May is Melanoma Awareness Month

[DottyG]

Bumping this up again, so it's seen before the month comes to a close.  And, to thank EHellDame again for posting this - I think it's such valuable info, and I'm glad to be reminded of the fact that skin cancer is a very real danger - and a preventable one.

And, also to note something.....a lot of people forget about their scalps when putting on sunscreen.  YOU CAN BURN THERE, TOO!!!  Trust me - and it hurts.

Here's a current thread on some ideas for the scalp - I thought linking to it might be helpful:  http://www.etiquettehell.com/smf/index.php?topic=78541.0

[DottyG]

Thought this needed a little bump up.

[pharmagal]

I went to the Doctor today for another thing completely, but while I was there I asked her about some moles on my back that had changed.  I got the all clear, but she's going to keep an eye on them for me now, just in case.  Which is a good thing, I love going to the beach and swimming, and this summer, I was there every weekend soaking it up.  I did use sunscreen though, but that's not a guarentee that nothing will happen.

[Samantha]

My Mom went for her annual physical last week, and the doctor removed a mole from her chest. He asked Mom if she wanted him to send it for testing, or throw it away. Mom was going to tell him to just throw it away, but when they were talking and the doctor told her to keep a bandage over the spot while it is healing, she mentioned that she'd been keeping a bandage over the mole because it hurt when the water hit it while she was showering. She should hopefully be getting the results from the lab work sometime today.

I've been telling her to go get it looked at since March... we have a family history of cancer, one that is strong enough that we all have additional insurance through the life insurance company that is to be used if any of us are ever diagnosed with cancer.

[DottyG]

Bumping up (and urging everyone to click on the link at the top of your EHell page - "Dear 16 Year Old Me").

[iradney]

I've had a total of 7 moles removed for looking suspicious. One on my lower back was malignant, but thankfully they caught it very early (I was 14). Now if I go out, I wear a hat and SPF30 sunscreen. I tend to lurk indoors most of the time anyway, except when I walk my dog, but that's normally after 4:30 (when I get home from work).

[Oxymoroness]

Hey there. I just found out that I dodged bullet #2. (Both times pre-melanoma)

I had to reschedule this year's appointment 3 times and nearly skipped it altogether. Thanks for the reminder!

[Ehelldame]

Bumping this thread for the May 2013 Melanoma Awareness Month.

Since my own diagnosis in 2009, several family members have also been diagnosed.  Fortunately, due to education that encourages seeing a doctor sooner rather than later, both melanomas were caught at an early stage.   Early detection saves lives!