Replies

Incidence of cancer and death rate are 2 different things.
You can look at these charts from the CDC and compare. You’ll notice that there are some not-so-sunny states toward the bottom half of the list and sunnier states toward the top 1/2. You’ll also notice that Massachusetts is close to the top in incidence and in the bottom 1/2 in death rate; same for Alaska.

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/Table.aspx?Group=4fb&Year=2004&Display=n

Incidence of cancer and death rate are 2 different things.

Good point but tangential as avoiding the cancer is here the issue. Once you have the cancer, how you fare becomes a matter of treatment.

same for Alaska.

Don't forget Alaska has those 6 long months of sunshine - that may give people enough reserve to balance out the dark months.

I have written about this stuff for decades - after my bout with "precancerous" sun-poisoning on my face.

I had never had any incidence of breakouts until the 'sun blockers' first came out, back in the late 70's. I used them and then had the breakouts every summer - almost immediately after being in the sun any length of time. However, I made no association for some years until it dawned on me that when I forgot to use the sun screen, I didn't have a breakout. Or if I used the old baby oil, I didn't break out.

So I started testing. Every time I used any sun screen - breakout time.

Eventually, one spot reached the alarm stage and my doctor sent me to dermatologist who burned it off and gave me prescription doze one of the same sun screens I had been taking!

I told him about my experiment but he brushed it off. I applied the sun-screen and broke out by the next day. I tossed it and only use the baby oil (with a few drops of Iodine shaken in it) or natural oils like olive or almond, sometimes nothing at all. I even spent 3 weeks visiting kids in Florida last summer in JULY AND AUG! We spent beaucoup time at my favorite beach, Cocoa Beach and went up to St. Augustine and cavorted on Daytona Beach. Nada. I used ole timey coconut tanning oil without sun screen.

My personal, non-professional, theory is: What with my own experience and the increase of skin cancer rising on the charts right along with the introduction and increase in use of sun screens and all the admonitions to STAY OUT OF THE SUN = my theory is that there may be an adverse chemical reaction between all those unnameable chemicals in the sun screens and the sun.

Now that's just MY theory. I am not 'prescribing' anything and am not recommending anyone believe or follow my 'theory' We need fresh air, pure water and sunshine - it's nature's way.

In addition, I'm poor as a church mouse, so it would do no good to sue me....

Another thought to ponder. Osteoporosis had become the new "Disease D'jour" - brittle bones from loss of bone density. What builds strong bones? ahhh, you guessed. Vit. D.