Your Itch May Be A Warning - RV-Dreams Community Forum

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

Your Itch May Be A Warning

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just recently had a strip taken out of the top of my hand 1/2 inch by 2 inches. Annual visit with the dermatologist in my future to add to other Dr visits. It still beats the alternative.

Larry

mailman01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bear, sorry to hear about your Dad, but fortunately it was detected before it was too late. That is really good advise, especially for those of us that are of the "senior persuasion" and have been exposed to a lot of sun in our younger years....I had a spot the size of a small pea pop up under my left eye and thought it was a freckle....out of curiosity had it checked....skin cancer...can't be too cautious...Marty

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Funny, I just had a similar experience. When we visited my daughter in Milwaukee she asked me about a spot on my forehead and advised I go have it looked at. For one of the few times in my life, I listened to her and the dermatologist said it was suspicious.

Sure enough the biopsy came back as a Melanoma and the next thing I know I'm getting plastic surgery to repair the hole they made. And now I have to see a dermatologist every six months for the rest of my life.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

I too am having a place on my temple looked at next Saturday...along with the rest of me.

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bear,

So sorry to hear about your dad, but you bring up an important topic for all of us RVers.

Since we are often behind the wheel or in the great outdoors, we are constantly being exposed to UV rays. Some steps we can take to protect ourselves include applying sunblock (SPF 15 or higher) every day and don't forget your ears. Also wear a broad brimmed hat, especially on those bright sunny days and always wear a lip balm with SPF 15.

I have already had three moles removed. They weren't cancerous fortunately, but with my fair skin and sun-worshiping habits as a teenager, I have to keep an eye on things.

Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic on the signs of skin cancer.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=symptoms

If you have a lot of moles,have had melanoma, or are at risk of melanoma then you might want to consider mole mapping, where they take pics of your moles to monitor their change over time (http://dermnetnz.org/procedures/mole-mapping.html). I think I will end up doing this since I have seen many more moles and freckles pop up since starting our trip. The other times I had moles removed, they didn't heal well so skin mapping would help decrease the number of needless surgeries.

-Colleen

-- Edited by pierreandcolleen on Sunday 2nd of August 2009 08:03:45 AM

wmalefyt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bear, thanks for reminding all of us about this. Sure hope your dad has a quick recovery.

Add me as another victim of the power of the sun. I went for my annual checkup with my dermatologist and they found a small spot on my nose which came back as a basal cell skin cancer. I did not have any itching with this. Next week I go in for MOHS surgery to have the spot removed. This is a surgery that removes the suspicious area in small layers and they exam each layer until there are no cancer cells present. I'm a little nervous about this, especially since my nose isn't that big to begin with! biggrin

An important reminder that we should all wear sunscreen everyday, not just when you go to the beach or pool. I now apply sunscreen every morning to my face, neck and ears after I shave. I usually give it another application later in the day if we're going to be out.

-- Edited by wmalefyt on Monday 3rd of August 2009 07:05:28 AM