Sun Protection and Kids in School

Source: Curechild.com

Spring is coming to an end soon and most schools are about to close for the summer.  This also marks the time of year when schools hold their annual field day, a celebration of fun and physical fitness.  Unfortunately, it seems that every year presents at least one story where a child is severely sun burned during the outdoor activity because of the school’s policy of no sunscreen application.

Most schools, it seems, encourages the parents to apply sunscreen on the child before they arrive.  They do not allow the child to administer their own sunscreen (at least at the elementary school level) because it’s considered the same as a controlled medication.  In short, the school district does not want to accept responsibility should a child share the lotion (sunscreen or otherwise) in case the second child could be allergic.  In some cases, such as when kids have a food allergy, the medicine (epipen in this case) is kept in the school nurse’s station and can only be administered by a trained individual.  The same apparently holds true for other medications, including lotions.  Including sunscreen.

Another reason for children getting sun burns during field day is that kids are often not allowed to wear hats.  Teaching children good manners of not wearing one’s hat indoors is a good lesson.  However, many no-hat policies were established not to teach manners, but to prevent clothing related to gang association. 

The Center for Disease Control has developed “Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer.”  Within it, they recommend encouraging or requiring students to wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses.  They also suggest establishing a routine for sunscreen use before going outside.  Other organizations have recently encouraged smarter sun safety decisions within the schools.

I voiced my agreement to the CDC’s report last year to my wife.  While she supports sun safety as well, she, a daycare teacher, brought up a good point.  “Who’s going to apply sunscreen to the little kids?”

Teachers in daycare and elementary schools take care of many kids.  In some cases, there are teacher’s assistants.  However, many state and county governments are cutting back, so there are fewer assistants.  At my wife’s daycare, one teacher could have up to 13 children.  In elementary school, the number is double that.  Very young kids simply cannot apply sunscreen by themselves.  It would take an extended period of time for any one teacher to apply the sunscreen to 13 to 25 kids and expect to have any time left for the playground.  It’s certainly a problem which has no real easy solution.

Last year, I sent out a survey of questions to teachers.  I had hoped to analyze and present a detailed breakdown of the data, but my schedule never allowed me time.  Still, I have the data and felt I might as well present the raw data for discussion.  Here are the questions and the results.

1.      Are you a teacher?

98% responded that they were.

2.       If you are a teacher, what grade do you teach?

a)      Pre-school                  8%

b)      K thru 2^nd                  34%

c)       3^rd thru 5^th                25%

d)      Middle School           16%

e)      High School               17%

3.       How many children are in your class?

a)      Less than 5                  1%

b)      5 to 15                         7%

c)       16 to 25                       53%

d)      More than 25               39%

4.       Do you have a teaching assistant or another adult with you in class?

a)      Yes                                 36%

b)      No                                  64%

5.       Do you feel children in your grade/age are capable of applying sunscreen by their selves?

a)      Yes                                 53%

b)      Yes, but assisted            33%

c)       No                                  14%

6.       Which statement best fits your opinion towards sunscreen application for your class?

a)      All children MUST wear sunscreen during outdoor recess
32%

b)      Only those children whose parents request it must wear sunscreen during outdoor recess
33%

c)       Applying sunscreen to every child takes too much time
13%

d)      Other (most which state they simply are not allowed to apply by school rule)
21%

7.       Do you teach sun safety in your class?

a)      Yes, it’s part of our curriculum                        3%

b)      Yes, although it’s not required teaching         63%

c)       No, it’s not allowed under our curriculum     10%

d)      No, this should not be taught in class              7%

e)      Other                                                                17% (Most stated they simply never thought of it)

8.       Many schools ask that parents order class t-shirts to wear during field trips and “Spirit Days.”  Do you feel that parents are willing to pay for class hats to wear during outdoor recess?

a)      Yes                                 52%

b)      No                                  40%

c)       Another idea             8%  (most comments suggest kids be allowed to bring their own within dress code)        

I’m not a statistician, so I can’t really provide any scientific conclusions.  It appears that there are no easy answers.  Yes, we want our children safe in the sun…but no, with regards to younger kids, the teachers simply do not have the time or assistance.  In many cases, allergies and touching (either transfer of germs or considered “inappropriate”) are a concern as well.  Perhaps there needs to be a middle ground.

In my opinion, I’d like to see sun safety added to the school’s curriculum at every age group.  There are many suggested age-specific education guidelines available…certainly the school boards can select one to cover various grades.  I’d also like to see hats be allowed for outdoor use only.  These can be school hats or a child’s personal hat.  Sunglasses should be encouraged as well.

As for sunscreen, I really don’t know.  I guess a couple more questions could have been added to the survey.

1.       What do you feel is the proper age for a child to be trusted to apply their own sunscreen? 

2.       For younger children, and considering the limitations imposed on the teachers, how do you propose sunscreen be applied to younger kids?

  Let me know your thoughts.  It’s a debate worth having.

Postscript:  My apologies for the poor formatting.  Sometimes, numbering and bullets simply don't transfer well between MS Word and this blogging software.  I'll try to make it more legible in the near future.  -Al

Sunscreen...One Defense but Not the Only Defense

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) put out a report in May about the realities of sunscreen.  In short, they cite that the use of sunscreen could be ineffective and in some cases, damaging.  But you really have to read deeper into their words…far beyond the headline.

The report states that sunscreen may not, in fact prevent melanoma or basal cell carcinoma.  This correlates with a presentation I attended at UNC a couple months ago where Dr. Antony reported basically the same thing.  However, there was a study in Australia in 2011 that showed decreased risk of melanoma with regards to sunscreen users.  In short, the jury is still out, but most dermatologists still suggest the use of sunscreen.  The use of sunscreen may not be dangerous…it’s how we apply it.

It’s a fact that many of are guilty of…we don’t wear sunscreen every day.  When we do, it’s when we plan to spend a large amount of time outdoors on a sunny day.  Going to the pool or beach, going golfing, attending an outdoor festival…these are events that cause many of us to apply the lotion or spray.  It seems many of us equate sunscreen application with hot weather…as if it offers a cooling agent.  In reality, UV rays are immune to temperature…they’ll beat down upon you whether it’s hot, comfortable or cold.  To effectively fight off the daily affects of UV rays, we need to apply it every day.  As stated in “Dear 16 Year Old Me,” it’s a huge pain in the ass, but it’s worth it.

Many folks develop a false sense of security when they lather on the sunscreen.   Sometimes, even after a couple hours in the sun and in the pool, you can feel the lotion still on the skin so you feel like the sunscreen is still doing the job.  But the effectiveness of the sunscreen breaks down while the lotion itself may remain.  It’s important to reapply every two hours…even if you still feel it on you.

We also have to understand that sunscreen is not the only defense against UV rays and skin cancer.  It is ONE defense…but it can’t do the job alone.  We must be sun-safe and protect ourselves in other ways:

·       Wear a hat…one that protects your ears and neck is best.

·       Wear sunglasses that protect against UV rays.

·       Stay in the shade.  Trust me, not only does it help fight the UV rays, it feels a lot cooler on these 100+ degree days!

·       Avoid the midday sun.  If the length of your shadow is shorter than your height, the sun is giving you a full beat down.  Try to get out in the morning before 10:00 or the evening after 4:00.

·       Wear protective clothing.  Light but tight-woven fabrics are best…or seek out UV protective clothing at UV Skinz, Coolibar, or other such retailers.

Sunscreen is one good defense against UV rays and ultimately skin cancer, but it needs help in winning the battle.  Apply it correctly, apply it often, but don’t count on it to do all the work.   

A Day At The Beach

My family and I took a much needed vacation to the southern coast of South Carolina this past week.  Even though our vacation unit is only a couple blocks from the beach, we typically spend most of our time at the pool.  Still, it wouldn’t be a trip to the coast withut spending at least one afternoon at the beach.

This year we visited on Thursday…the day before “Don’t Fry Day.”  We visited at 1:00 in the afternoon so that we could rent a beach umbrella and chairs for a cheaper price.  (Yes…we’re frugal).  Although this is during peak sun exposure and the worst time to avoid a burn, I assure you that we were well slathered in sunscreen, hats, protective clothing, and huddled beneath the aforementioned umbrella.  Despite all this, we enjoyed the day as much as anyone around us.  And there were a LOT of people around us.

About 30 yards from us was a gentleman that could very well be Tan Mom’s twin brother.  I thought about taking photos, but didn’t feel right about invading anyone’s vacationing privacy.  Still, the color of this man’s skin was a deep dark brown and he was sound asleep with no evidence of sunscreen around.

Interestingly, there were two women a few yards behind this guy.  They were sitting in the sun with an unopened umbrella between them.  Hmm…maybe someone should have explained that you need to sit UNDER the umbrella?

I was so tempted to speak up about the dangers of sun exposure when my wife reminded me that perhaps the most effective way to get the point across is not through lecture, but to set the example.  So I continued to sit under the umbrella, reading my magazine, and keeping my mouth shut while being sun-safe.  But then something happened that just begged me to speak.

Two girls arrived with small back packs and beach towels and set up camp about 30 feet from us.  What I witnessed for the next 10 to 15 minutes shocked me.  They…applied sunscreen.  They not only rubbed sunscreen lotion on, they APPLIED it…definitely the recommended shot-glass quantity if not more.  They also assisted one another by applying it to the other’s back.  These girls were seriously aware of the need to wear sunscreen, so I just had to ask them why.

As my wife cowered behind her magazine in embarrassment, I approached and introduced myself to the girls and asked what had inspired them to apply sunscreen so thoroughly.  Surprisingly, they didn’t scream “pervert!” and run for the lifeguard, but were very nice to answer my questions.

Kaylee had explained that the two of them visited Mexico the year before.  “We went out on a cloudy day, so I figured there was no need to wear sunscreen.  It turned out, I got burned really bad…I had blisters on my body and my face and it really scared me.  I decided that it wasn’t worth it…the sun can damage the skin so easily and I guess it can cause cancer as well.”

Jess was lighter skinned with hints of red in her hair.  She said, “I’ve never been one who could tan and my dad has always told me to protect my skin.  He had a huge crush on this girl back when he was in high school…she was beautiful and would get tan every summer.  My dad is 50 now and he said he saw this woman recently and that she looked to be 15 years older than him because of the sun damage.  I don’t want to be like that…all wrinkled and old looking before I even get that old.”

I thanked them both and felt rejuvenated in my hope that people WILL get the message.  Kaylee and Jess did...and I'm sure others will.

It’s fun to spend the day at the beach…but you have to learn to respect the sun and protect yourself as well.

Shading Your Wallet

While we all know that one should wear sunscreen year round, most folks won’t start applying it until the warm weather returns.  I’ll admit that I’m guilty of that myself at times, but then again, I’m donned in long sleeves and a hat pretty much every day anyhow.  My biggest flaw is not applying it to my exposed face and hands…I’ll try to get better at that.  But besides the act of laziness, there’s another obstacle that blocks (no pun intended) the use of sunscreen.

Cost.

At the recent MRF symposium at UNC, Dr. Antony Young gave a presentation on the use of sunscreen and whether or not it prevents the occurrence of melanoma.  The jury is still out on that, but he still encouraged its use.  In fact, he recommends using about 3.5 ounces of sunscreen lotion per day!  That’s a lot.  In fact, that’s about half of a normal bottle of sunscreen each day!  Dr. Young acknowledged that this is an expensive endeavor.  He cited one report that a family of four taking a week-long vacation to France (note that he lives in England) might actually spend more on sunscreen than the vacation itself!

Yikes!

I fought off the expense last year in a couple of ways.  First, I checked Consumer Reports and discovered that the cheaper Target brand of sunscreen was rated as effective as the more expensive brands.  Granted, each bottle was still about $8 a piece, but it was a definite savings from the $11 bottles of brand name sunscreens.

Secondly, I sought out coupons!  I’m nowhere near an “extreme couponer,” but I probably find at least a couple hundred dollars a year in savings from overall coupon use.  During this morning’s Sunday coupon clipping frenzy, I was happy to find two for sunscreen products, Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat.  I’m sure soon that Target will be posting coupons for their brand of sunscreen as well.

I encourage everyone to check your Sunday papers and even check online for coupons.  Visit the websites of your favorite sunscreen product and “Like” their Facebook page.  Often times, you’ll be offered coupons not otherwise offered.  Also keep an eye out for sales as the products will certainly be offered on sale as spring and summer approach.  It’ll help ease the stress in your wallet while you continue protecting yourself.

Also, don’t forget the less expensive preventative measures:  wear protective clothing, wear a hat, and simply stay out of the sun, especially at peak hours of 10AM to 4PM.

But regardless of the cost of staying safe, remember one important fact.  No matter the cost of expensive sunscreen products, it’s FAR less expensive than the cost of having melanoma!

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

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!

Getting a Grip on Sunscreen Safety

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.

Witnessing Ignorance During A Good Haircut

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!

All About Sunscreen

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

What's The UV Index Where YOU Live?

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!

Irony Follow-Up

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



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!

Doctor-Prescribed Tanning Sessions?

Three North Carolina state senators are proposing a bill in the State Legislature which would require those under 18 to have a doctor’s prescription to use tanning beds.

Huh?

Okay, I admit I support a ban on tanning beds for minors (more on that later), but why do so under the guise of a prescription-only policy?  There may indeed be a need to have someone prescribed some type of UV radiation, but shouldn’t anything “prescribed” be done so by a licensed radiologist and not by a corner tanning salon?  Why don’t they just simply propose a ban of commercial tanning beds for minors?  Do they think that such wording is too harsh and would be met with too much political criticism?

One article I read was opposed to such legislature as well as to outright bans.  They argued that the government acts as a nanny far too much…restricting the use of alcohol, smoking and some over-the-counter drugs.  I find this to be a very interesting argument.  Is this person proposing that we lift the drinking age and smoking age restrictions? 

As for smoking, this probably mirrors the current melanoma struggles since there were anti-smoking campaigns for years before tobacco use started to decline.  But you know what?  Skin cancer outnumbers lung cancer…and for young adults, even melanoma outnumbers lung cancer.  The campaign to restrict access to smoking and incur age limits helped to reduce the occurrence of lung cancer.  Why can’t we have the same battle regarding melanoma?  This is the NUMBER ONE cancer for young adults.  What’s the reason for the resistance?  Vanity!  Remember the Virginia Slim commercials announcing that women had as much a right to smoke as men?  Remember the rugged Marlboro Man?  Remember how smoking promised to make one look cooler?  Remember how high the rate of lung cancer was?  All this changed (although not enough) because society finally realized that’s smoking is NOT cool and it causes cancer and all sorts of other health problems.

Guess what?  So does UV radiation.  And a tanning bed provides concentrated doses of such radiation.  Imagine if your teenage daughter wanted to smoke and she develops a moderate habit of smoking.  Let’s equate this to tanning in the sun.  You tell her to apply sunscreen, but vanity dictates she try to get a good looking tan, despite the burns and the warnings, so she continues to lay in the sun unprotected.  Now let’s say she wants to go to a tanning bed and get a concentrated dose of UV rays.  Tanning beds provide as much as 15 times the radiation as the sun.  Let’s go back to the smoking analogy.  Let’s stick a helmet over your daughter’s head and pump fifteen cigarette’s worth of smoke in there at one time.  Would you allow it?

I’m not sure whether smoking is illegal for those who are underage, but I know that there are restrictions for selling tobacco products to minors.  The same should be enacted for tanning beds.  It’s not illegal to get a tan…simply do so the old fashioned way by using the sun.  It’s legal…stupid but legal.  But selling tans to minors via tanning beds and tanning booths should be illegal.  And it shouldn’t be disguised under a prescription-only policy.

A 97% Survival Rate Ain't As Good As You Think

So many statistics regarding melanoma, and any cancer, refer to “survival rates.”  For instance, those with melanoma caught in the latter stages (Stage IV for instance) have a 15% survival rate (or less) whereas those that had their melanoma caught in the very early stages have a 97% survival rate.  Wow…so it seems like if one catches it early enough, melanoma is no big deal…right?  Well, yes and no.

Let’s talk about the definition of survival rate.  It basically means you have that percentage chance of being alive in 5 years.  That’s it…5 years…and being alive.  It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be cancer free.  It doesn’t mean you’ll not undergo surgery and other procedures and treatments.  It doesn’t mean you’ll be unscarred.  It simply means you’ll be alive.

When you have an early melanoma, there’s a good chance it can be removed with great success.  And your actual survival chance may go beyond those 5 years.  Or, it might not.  My brother had an early melanoma removed from his back.  It appeared to be a small mole, so he assumed a small incision would do the trick.  What was taken out looked like a good-sized divot left by a bad golfer (which I understand all too well).  In fact, he said if he lay on his stomach, a baseball could comfortably sit in his “dent.”  Yes, he made his five years as predicted, but he had a rather large scar to show for it.

I’ve read that scars should be seen as signs of survival.  I’ve also read that many melanoma survivors showcase their scars to encourage others to take preventative action.  I applaud such action...but I also know many others hide their scars.  My brother did.

And as many of you know, he survived his 5 years, but he didn’t make it to his 7^th.  The melanoma came back as often happens, and this time, it won.

My point here is that people should not rest easy when they read about 97% survival rates.  It only means you might be alive in 5 years…it doesn’t mean you’ll be rid of melanoma’s impact.  You may experience months or years of illness.  You’ll possibly have disfiguring scars.  You may still have the cancer.  Melanoma is serious business and should not be taken lightly, no matter the stage when detected.

The only way to rest easy is simply to not get it.  Take preventative action…wear sunscreen and by all means, avoid tanning beds.