Skin cancer's secrets unveiled

news.com.au ^ | May 8, 2003 | World exclusive by Jen Kelly

[Billthedrill]

A Dahn-undah BTT. We could always recognize the long-time Aussie Navy Warrants - had half their ears amputated due to skin cancer. It's 'ot dahn theah...

[Welsh Rabbit]

It's amazing that there are still a large number of people who don't take melanoma seriously. I get teased a lot at work (I work outdoors) for applying sunblock several times a day. My coworkers seem to find something effeminate about it. Ironically, most of these guys don't smoke because of cancer concerns, but then mock me for religously wearing sunblock.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Same problem here in AZ. Skin cancer is high because of low humidity.

[Cyber Liberty]

That reminds me...I have an appointment with my skin-cancer Doc this Friday....

[SamAdams76]

I'm one of those who tan naturally so I never worried about sunblock (except for my face and neck). My arms and legs stay brownish even through the winter and never burn. Of course, I don't spend hours sitting out in the sun either except maybe the three or four days a summer that I go to the beach (and then I do use sunblock on everything). Can one get melanoma just by routine exposure to the sun or does one have to be actually burned to be in danger?

[Billthedrill]

It's serious business, all right. One of my colleagues just got back from a Caribbean cruise - there was a "swimsuit optional" deck whereon whale-like human beings were turning pasty blubber to scarlet without even the formality of basting. She said it reminded her of a Hieronymus Bosch painting...and that cancer specialists could have made a killing leaving their business cards scattered about.

Personally, I'm melanin-challenged (the result of my ancestors being cave-dwelling Troglodytes and Irishmen) and Mister SunBlock is my gooood buddy, even in Seattle.

[libbylu]

Sam, i had squamous cell taken off my nose last summer. the doc told me that with my irish type skin/hair, i would probably never get a melanoma. i could be wrong, but i think the melanoma doesn't care about skin type. i've typed reports where girls in their early 20s have had melanoma. Be sure and keep the sun screen on those babies.

[ravingnutter]

Hmmmm...neither one of those websites links has anything about identifying nodular melanomas. I have what my doctor calls "skin tags" on my chest area that have slowly been turning into raised pearlescent colored moles over the last year or so...she keeps telling me they are ok when I have my annual physical, but I am really not comfortable with her diagnosis. Will see if I can find further info in a search, will post anything I find.

[MissNomer]

>Same problem here in AZ. Skin cancer is high because of low humidity.

Please pardon my ignorance, but what is the link between humidity and skin cancer? I have never heard of this before.

[LonePalm]

Check out comparison photos here.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Welsh Rabbit]

Can one get melanoma just by routine exposure to the sun or does one have to be actually burned to be in danger?

It's actually caused by the sun exposure one has received over a lifetime. Since you say you are a natural tanner, you probably aren't in danger as much as someone like me (according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, those highest at risk have red or blonde hair, blue or green eyes, fair skin, and freckles). Still, even you're not at the beach, you should still cover all exposed skin; even on cloudy days, most UV rays still get through. If anything, do it for your appearance, as UV rays are one of the biggest factors in aging skin.

[fightinJAG]

Thanks - the pics at the site were helpful.

Here's a corrected link:

http://www.alfred.org.au/departments/victorian_melanoma_service.html

[hang 'em]

Good question. The answer is that a lot of humidity in the atmosphere tends to block the harmful ultraviolet rays. (It's about the only thing good I can say about humidity.)

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[BA63]

Squamos Cell survivor here too (on my left hand). Last year, first time ever under the knife. Not a pleasant experience, however, grateful it was not something worse.

I guess I am part of that cave dwelling Troglodite and Irish Ancestry too. - ROTF

I have become really good pals with my dermotologist as of late. Every six months to be exact. - My doctor told me that the people that die from melonomas are usually young people 20 to 30 years that don't take spots seriously on their skin. They are usually sun bathers or out in the sun alot w/no protection. My Doctor had a terminal case pass through their office and the girl was only 16.

I heard the same thing, melonomas don't care about skin type. Just because some people have ample melotonin in their skin, may put them at greater risk, they don't think they have anything to worry about.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm

[CDHart]

I have the skin tag problem, and have had four of the relatively harmless skin cancers removed from my face -- the doc blamed them on X-ray treatment for acne when I was in high school. If you find out anything about the skin tags please send it to me. Thanks!

Carolyn

[KeyWest]

I also tan naturally and have all the features that say you will not get it. But I did, malignant melanoma. It started right up as a irregular mole and my wife said that I should have the Dr look at it. He took it out, biopsied it and I had to go back for a complete removal of everything around it (cannot see where it was removed on my face).

So slather on the sunblock and do not think you are invulnerable, as I did.

[KeyWest]

some links- sorry for my lack of html conversion

http://www.alfred.org.au/departments/victorian_melanoma_service.html

It links to either text or pics in Adobe Acrobat format.

[sinkspur]

doc blamed them on X-ray treatment for acne when I was in high school.

I had horrible acne in high school, and the dermatologist actually used sun lamp treatments; I remember sitting in that "sun room" a couple times a week.

Now, of course, we know that sun lamps can cause cancer!