Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
I think we all know that we should wear our hats, use sunscreen, etc. to avoid skin cancer. But we may all take it too lightly - Dave was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma on the top of his bald head last week. On Thursday it was removed, but it had grown down through so many layers of the scalp that the margin of safety wasn't enough and he is going to have to have radiation treatments in order to ensure that the skull (the underlying bone in this case) doesn't become riddled with the cancer. Dave is always getting bumps on his head from the bottom of the slide or one of the bay doors and usually bleeds because he is on blood thinners, so it didn't occur to us that this summer that one of the scrapes did heal - - it would scab over, but then during the night the scab would rub against the pillow and I would have another pillowcase to soak in the morning. So if something isn't healing, or a freckle doesn't look right, get it checked out. And if you haven't had a complete head to toe (and I literally mean from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet) dermatological screening and you are getting up there in years - get it done. As RVers, we spend a LOT of time outside enjoying the areas we travel through so this can be a problem that you don't want to have.
Barb
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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
I second your advise. I have had many spots removed and had multiple MOHS surgeries. I now get checked every 6 months. I usually spot them ahead of time and my Dermatologist usually tells me he has good news and bad news....the good news is I'm getting really good at spotting these....the bad news is, I'm getting really good at spotting these. ;>)
I second this advice. I've had many AKs (actinic keratoses - pre cancers) removed as well as a few squamous cell and basal cell cancers. Too much sun and too many sunburns in my youth. Protect yourself now and get a skin exam. These things can pop up years after the fact.
Sorry Barb that Dave will have to go for more treatment. In 2013 my husband had to have a Basal Cell Cancer removed from the end of his nose, it more then likely was caused by frost bite in Alaska when he was a kid. Our skin in the largest organ we have and it can be damaged by a lot of things. Then years and years later we end up with having to have a cancer removed.
You both will be in our thoughts and prayers.
-- Edited by Olywa on Monday 12th of January 2015 07:59:02 PM
A follow up to my original post. Dave has finished with the surgery and electron-beam treatments and his scalp is almost back to normal. He had what looked like the worst sunburn imaginable when they finished - he was given burn cream that is used in burn units to help the skin and combat any infection that might develop. It blistered and was an angry red, but is now just a little pink. Best of all his blood pressure is coming back down, it is amazing how a lot of body systems become involved when you have trauma to one area. Plus he isn't as tired as he was at the end of the treatments. While they only zap for 30 seconds or so, the accumulated effect is a real fatigue as the body tries to rebuild the tissue damaged by the beam.
And he has a new hat with a broader brim that covers not only the scalp but neck, ears, & nose! Perfect for going to Spring Training games in the Phoenix area! Another followup and then we are off for our summer travels.
Barb
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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
