Melanoma Awareness Month in 2020

I am writing this on May 1, 2020.  Today is the first day of Melanoma and Skin Cancer awareness month.  May is typically a month where you’ll see news stories on skin cancer awareness and sun safety.  You’ll often see a charity run or walk occurring on the weekend.  It’s a good chance such an event is held to raise money for the Melanoma Research Foundation, AIM for a Cure, or some other melanoma organization. 

However, this year, the medical news is dominated by COVID-19…the pandemic sweeping the world.

There will be no gatherings for a walk.

There will be no gala.  In May, we are slowly trying to reopen the world, but it’ll be a slow and cautious process.  People are not so concerned about skin cancer.

Usually, I would point out that people die of melanoma at a rate of greater than one person an hour. That’s over 9,000 people who will be lost this year.  However, the virus has claimed nearly 63,000 U.S. citizens at the time of this writing within the last 3 or 4 months. 

These deaths do not reduce the significance of the melanoma fatalities by any means. Still, it’s easy for the general population to miss during these times.  I hope that all other deaths outside of the virus will not be forgotten.  The families affected by a death from melanoma, any cancer, heart disease, or any other fatal illness grieve as much as anyone.  This year it might be even harder because the families are not allowed to visit the sick in the hospital.  COVID-19 is killing not only those it affects directly but kills the opportunity to pass on with family near them in the hospital.  Afraid and alone.

2020 is not a typical year.

Please keep all who suffer in your thoughts this year.  Keep those who are trying to keep our sick comforted in your thoughts.  Keep in your thoughts those families who can’t say goodbye, or can’t attend the funeral.

It’s still Melanoma Awareness month, and I plan to post a few more thoughts and reminders.  I encourage you…beg you…to wear sunscreen. I still encourage you to visit your dermatologist on at least an annual basis.  And while you can’t walk or run in a charity event, you can still donate money to the melanoma organization of your choice.

Be safe out there.  And be sun-safe as well.

She Got What She Deserved…?

Earlier this week I shared an article on my Black is the New Pink Facebook page.  It was written by April Pulliam who shared her life-long experience with tanning which ultimately led to her diagnosis of melanoma.  She admitted that her excessive tanning led to her skin cancers.  “I worked so hard for this damage,” she wrote.  “I paid big bucks for years, but it’s nothing compared to the price I am paying now and will continue to pay for years to come.  A tan was never worth it.”  Obviously this is wisdom based upon a difficult experience and poor decisions.

During the last 6+ years of reading and sharing thoughts about melanoma, I have been exposed to many such stories of tanning leading up to a diagnosis of skin cancer or melanoma.  Some former tanners have died as a result.  Some have survived with minimal scarring.  Many experiences lay somewhere in between the two extremes.   April’s story is not new, nor is it unique.  But it’s a story that should be shared as often as possible so that people understand the impact of tanning.  I applaud April sharing her story and for warning others to not make the same mistake.

The day after posting the article, I stumbled upon a video that April had appeared in which she shared her experience.  Despite the same story, the video had much more impact.  The skin on her face was raw due to the annual application of a chemo-cream that wards off pre-cancerous spots on her skin.  (My brother had used the same cream with the same results at one time during his years-long fight).  Not only was April sharing her story, her appearance conveyed the true struggle in living, red color.  Once again, I decided to share her story on my Facebook page.  The first comment posted to the video was this:

“This story pisses me off.  She got what she deserved.  Myself I NEVER EVER willingly went into the sun without sunblock and I got skin cancer.”

Needless to say, her comment inspired many to respond with angered tone.  I’ll admit that I was quite shocked at the statement as well.  Actually, I shouldn’t say I was shocked…I was disappointed.  As social media becomes an engrained part of everyday life, negativity and insensitivity seems to grow by leaps and bounds.  What people state online is often far more harsh than what one would say to a person to his or her face.  With that in mind, this woman’s statement shouldn’t be shocking at all.  But again, it’s disappointing.

My mom smoked.  She died of lung cancer at the age of 70 years old.  Her health suffered.  But she lived a pretty good life.  I’m biased because she was my mom, but I recall so many more good things about her than bad.  She deserved a quiet, painless death at the end of a longer life.  I wish she would have chosen not to smoke, but she didn’t deserve lung cancer even if she did.

My brother died of melanoma at the age of 55.  He never visited a tanning bed that I know of, but he certainly tanned at the pool in the summers.  Baby oil was his “lotion.”  At the time, sunburns were the enemy which we treated with Solarcaine and aloe.  Once the peeling and pain were gone, the issue of damaged skin was never thought of again.  It’s just how it was.  He led a very successful and happy life with his wife Debbie.  He had a great job which made him happy and they had many good friends.  He deserved to be alive today.  He did not deserve melanoma even if he did get some dark tans.

It seems that the lady that responded to the video did everything that she could to not endure sun damage.  Despite her efforts, she got skin cancer.  Perhaps that’s where her anger grows.  I have a cousin who had mouth cancer, despite never having smoked or chewed tobacco or any other “vices” associated with mouth cancer.  He often questioned why chain smokers would live cancer-free yet he had to suffer.  While most melanomas can be attributed to UV exposure, many cases cannot.  It just happens.  Redheads are predisposed to have a higher risk just because of who they are.  It’s not fair.  But redheads don’t “deserve” skin cancer any more than someone who tans.  No one deserves cancer.

I’ve kept the woman’s comment on my page along with the rebuttals and her counter-arguments.  I want there to be a voice…a dialogue.  I seriously doubt that this lady will take back her words in that her anger seems pretty deep.  I’m not a therapist, so perhaps my assumption about her anger is completely off the mark.  Maybe there is some other reason for her anger.  Or maybe she’s just an ass.

Regardless of who she is, she was diagnosed with skin cancer.  I applaud her efforts to fight off the ill-effects of the sun with sunblock.  I am sorry that she was diagnosed anyway.  I hope she doesn’t have melanoma or that she doesn’t have to suffer as April has or as my brother did prior to his death.  She may have pissed off a lot of people with her remarks, but even she doesn’t deserve the skin cancer she got.

Tanning is Not a Game!

I don’t shock easily.  I may find some things in this world upsetting or confusing or whatever, but rarely does something shock me.

Today, the Facebook Page “Pull the Plug on Tanning Beds” shared a children’s computer game called “Sophia the First Tanning Salon.”  Sophia the First is a popular cartoon princess who appears on the Disney Channel.  If you have any preschool daughters, you have undoubtedly heard of this little princess.   Anyhow, apparently the game allows the user, intended to be a small girl, to learn remedial computer skills by selecting items with the mouse through a tanning process.  “Pull the Plug” was livid and encouraged followers to write to the game company, and to Disney, to complain about this game.

I wrote the following:  "You have GOT to be kidding! The FDA has issued a warning against all minors from using tanning beds as a result of the increased risk of skin cancer and melanoma. And now you're teaching kids that tanning beds are fun? When will you come out with Sophia the First Humidor to teach kids the fun with smoking? How about Sophia the First Binge Drinking? Please take this game down now!"  Others sent similar messages.

But in all honesty, this didn’t shock me.  It surprised me because, while I knew the peer pressure to tan was evident in high schools, middle schools, and perhaps even elementary schools, I never suspected there to be such influence towards preschool girls.  Disappointed?  Yes, but not shocked.

It then occurred to me that Sophia the First might not be the only children’s character to fall to the seductions of tanning.  So I Googled “tanning games.”  I was quite surprised by the number of websites with similar games as Sophia…aimed at preschoolers and girls of all ages.  Again I was surprised and I browsed the many games.  And then…I was shocked:

All images from ogigames.com

Yes, what you see above is the beginning of a girls game called, “Cinderella Pregnant Tanning Solarium.”  I kid you not…this is real!

Per the introduction, “the sun is not strong enough for a tan and Cinderella cannot go to the beach, especially since she is pregnant.  (We’ll assume that she married Prince Charming before she got knocked up.)   She decided to go to the salon and get that perfect summer tan that will perfectly match her beautiful hair. First of all she must prepare for the solarium by choosing a nice bathing suit shave her legs and apply sun lotion for protection.”  (Um…if you’re using a tanning bed you ain’t gonna use sunscreen!)

So, I decided to play the game.  A guiding hand showed the young girl (me in this case) where to move the cursor and click the mouse.  First, one must select a swim suit.  I chose this frilly pink and blue striped bikini:

Next I used bolt cutters to remove any jewelry from Cindy’s body.  This included her necklace, bracelets and ankle bracelet.  Apparently this is to advise that it’s important not to wear metal in the tanning bed.  (I didn’t notice a wedding band either…hmmm)  And yes, I said bolt cutters:

Next I put a comb in her hair to make sure her neck would be nice and exposed to the rays, and then I shaved her legs:

I have no words.

Afterwards I applied “protective lotion.”  If you look carefully you can see the letters UV on the bottle.  They probably printed it so small so as not to lessen the tanning fun with pesky UV statistics.

Finally I gave Cindy her eye protection and it was off to the tanning bed!

Notice that there is a choice of a light, medium or dark tan.  The latter suggests a tanning time of 60 minutes.  Even though tanning salons are sleazy, I’m sure even they agree that poor Cinderella will turn into pumpkin bread after 60 minutes laying in the bed!  But what the heck, I chose dark.  After applying some “After Tan” spray plus a Pumpkin Carriage belly tattoo,  Cinderella was a new tanned (pregnant) princess!

Speaking of princesses, the player can opt for others to partake in this tanning pampering session, including Elsa, Ariel and the aforementioned Sophia.  Neither of the other princesses appears pregnant, but Barbie does indeed show up after having spent a careless night a few months ago with Ken and/or the Toy Story crew.

The point of this message is not to shock you with the story line of the game, but to be shocked that tanning influence exists when our kids are barely out of diapers!  We all know of the “dangers” of what may be online …but this is a different and unexpected kind of danger.  Please speak with your children and teach by example.  Wear your sunscreen, check your skin, and for goodness sake, stay out of the tanning beds!  Tanning is a game you will lose!

Are Tanning Beds Still A Thing? Sadly, yes

John Oliver is a British comedian who had appeared many times on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart and who now has his own show on HBO called “Last Week Tonight” which airs on Sundays.  He has a segment called, “How is this STILL a thing?” featuring funny bits on stupid or seemingly impractical practices that continue today.  Examples have included “Pennies,” “Daylight Savings Time,” and “Dressing up as other races.”  Last night he posed the question to tanning beds.  Have a look at the video…

I shared this on my Facebook page and it’s already been seen by many.  It’s refreshing to see a comedic take on the stupidity of using tanning beds.  But at the same time, the question remains, “how are tanning beds still a thing?”  The answer may lie within the video above.

There are organizations listed in the video that support the tanning industry including the Indoor Tanning Association and the American Suntanning Association.  These groups might support a stupid, vain and proven dangerous practice, but they are smart and savvy.

A few years ago, the ASA actually supported the North Carolina bill to ban tanning beds for those under 18 years of age.  Yes, they SUPPORTED the ban.  At the time, I was skeptical of their claim, wondering if they might not be realigning their tanning strategy from targeting high school kids to soliciting the college-age crowd.

I was right.  In the past couple of years, tanning salons have cropped up all over college campuses and some tanning beds are appearing in private and university-owned dormitories as part of an amenity package.  Luckily, there are folks trying to discourage colleges and universities from endorsing tanning businesses.  However, despite increased broadcasts of sunscreen importance and UV ray dangers, more and more “educated” college kids are seeking that golden tan.

But it’s not just the college crowd.  Blatant ignorance still exists in blue collar America.  Despite the warnings…despite the deaths…despite ample information, adults are still choosing to visit tanning salons.

A 34 year-old co-worker who recently started where I work announced last week that she was looking forward to hitting the tanning bed.  Having made the statement in front of me and  having not known my stance, other colleagues backed away as if Clint Eastwood was about to have a shootout.  As expected, I pretty much laid into the otherwise nice and sharp lady about her absolute stupidity at visiting a tanning salon.  Her arguments included, “I’ve been going for years and I don’t have cancer,” “But I never burn,” “My skin is too ugly unless it has some color,” and the classic “I need a base tan for when I’m outside this summer.”  Yes, I rebutted each point (“Each time you go you increase your chances and it’s a cumulative effect,” “Tanning is a sign of skin damage, not just burning,” “Your skin color is beautiful but you will get more wrinkles and sun damage if you continue tanning,” and “Bullshit!”)  Still, she hasn’t changed her mind and despite being older than an over confident college kid, she still approaches tanning with an exuberant ignorance.  It’s really frustrating. 

And yes, tanning beds are still a thing.  Just not a good thing.

<sigh>

Melanoma Does Not Discriminate

In this day and age, the term “discrimination” gets discussed more and more.  It seems like not a day goes by where there isn’t some public policy or some celebrity statement that gets labeled as discriminatory.  It’s true that we all have some bit of prejudice within our personalities.  Whether it be an opinion offensive to many or a private irritation with someone who differs from you in some way, we humans all discriminate on some level.  It’s true. 

There are, however a few things in this world that do not discriminate.  The weather.  Aging.  Hunger.  But of course there is one thing in particular I need everyone to understand that does not discriminate.  Melanoma

My Facebook page is approaching 6,000 likes.  I have been followed by people in all 50 states as well as 69 countries…from Algeria to Zimbabwe.  Each one, I assume have been somehow touched by melanoma.  Believe it or not, I have opened the profiles of every person that has followed the “Black is the New Pink – Fight Melanoma” Facebook page.  Every.  Single.  One.  And while not each one allows access to personal information, most share a photo or two that depict not on what is important to each one’s life, but a bit of their personality.  I can assure you that melanoma does not discriminate.

It is true that melanoma is more prevalent in people with lighter toned skin and blonde or red hair.  But there have been many followers of all skin colors all the way to the darkest of dark.  In fact, since it’s harder to detect melanoma on darker skin, the cancer is usually detected at a much higher and deadly level when ultimately found.  It’s true; people of dark skin should wear sunscreen and see the dermatologist as often as someone with pale white skin like myself.

Religion?  No discrimination there as well.  Christian, Muslim, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists…you name it and someone from each religion has been touched by the black cancer.  No matter the name of your god or spiritual guide, you flesh is as susceptible as the person’s next to you.  Protect yourself!  Especially you sun worshipers!

Politics?  Whether you “feel the Bern” or “Trust Ted,” your political beliefs have no effect at rejecting melanoma.  Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, Socialists, Communists, Anarchists…I’ve had them all stop by my Facebook page.  They’ve all been touched.

Do you preach the moral high ground?  DO you work in the adult film industry?  Are you fighting of an addiction?  Do you work as an executive for a Fortune 500 company?  No matter your social or economic status, you all share in that 1 in 50 chance of getting melanoma, and 1 in 5 chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer.

Do you live along the equator?  South Africa?  Iceland?  Certainly, the more exposure you have to the sun, the greater your risk of melanoma.  However, there are melanoma warriors on every continent at every latitude and longitude on the globe.

No, melanoma does not discriminate.  But it can be resisted.  As stated countless times, protect yourself by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing and gear.  Stay out of the sun at peak times and seek shade.  Wear sunglasses and hats.  And perhaps most importantly, check your skin!  Check it yourself at least once a month and monitor any changes.  Visit your dermatologist at least once a year!  Prevention and detection are the best ways to fight melanoma.  No matter who or what you are.

Jimmy Carter's Cancer and a Guilty Thought

I had a thought this morning for which I’ve felt a bit guilty all day. 

As I was getting ready for work, I saw the story on television where former President Jimmy Carter was going to share more details about his cancer later in the day.  I couldn’t recall such an event before regarding cancer.  Usually, one announced their cancer diagnosis right away…there was no waiting for an announcement of the specific details later.  “Steven Jobs announces that he has pancreatic cancer.”  “Shannon Doherty reveals breast cancer diagnosis.” “Jimmy Carter has….cancer to be revealed next week.”

I wondered what type of cancer he might have, and it occurred to me that whichever cancer he has will get a real boost in awareness and publicity.  I stopped short of it, but I came damned close to wishing that President Carter would announce that he has melanoma.

All of you should know that I would never ever wish cancer, especially melanoma on any person…not even my worst enemy.  Still, there’s always been this near desperation to have a celebrity representative for “our” cancer.  Bob Marley has been our go-to guy…the perfect example of how melanoma can attack the young and those with darker skin.  However, we still lacked a mainstream face, and don’t think that we didn’t search for one.  Remember how we all shared that Hugh Jackman had skin cancer?  Sure, it was basal cell carcinoma (BCC), but it was skin cancer and a celebrity was talking about it.  We were so “happy.”  And yet, none of us are really ever happy for anyone diagnosed with cancer, even BCC.

As it turns out, Jimmy Carter did indeed announce that he has melanoma that has metastasized to his brain and liver.  I feel awful for him and his family.  While there have been many who have survived a Stage IV melanoma diagnosis, the survival rate is still only 15%.  Many have beaten the odds.  More have not.  This includes my brother Jeff.

It was 5 years ago…almost to the day….that my brother announced that he had Stage IV melanoma that had metastasized to his brain and lungs.  I recall talking to him and he stated how he actually felt quite healthy.  He had plans to go to work for a few months and take some time off whenever the treatments made him feel sick.  He simply couldn’t believe he had cancer, especially cancer in his brain.  Less than a month later, I visited him and he could no longer go to work.  He needed a cane to walk.  His memory and brain functions were diminishing.  He, frankly, looked like he had cancer.  Two months after that, he was gone.

While the prognosis remains dim, President Carter has a much better shot at survival than did my brother.   He is being treated with an immunotherapy drug called Keytruda.   This and several other drugs simply didn’t exist five years ago.  Amazing research has occurred.  However, what remains relatively low on the radar is awareness about melanoma.

The public continues to see melanoma as just another skin cancer.  Just like Hugh Jackman’s BCC, many people think that melanoma can be cut out and all that remains is a large bandage on the nose.  This is simply not the case with melanoma.  As with Mr. Carter, melanoma can form inconspicuously on the skin and spread to other parts of the body if it remains undetected.  It can spread to the liver, the lungs, the brain…anywhere!  It can start anywhere on the skin, including places that never see the sun.  (Yes, even “those” places).  It can start in your eyes or in your mouth.  It is simply one of the nastiest and sneakiest cancers there is.  But make no mistake, no matter where it might occur, it’s still melanoma.

One of my good friends and fellow melanoma awareness advocates (Respect the Rays) posted the following on Facebook today:

“I really hope the media starts calling Jimmy Carter’s cancer diagnosis what is it…melanoma.  It’s not liver cancer…or brain cancer.  It’s melanoma that has spread (metastasized) to his liver and brain.”

It’s a common misconception that melanoma in the brain is brain cancer, or that melanoma in the lungs is lung cancer.  It’s not.  It’s melanoma.  Even my brother had a tough time grasping that.  

When I last saw Jeff, we were playing cards.  When he lost the game, he joking said to me, “yeah…big deal that you beat a guy with brain cancer!”  He always looked at the lighter side of life.  Another time, we were discussing various cancer awareness colors.  “Black is for melanoma, white is for lung cancer, and gray is for brain cancer!  Could I have three more boring colors?”  Again, I loved Jeff's humor, but the fact is, he had only one cancer, and that was melanoma. 

The same is true of President Carter.  He has melanoma.  As a result, the world might learn a little about the disease.  And despite my early morning thought, I really wish he didn’t have it. 

I wish there was no melanoma at all.

Aggressive Melanoma Advocacy - It's Getting Attention!

Advocacy is defined as a process by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic and social systems or institutions.  In the skin cancer and melanoma awareness world, advocacy occurs through various means.  Groups and individuals lobby for tanning legislation. Those who have been touched by melanoma share their stories in social media.  Other organizations organize fund-raisers and educational forums.  Public Service Announcements from the Melanoma Research Alliance appear on TV or on YouTube.  “Dear 16 Year Old Me” from the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund continues to be the benchmark for all PSAs.  This is advocacy in its purest form. 

And then there is advocacy with a kick.

While general advocacy oozes into the public consciousness, more aggressive advocacy gets right in your face.  Sometimes the ads don’t necessarily scream at you, but they give you a cerebral slap and make you think about the issue just a bit more.  A few months ago, there was presentation on YouTube called “How the Sun Sees You.”

This video showed people to looking at themselves through a UV camera which highlighted previously unseen skin damage.  Many were shocked at what they saw, and then even more shocked when they saw how sunscreen can have such a dramatic positive effect.  To date, that piece has received over 14.7 million views.  It got people’s attention.

Then there is what I’d call extreme advocacy.  A good example is the “Truth” campaign against tobacco use.  Many of their ads depict deathly ill individuals or people who have been severely affected by smoking.  They don’t tell you that smoking is hazardous to your health; they flat out tell you that it can kill you through an ugly and horrid death.  The folks who advocate against underage drinking have also put out some effective ads.  One spot shows a mother talking to and putting earrings on her daughter, who lies dead in her coffin.  These are the types of ads that shock you…and get your attention.

The folks at Mollie’s Fund have recently released their own “extreme” ad.  Called “Free Killer Tan,” it shows free tanning sessions being offered in the city on a cold wintry day.  Promoters are walking the streets, holding signs and encouraging folks to warm up by getting a tan at “Vitamin Sun.”  Some patrons decide to check it out.  They enter the new tanning salon, complete with tanning products in their lobby.  After a quick sign-up, they’re given a towel and goggles and told to proceed down the hall way through a curtain.  What they find on the other side is a funeral parlor with a tanning bed instead of a coffin before pews of mourners.  Atop the coffin is a photo of the potential tanner with the statement “In Loving Memory.  You are gone but not forgotten”. 

So far, it has received about 300,000 views, but there’s a lot of buzz in online magazines and publications.  I suspect this ad will get many more views.  It’s getting people’s attention.

But not all aggressive advocacy needs to be surrounded by promises of death.  While many of us have followed traditional advocacy by placing “Melanoma Awareness” bumper stickers and magnets on our car, there’s one lady in California who has taken car accessorizing to a new level.  Take a look:

Yes, Kristi Donahue has plastered her Toyota with melanoma messages and images from top to bottom.  The car even displays dozens of photos of melanoma angels…those we’ve lost to the dreaded cancer. Her intent is to get the message out and it’s definitely working.  She shared one experience of driving her car to take her son to the lake to feed the ducks and ended up giving an impromptu lesson on melanoma awareness to curious passers-by.  Her message is being heard and her car is definitely getting attention!

I am very proud to be a part of melanoma advocacy.  My blog and Facebook postings fall within more traditional advocacy, but these aggressive campaigns are inspiring.  It shows me that we can go a little farther…dig a little deeper…and be encouraged that we are being heard.  Whether we shock the public or turn their heads with a loudly decorated car, we’re starting to get people’s attention!

My Wishes for 2015

The beginning of the year brings two things, resolutions and predictions.  Frankly, I’m as aware of my resolutions on July 23 as I am on January 1, so I see no real need to make a special list.  (If you must know, exercise more and eat better…period).  As for predictions, I have trouble knowing what I’m, having for breakfast tomorrow.  Instead, I’d like to share my wish list for 2015.

Cures

I know this is a melanoma advocacy blog, so of course I wish for a cure for melanoma.  We’re closer today than we’ve ever been, and we’ll be even closer tomorrow.  But my wish is for multiple cures.  My mother suffered from Lupus, so I wish for a cure for Lupus.  She also died of Lung Cancer, so I wish for a cure for Lung Cancer.  For that matter, let’s include all cancers.  They all suck.  My father in-law suffers from MS, so l wish for a cure for MS.  I wish, simply, for cures.

Enlightenment

This one could be deep, but in the melanoma advocacy world, I wish the world to be enlightened that UV radiation can and does cause skin cancer.  Skin cancer is serious.  Even the “simple” cancers such as basal cell carcinoma can be very disfiguring and scar up that precious skin of yours.  But melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers and it kills.  I wish the world to be enlightened to this fact.  But I also wish the world to understand that we’re not trying to ban fun in the sun.  We simply wish the world to take precautions by wearing sunscreen, hats, sun glasses, and proper clothing. 

Legislation

Enlightenment can carry over into state and national legislation regarding tanning beds.  I wish that legislators would understand that tanning bed bans are no more a sign of being a “nanny state” than cigarette bans.  Tanning beds are not the same as the sun.  They have deadly and largely unregulated consequences, much like cigarettes.  I wish that all tanning beds could be banned, but more realistically for now, I wish strongly that laws be passed in all states to prevent minors from tanning in salons.

Self-Acceptance and Beauty

My son and daughter will turn 13 this year…they’ll be teenagers.  I wish that they will gladly accept their own skin color and resist any temptation or peer pressure to tanning in the summer time because it’s fashionable.   Every person’s skin color is their own, and part of what makes them beautiful.  There’s no need to change.

Advocacy

I wish for more advocacy for melanoma awareness, education and research.  I hope to see more PSAs from skin cancer organizations.  I hope to see more effective PSAs in the US as we’ve seen from Australia.  I hope to see celebrities take a stand on sun safety all year round and not just in May.  I wish to see more people share their story on Facebook. Twitter, or whatever big media fad is in 2015.

Education

I wish that elementary schools would teach sun safety so that middle school and high school students already know right from wrong.  Some will choose not so wisely, but I have faith that most kids are pretty smart and will understand.  But they need to be educated.  I also wish that colleges would ban the use of tanning beds as amenities within student housing. 

Health

Most of all, I wish good health to all that suffer from any type of skin cancer.  Sadly, many that I know or that read my Facebook page will not be around to see 2016.  Fortunately, due to advances over the precious few years, a larger percentage will live to see another year.  For those fighting, I wish you strength, courage and support. 

Enjoy the coming year my friends.  Many good things will happen!

Labor Day...No Time to Put Away the Sunscreen!

It’s Labor Day.  Summer is unofficially over.  If you or your kids aren’t back in school already, they’ll more than likely start very soon.  It’s time to put away the beach towel, the boogie boards and the sunscreen, right?

Wrong!  Okay…the beach towel and boogie board can get stowed away, but that sunscreen needs to remain in your medicine cabinet or bathroom counter!  Even though the hot summer sun won’t be shining so high in the sky, it still emits those UV rays that damage your skin.

Many people associate heat with sun exposure.  If it’s not hot, the sun can’t be causing any harm…right?  The truth is sun exposure can be damaging even in the cold winter months.  While UVB rays, which cause burning, are weaker in the mornings and afternoons as well as the non-summer months, UVA rays are at their full intensity.  Yep…UVA rays are as strong in mid-winter as mid-summer, from sun-up to sun down.

UVA rays are more commonly associated with aging and wrinkling.  They also penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays (thus not associated with burning as much).  This deeper penetration causes significant and irreversible damage to your skin that may not be noticed for months or years down the road.  It’s important to protect yourself year round!

How?  Use sunscreen, but be well aware of what your sunscreen protects.  The SPF rating of a sunscreen indicates its ability to protect against UVB rays.  The SPF rating has no bearing on how well you’re protected against UVA rays!  It’s important to use a sunscreen that is “broad spectrum” or offers UVA/UVB protection.  Otherwise, you may not be protected from UVA rays at all!

Even if you have the right sunscreen, it doesn’t offer all the protection you need.  That low autumn or winter sun plays havoc on your eyes, especially when driving.  Most likely you’ll be wearing sunglasses, but again, it’s important to wear the right type.  Did you know that 70% of UVA rays penetrate glass?  Yes…even eye glasses and car window glass.  Don’t simply by glasses with a darker tint.  It’s important to select sunglasses rated with 100% UV protection…these will deflect the UVA rays as well as UVB rays.

As the air gets cooler, you’ll most like wear longer sleeves and slacks.  This should provide good sun protection, but don’t forget your exposed neck, face, ears and hands.  Apply sunscreen as mentioned before, but also wear a hat.  A wide-brimmed hat is preferred over a ball cap in order to protect your neck and ears.

I hope this past summer created great memories while you protected yourself against the sun.  But please don’t forget that sun protection is a year-round event.  Stay sun safe!

Ticking Bomb?

Let me preface this post by stating again that I do not have melanoma.  Thank goodness that I have no clue as to how it feels to have melanoma or any skin cancer.  I did have a prostate cancer scare a few years ago (false alarm…twice), but that’s not really the same.  I cannot relate to what it feels like to live with cancer.  I can only surmise how it feels from the experiences that my brother scarcely shared and from what I read from others…and there have been so many who have shared.  Regardless of so much “data,” I still will never know until I get it.  And that’s what I fear…”getting it.”

I have lived “high risk” for various conditions for several years now.  I have an extensive family history of cardiovascular conditions, plus I take medication to keep my triglycerides and cholesterol from going through the roof.  I love my pizza, cheeseburgers and burritos.  I’m a heart attack waiting to happen.  When I saw a photo that my daughter recently took, I got scared.  I am not in shape…unless you call round or pear a shape.  I need to make some changes to make sure that heart attack never happens.  The truth is I CAN make such changes.  Other conditions may not be so easy.

As I mentioned above, I had a prostate cancer scare several years ago.  The doctor felt a lump during the good ol’ “digital exam,” so she referred me to the even longer-fingered urologist who agreed that indeed there was a lump where there shouldn't be.  A painful biopsy followed with an inconclusive diagnosis.  There was “something” in there and they needed another look.  So I had a second biopsy performed with more pain but better results.  The conclusion was that I didn't have cancer.  “But,” as the doctor told me, “you are high risk to get prostate cancer…probably in your 50’s.”  I’m 51 now.  Unlike my weight and general shape for better heart health, there’s not a lot I can do to make me lower risk regarding prostate cancer.  I take supplements (saw palmetto and licopene) that have statistical links to improved prostate health, but truly there is nothing more I can do except, well, get in better shape.  (See love of pizza above)

And then a few years ago, my brother Jeff was diagnosed with melanoma.  At the time, he told me that melanoma was “carried” between siblings because we grew up in the same environment, and probably the same type of sun exposure.  Yep, baby oil, iodine and Solarcaine for the after burn…that was our method.  You know Jeff’s story.  Mine has a happier continuation with no end written…yet.  I have moles aplenty and remain high risk due to my blonde hair and blue eyes.  I wrote a blog once about uncontrollable risk factors.  One statistic that caught my eye was that having two immediate family members with melanoma creates a near 100% chance of being diagnosed with melanoma.  That seemed unreal to me and I actually contacted the source from where I obtained this data.  Sure enough…100%!  Thank goodness I had only one family member who had been diagnosed with melanoma.

Until now.

I called my dad the other day and he gave me the rundown of his week.  A gathering with some friends one day, a check up with his cardiologist another day and an appointment with his dermatologist to get some spots removed.  Obviously, I asked him about the latter first.  He responded, “It’s just a couple pre-cancerous spots that I always have taken off.  Oh, and he wants to remove a melanoma off my back.”

“A what?  Do mean ‘carcinoma’?”

“Nope, it’s a melanoma.  The doctor said it was no big deal.” (My dad would tell me that a tornado was no big deal to keep me from worrying)

So my mind thinks of all the times I've written how early detection of melanoma results in 97% survival rate.  Many articles state that early detection leads to it being cut out and being “cured” of melanoma.  My mind focused on this as I logically agreed that it indeed was probably no big deal…especially if it was indeed caught early as my dad implied.  My heart admitted that I'm a little worried.  My gut screamed one other thing…”That’s the second family member…dammit!”

Obviously I’ll be talking to my dad soon.  Logically I’m not worried because he DOES visit the dermatologist often and if melanoma was detected, I’m confident it was caught early enough.  As for me, I know I take all the precautions I can against melanoma…now.  In my earlier years…not so much. 

Once again, I have another “high risk” tag placed upon me.  I've been here before.  This time however, it got my attention a little more than usual.

Beautiful Shock Factor

Shocking photos can capture people’s attention.  Just ask the tobacco industry which started to post rather graphic photos on cigarette products in 2012.  The pictures of cancerous lesions, blackened lungs and other morbid images have proven to be a fairly effective deterrent to smoking.  Likewise, some of the most effective online melanoma awareness campaigns have shown very graphic images of scars and tumors.  My most read blog post shows such images and I’m amazed that it’s still read many times a month despite having been written over 2 years ago.  But it’s not just the ugly and gross photos that are shocking.  Sometimes, the photos are quite beautiful.

Earlier this week, I was having lunch with two other co-workers.  We chat with one another as we eat, but also tend to check our smart phones or tablets for news and just general online tidbits.  On this day, I was checking my Facebook page and I scrolled to a photo of young Bethany Cobb, the 11-year old Stage IV melanoma warrior who is facing her last days.  One of my lunch mates asked who that cute little girl is.  I told her, and left out no detail.  She sat shocked, with tears welling in her eyes, most likely thinking of her two children of 6 years and 10 months.  She responded with a broken voice, “That’s too young.  Damn it, that’s just not right.”

I responded in kind and then went on to explain to both co-workers how melanoma seems to affect more and more people, but old and very young.  They listened.

Later in the week on casual Friday, I wore a t-shirt from a past melanoma walk.  I’m required to a wear a lab coat of sorts throughout the day, so no one could really see the print on my shirt.  As 5:00 drew near, I took off my jacket and sat back down at my desk to log off when I heard one of my colleagues behind me comment, “Wow, nice shirt!”  I was a little surprised to hear this comment because the chair back would have covered any significant text regarding the MRF Raleigh Walk.  All that was exposed was near the shoulder and…then it dawned on me. 

You see, this one colleague is pretty much a dirty old man.  Every time he sees a cute coworker or outside sales lady walk by, he’ll make some whispered innuendo comment to me.  While I may agree with his assessment of someone’s beauty, I tend to maintain a more professional demeanor.  This guy, however, doesn’t hide his more raw nature.  In regards to my shirt, he was admiring the two screen printed images of Amanda Wall and Corey Haddon.  Their photos are indeed beautiful, which would garner his normal response.  He asked, “Holy cow, do you know those girls?”

“No, but I’ve met their parents.”

“Wow, they’re gorgeous!  Let me know if you ever meet them!”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Why not?  Are you too old for them?”

“No.  They’re dead.”

Silence.

I went on to explain their story, of how each beautiful girl died of melanoma at far too young an age.  My colleague sat in stunned and somewhat embarrassed silence for a while, then followed up with questions about melanoma.  A brief conversation ensued, and I could see that he was enlightened.

Twice I unintentionally shocked people I work with into talking about melanoma and melanoma awareness.  Neither time was it originated by grotesque photos, but by pictures of beautiful people in shockingly horrific circumstances.  The shock factor is not the only way to get people to talk, but it is one way.

Whatever it takes…people need to know.