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To: Billthedrill
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.
3 posted on 05/07/2003 11:07:08 AM PDT by Welsh Rabbit
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To: Welsh Rabbit
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?
6 posted on 05/07/2003 11:21:33 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (California wine beats French wine in blind taste tests. Boycott French wine.)
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To: Welsh Rabbit
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.

7 posted on 05/07/2003 11:25:27 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Welsh Rabbit
Only wimps use sunblock!!!
I NEVER use sunblock. Then again, I never stay in sun for longer then absolutely necessary.
26 posted on 05/07/2003 1:59:41 PM PDT by Warren
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To: Welsh Rabbit
And it isn't just melanoma. There is also basal-cell carcinoma that people should think about. I had what I thought was a recurring scratch on my forehead. It actually would disappear, then reappear after several months. Most of the time I forgot it was there before, the time between was so extended.

When I finally figured out this was a repeat "scratch" I couldn't account for, (I originally, stupidly, thought I scratched myself in sleep or something... I'm a bit of a klutz), I headed to the doctor. Sure enough, basal cell carcinoma. I was 29 years old, and the doctors theorized I'd had it for about 4-5 years. By the time I received treatment via MOHS surgery (Highly recommended to anyone who has this), they removed half my forehead down to the skullbone and had to reshape my face. Kind of an early facelift. I looked pretty surprised all the time for about 2 weeks or so. I cannot stress enough the importance of using sunscreen to my sun-loving 12 year old daughter. Because this is also genetic. I'm nearly 32 now and check myself constantly to be sure it isn't coming back.

43 posted on 05/08/2003 9:01:58 AM PDT by cgk (Liberal truisms are the useless children of hindsight.)
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To: Welsh Rabbit
Here's some more info on Melanoma, with many tasty pictures.
46 posted on 05/08/2003 9:06:33 AM PDT by rabidralph (War is over--FR is back to pissing and bickering.)
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