years. Sure, I met a bunch of Finch family members that, honestly, I can’t remember now. But I remember playing cornhole and passing Frisbee with my brother. I also recall that he and I spent the morning together before the picnic sharing a hobby we both enjoyed…geocaching. I’ll share a few stories about that another time, but the thing is, we spent about three hours together doing this activity. Waking up early in the morning like a couple of fishermen, we headed out on our quest. And we had a blast doing it! In fact, I can’t recall anything we’d done together like that since we were kids. My dad even made note of the fact, and commented how much it pleased him to see the two of us bonding and spending time together.

I suppose you can guess the irony of all this. It wasn’t dad who I might not see again…it was Jeff. The reunion was June 19, 2010…about a year ago. That turned out to be a fun reunion for my family, and a special day personally with my brother. It also was the last time I saw my brother healthy. I talked to him weekly, and I saw him once more before he died of Stage IV melanoma, but that day one year ago was truly special, and shall continue to be.

“We sure had a good time then, Jeff, we sure had a good time then.”

What's The UV Index Where YOU Live?

2011-06-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I attached a UV Index gadget to the top left of this blog. (Thanks to Melissa of “Melanoma Sucks” for sharing this). If you enter your zip code, it’ll take you to the EPA website where it will present your UV index for the day. Gadgets are cool.

But what exactly is the UV Index? I consulted the Google-Gurus and found this excerpt from the NOAA and National Weather Service:

The UV Index is a next day forecast of the amount of skin damaging UV radiation expected to reach the earth's surface at the time when the sun is highest in the sky (solar noon). The amount of UV radiation reaching the surface is primarily related to the elevation of the sun in the sky, the amount of ozone in the stratosphere, and the amount of clouds present. The UV Index can range from 0 (when it is night time) to 15 or 16 (in the tropics at high elevations under clear skies). UV radiation is greatest when the sun is highest in the sky and rapidly decreases as the sun approaches the horizon. The higher the UV Index, the greater the dose rate of skin damaging (and eye damaging) UV radiation. Consequently, the higher the UV Index, the smaller the time it takes before skin damage occurs.

Below is a chart showing the minutes to skin damage chart, depending on the UV Index and how easily you sun burn:

What this basically says is that if you “usually” burn and the UV Index is at “7”, you’ll start seeing sun damage at around 28 minutes. If you “rarely” burn, then you’d start seeing sun damage at 70 minutes.

Anything that indicates that one should wear sunscreen is a good thing. The UV Index for Raleigh today was 11+ (that’s as high as they post), so it was definitely a day to wear sunscreen.

What I don’t like about the chart above is the suggestion that it’s okay to wander around in the sun unprotected for the minimum time listed. I think this gives a false sense of security. It’s best to simply tell everyone to wear sunscreen despite the UV Index. Anyone who ventured outside in Raleigh today at noon who might “sometimes” burn probably would not have wanted to be unprotected in the sun for the 30 minutes implied as safe. It was hot, sunny and not a safe place to be without sun protection.

Below is another chart I found which seems a little better:

This one doesn’t distinguish between skin sensitivity, but it pretty much just says if the UV Index is high, seek protection. What I don’t like is the recommendation for UV1 or UV12, “No protection required!” I guess living in the south, I can’t imagine too many days where no protection is required…and if such a day does exist, I’d probably want to keep my shirt on anyhow.

One thing I read on the EPA site is that once the UV Index goes above 6, a UV Alert is issued. Okay, when I imagine an "alert," I think of an announcement that's important and wide spread. As I said, the UV Index today was 11+, and yet I saw no evidence of an alert. I don’t get the daily paper, so it might have been in there. But I do watch the local news and check out the websites. Neither had one bit of information about the UV Index short of a link buried deep within other links such as local lake levels and historical hurricane maps. I emailed one local TV station to ask why they don’t post the UV index…once I hear something, I’ll post their response. I suspect that they might say that the UV Index is posted for only the noon hour each day (true) and that it’s not a true reflection of the entire day’s sun exposure, therefore they don't report it. Or they might simply state that, at least in this area, there’s an alert every day in the summer months, so why constantly post it when there’s nothing “new” to report? I certainly hope the latter is not the case.

The UV Index is not a perfect tool, but again, anything that gets a person to consider the consequences of going into the sun unprotected is a good thing. So feel free to type in your zip code and determine how strong the “burn” is in your town. Either way, wear the sunscreen!

Don't Be Merely Informed, Become Aware

2011-06-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

I think we’ve all encountered this person at one point in our lives. It’s the person that moves into the neighborhood and talks about how everything is better “back home.” It’s the new colleague that just graduated and is full of all the theories that’s been learned and how your years-of-experience is all wrong. It’s the good friend that seems to berate all that you hold dear. They might have great intentions …but they don’t REALLY get it.

Now you probably think I’m getting ready to rant about those who don’t listen to sun-safe advice…the ones that visit tanning beds despite the increased notices that it’s a dangerous and deadly practice. Sure, they can fall in this category. But in this case, I’m talking about…well…me.

I started this blog a few months ago as a way to deal with the grief associated my brother’s passing. I figured if I continued telling others of the dangers of tanning as he had done, it would somehow make it all better. Honestly, it hasn’t brought him back, but it has made me feel better. But I didn’t really know what he went through. I didn’t understand the worry he had when he had melanoma 6 years ago and had it cut out. (That’s all you have to do…right?). I didn’t fully understand melanoma it reappeared bad (Stage 4) last autumn. I had hoped that he’d get better, but I didn’t really understand the cruelty of the disease. I learned to hate it, but I didn’t REALLY get it.

Still, I decided to start my BITNP campaign. I wanted to tell people about the dangers of UV rays. I wanted to warn people so they’d not have to experience it. So I read articles and browsed the web and found all I could about melanoma and skin cancer. I didn’t learn it all, but I gained plenty of pertinent facts and figures. And I started to post them. I made this blogsite and I made a Facebook page so that I could tell everyone exactly what’s what with melanoma. But then I encountered something that I didn’t anticipate. I crossed paths with people…people who did understand…people who got it…people with melanoma.

I guess I naively thought I’d reach out to those that needed to be warned, and didn’t even think I’d be meeting those who actually experienced this damned disease. In fact, I’ve come to realize that everyone that reads this or my Facebook has probably been touched by melanoma directly. They appreciate that I’m sharing information, but I appreciate what they have to offer more.

I have followed several blogs of melanoma warriors and survivors closely, some closely and some sporadically. Each time I read an account of their lives…of their experiences…it taught me so much. I do know that melanoma can take someone you love away from you as it did my brother. But I’ve witnessed through others’ words the joys of remission very closely followed by the terror of reoccurrence. I have read stories of incredible support from friends and family, and I have felt sadness when some relationships faltered due to the stress of the disease. I have read how people laugh in the face of melanoma and continue to live life to the fullest, and I have read as some…well…can no longer live as they desire.

I still feel the facts and figures are important and I’ll continue to share, but I don’t think people will understand the true seriousness of melanoma until they read the real stories. Your stories. So to those that don’t read my blog, please click some of the links to other blogs I offer here, read them and learn. And to those that do read my thoughts, continue to share yours. It’s not bitching or whining…it’s not merely venting after difficulty or being boastful after success. It’s sharing the entire true experience of melanoma. It’s making people aware, not just informed. It’s helping and making a bigger difference than you know. Thank you for sharing.

Irony Follow-Up

2011-06-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

I revisited the doc today for a couple reasons. First, to get my blood work (refer to my previous admission to high cholesterol/triglycerides) and secondly to get a steroid shot for some tendonitis in my shoulder (too much Facebook time probably...smirk). While there, I asked, "so, doc...what were you saying about that mole of mine?"

Well, it turns out we had a miscommunication. He claimed that he might have said we could "lop it off"...but for now, he just wanted to keep it under observation. While my growing awareness has instilled a growing paranoia within me, I agree that it's a good idea to just watch for now. Afterall, I know I've had this mole (dysplastic nevi...or as I learned recently, Clark's nevi) for years and it's not changed that I can recall. Plus I had two separate dermatologists do the full-body finger skin dance on me and neither really made note of it. And I KNOW they looked at it...it's in a realtively high ticklish spot and I recall the fingers brushing that area (blush).

I'm scheduled see my primary dermatologist before I'm to return to my GP, plus I plan to monitor this (and one other that's being "watched" per suggestion by dermatologist #2) closely with comparitive photos. I'm not a doctor by any means, but I feel pretty confident that I can effectively monitor it and make an appointment should I see a change.

Thanks for the thoughts and commentary here and over on Facebook. Now to start a diet because...well, my triglycerides are through the roof. That's what I get for munching on snacks during vacation. But at least I did so while wearing sunscreen :)

Sun Safe and Sheik (Not Chic) Hats

2011-06-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Sheik hat, sunglasses, suncreen, and hydrating in the shade!

Vacationing at the beach, swimming at the neighborhood pool, and working in the yard…these are activities that have thrust me well into sun-protection mode. With being a little more aware this year, I have a few observations and tips to share:

· Apply your sunscreen before going to the beach initially. If you try to apply it at the beach and you prefer spray sunscreen, the ocean breeze will spread it more on the group 30 feet away than on you. If you apply lotion, it will be fine, but expect to spread sand all over your body as well. I neglected to apply beforehand the first time, so I used a combo of the two at the beach. I make my beach neighbors glisten and my skin look like it was covered I textured paint. (But I still wore it!)

· Spray-type sunscreen is REAL easy to apply to kids, with less wriggling and tickling giggles. But it seems that one can of spray lasts for only one application to a family of four. At $8 to $10 per can, it was an expensive application. In that regard, I’ve since learned that Target brand sunscreen was ranked very close to Banana Boat and Coppertone by Consumer Reports, and it’s nearly half the price!

· Wear wrap-around sunglasses. You know…the kind that David Duvall made famous? (Does anyone remember David Duvall?) They’re futuristic looking and they protect your eyes well. Plus, when driving, I find there to be less glare when the sun’s at my side. But beware, wrap-around shades does not mean that your wife can’t tell when you’re watching passing…um…patrons at the beach. You’ll still have bruised ribs by the end of your visit.

· Baseball/golf caps cause an increase of red necks. No…I’m talking about real red-colored necks. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your neck, or better yet, wear a hat that provides protection to the entire neck. I wear a wide-brimmed straw hat socially and at the beach while I don a hat that my kids say make me look like a sheik when I mow my lawn. The latter is a bit hot to wear, but provides great protection.

· Speaking of hats, visors do not protect the scalp. And for those who are hair-challenged like me, this leads to embarrassing red monk head.

· Wear a shirt when you work outside. Trust me, when you’re man in your late 40’s, this is more of a fashion necessity than sun-safe advice.

· One thing I read…a wet t-shirt offers almost no sun protection. No wonder such contests are usually held indoors and at night. Seriously though, my parents used to have me wear a shirt in the pool to protect from sunburn, and now I know why it never seemed to work.

· Don’t forget your feet! If there’s any part of my body that I burned more than others when I was younger, it was my feet or ankles.

· Stay hydrated! This means drink lots of good ol’ water. Beer tastes great after mowing a lawn, but it actually dehydrates, as does all alcohol. Refresh your body with water before refreshing your taste buds.

· Seek shade whenever you can. The best investment we made at the beach was one of the large rental umbrellas and chairs. We paid $18 for half a day and sat in the shade the entire time. Plus, we witnessed many folks chasing their personal umbrellas down the beach in the strong wind while ours stayed put the entire time.

· Do the yard work after 4:00. Between 10:00AM and 4:00OM is when the sun is at its peak, and your neighbors will thank you for not mowing the lawn at 7:00AM.

You can stay safe in the sun, but you can still have fun!