This is JUST over 20+ stitches.
This is from JUST Stage 1B melanoma.
This is JUST from tanning.
Still think it is "JUST skin cancer"?
#geteducated #stoptanning #melanomasucks #notjustskincancer #besunsmart
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Friday, December 20, 2013
This is JUST Skin Cancer
This is JUST over 20+ stitches.
This is from JUST Stage 1B melanoma.
This is JUST from tanning.
Still think it is "JUST skin cancer"?
#geteducated #stoptanning #melanomasucks #notjustskincancer #besunsmart
Thursday, June 27, 2013
National Sunglasses Day!
Did you know that today is National Sunglasses Day? Well, it is and when I heard, I knew I had the perfect photo to share with you!
You may not know, but I am a photographer here in Michigan. I shoot mostly kids and families. I recently had a photo shoot with the cutest little 10 month old girl, Hayley. She made my job very easy! She loves the camera and was full of smiles. Get ready for some cuteness!!
You also may not know that you can get MELANOMA in your EYES. Yes, that is right. Thought it could only appear in a mole? Nope, it can appear in your eyes. So be safe, wear sunscreen, protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and be safe while you are having fun this summer!
To read more about melanoma of the eye (Ocular Melanoma), visit the Melanoma Research Foundation.
You may not know, but I am a photographer here in Michigan. I shoot mostly kids and families. I recently had a photo shoot with the cutest little 10 month old girl, Hayley. She made my job very easy! She loves the camera and was full of smiles. Get ready for some cuteness!!
You also may not know that you can get MELANOMA in your EYES. Yes, that is right. Thought it could only appear in a mole? Nope, it can appear in your eyes. So be safe, wear sunscreen, protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and be safe while you are having fun this summer!
To read more about melanoma of the eye (Ocular Melanoma), visit the Melanoma Research Foundation.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
In the End, It Is Vanity That Betrays Us
I haven't spoke about this yet. It was kind of a shock to me. My stepdad had a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) removed from the bridge of his nose in November. He was never a tanner. He always wore sunscreen that I know of and I have known him for most of my life. I used to make fun of him because he would put so much sunscreen on, he would look like a ghost! I was stunned that he of all people would have a skin cancer removed.
When I first found out, my first thought was, "Thank God it is basal cell and not melanoma." Since I have had both melanoma (stage1b) and BCC, I know that BCC is not deadly like melanoma. I know that they both can be disfiguring though. I felt scared for him. My Mom was with him through the whole procedure. Since it was on his nose, they actually went down and took cartlidge to make sure they got it all during the MOHS surgery. They took a chunk the size of an M&M candy. They made sure they got it all, then they sewed him up.
No big deal. He was instructed when to remove the bandage and did so. When he did, the stitches came out. All of them. So he covered it up and when he went back to the dermatologist, they were shocked that all of the stitches had come right out on the bandage. His nose, unfortunately, could not be sewn back up at this point. So, now he has to keep it clean and covered, and hope that it will heal. When it does, he will have quite a battle scar.
It hurts me that he has had to go through all of this. Trust me, he is not throwing a pity party at all. He is just dealing with it. He talked to me a lot about the procedure and everything, which I know means that he wants me to know and because I understand. We share skin cancer together. I know he wants everyone to know that skin cancer is NOT just something a doctor cuts off and you are fine. He wouldn't blog about it or anything, but I know he wants people to get the message. He has an open wound on his face now that will turn into a scar. He didn't tan. He was very diligent about using sunscreen, even when it wasn't cool. It CAN happen to anyone. A skin cancer ain't pretty, and it ain't worth a tan. So, if you insist that a tan is prettier than being "too pale" then realize that when the tanning salons make you sign the waiver that says they are not liable if you get skin cancer, that it is because tanning causes skin cancer.
Melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Your chances of getting melanoma increase by 75% if you use a tanning bed JUST ONE TIME. I used them for less than a year and ended up with melanoma AND BCC. No one really wants to have chunks cut from their skin. It hurts! And it leaves a nasty looking scar. Is that worth a tan? I bet my step dad wouldn't think so.
My fiance said this once, before I got melanoma, and it has stuck with me since. "In the end, it is vanity that betrays us." I didn't understand it before my melanoma diagnosis, but I understand it now.
A tan fades. The damage doesn't. Your skin remembers. Don't be betrayed.
When I first found out, my first thought was, "Thank God it is basal cell and not melanoma." Since I have had both melanoma (stage1b) and BCC, I know that BCC is not deadly like melanoma. I know that they both can be disfiguring though. I felt scared for him. My Mom was with him through the whole procedure. Since it was on his nose, they actually went down and took cartlidge to make sure they got it all during the MOHS surgery. They took a chunk the size of an M&M candy. They made sure they got it all, then they sewed him up.
No big deal. He was instructed when to remove the bandage and did so. When he did, the stitches came out. All of them. So he covered it up and when he went back to the dermatologist, they were shocked that all of the stitches had come right out on the bandage. His nose, unfortunately, could not be sewn back up at this point. So, now he has to keep it clean and covered, and hope that it will heal. When it does, he will have quite a battle scar.
It hurts me that he has had to go through all of this. Trust me, he is not throwing a pity party at all. He is just dealing with it. He talked to me a lot about the procedure and everything, which I know means that he wants me to know and because I understand. We share skin cancer together. I know he wants everyone to know that skin cancer is NOT just something a doctor cuts off and you are fine. He wouldn't blog about it or anything, but I know he wants people to get the message. He has an open wound on his face now that will turn into a scar. He didn't tan. He was very diligent about using sunscreen, even when it wasn't cool. It CAN happen to anyone. A skin cancer ain't pretty, and it ain't worth a tan. So, if you insist that a tan is prettier than being "too pale" then realize that when the tanning salons make you sign the waiver that says they are not liable if you get skin cancer, that it is because tanning causes skin cancer.
Melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Your chances of getting melanoma increase by 75% if you use a tanning bed JUST ONE TIME. I used them for less than a year and ended up with melanoma AND BCC. No one really wants to have chunks cut from their skin. It hurts! And it leaves a nasty looking scar. Is that worth a tan? I bet my step dad wouldn't think so.
My fiance said this once, before I got melanoma, and it has stuck with me since. "In the end, it is vanity that betrays us." I didn't understand it before my melanoma diagnosis, but I understand it now.
A tan fades. The damage doesn't. Your skin remembers. Don't be betrayed.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
"Does This Look Like Skin Cancer?"
One of the questions I get asked the most since having basal cell and melanoma skin cancer, is "Does this look like skin cancer/melanoma?" I always respond the same.
I can't say this enough...if you have a questionable spot, a new spot, a bleeding spot, or ANYTHING that you THINK may not be normal growing on your skin, GO TO A DERMATOLOGIST ASAP!
DERMATOLOGIST- A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.
I really don't mind people showing me their moles, freckles, pimples, (well maybe not pimples), but if you are going to show me, I am going to tell you to also show a dermatologist. I am NOT a dermatologist, and I know that if you are showing me your spot, then you are worried that you may have skin cancer. Or melanoma. If you weren't worried, then you wouldn't show me and want me to tell you if you have cancer. GO see a dermatologist and DON'T wait. Don't think you are being ridiculous, or wasting your time. Don't forget about it and see what happens. What happens isn't pretty. Skin cancer is disfiguring.
If you don't know of a dermatologist, ask your doctor to refer you. Or ask family,or friends who they use. If you have moles, you should be seeing a dermatologist regularly to have skin checks on your moles to make sure there are no abnormal changes. You should do your own skin checks monthly as well. Look for the ABCD's of skin cancer.
There are 3 Types of Skin Cancer and they fall into two groups:Non-melanoma and Melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
"Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most frequently occuring form of skin cancer. BCCs are abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). BCCs often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars. Usually caused by a combination of cumulative UV exposure and intense, occasional UV exposure, BCC can be highly disfiguring if allowed to grow, but almost never spreads (metastastasizes) beyond the original tumor site. Only in exceedingly rare cases can BCC spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.
There are an estimated 2.8 million cases of BCC diagnosed in the US each year. In fact, it is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. More than one out of every three new cancers are skin cancers, and the vast majority are BCCs. It shouldn’t be taken lightly: this skin cancer can be disfiguring if not treated promptly. Are you at risk?" (Source SkinCancer.org)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
"Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising in the squamous cells, which compose most of the skin’s upper layers (the epidermis). SCCs often look like scaly red patches, open sores, elevated growths with a central depression, or warts; they may crust or bleed. SCC is mainly caused by cumulative UV exposure over the course of a lifetime. It can become disfiguring and sometimes deadly if allowed to grow. An estimated 700,000 cases of SCC are diagnosed each year in the US, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths.
SCCs may occur on all areas of the body including the mucous membranes and genitals, but are most common in areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs. Often the skin in these areas reveals telltale signs of sun damage, such as wrinkling, changes in pigmentation, and loss of elasticity." (Source SkinCancer.org)
Melanoma
"The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanomas often resemble moles; some develop from moles. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Melanoma kills an estimated 8,790 people in the US annually.
If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that at present, about 120,000 new cases of melanoma in the US are diagnosed in a year. In 2010, about 68,130 of these were invasive melanomas, with about 38,870 in males and 29,260 in women." (Source SkinCancer.org)
I know that there have been many people who have had something that a dermatologist has told them doesn't look like anything worrisome, and want to watch it, only to find out later on that it WAS something and that something was left to grow and now it is too late. Not all skin cancer's LOOK or ACT like skin cancers! If you question if it is cancer, get it biopsied. Don't take no for an answer! Don't wait and watch it and don't let a doctor tell you to just wait and watch it! Doctors ARE human. They don't know EVERYTHING and they make mistakes. (Trust me on this. I work with doctors!) And remember, if you are scared to have something biopsied, it is better to catch it early. The longer it is let go, the worse the scar, treatment and prognosis. No one wants a scar, but a scar is MUCH better than being dead. So, put on your big girl, or big boy pants and GO GET IT CHECKED!!
That little annoying spot, MAY be nothing, but at least you will know and it will be caught early if it is skin cancer. Trust me, you are NOT invincible. You are not immune. You have skin, therefore you CAN get skin cancer. You can get melanoma and you can die from it. If you are a tanner, please realize the major, REAL risk you are taking when you tan.
Unfortunately, it IS someone's reality.
" If you are worried about it, see a dermatologist and get it removed. "
I can't say this enough...if you have a questionable spot, a new spot, a bleeding spot, or ANYTHING that you THINK may not be normal growing on your skin, GO TO A DERMATOLOGIST ASAP!
DERMATOLOGIST- A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.
I really don't mind people showing me their moles, freckles, pimples, (well maybe not pimples), but if you are going to show me, I am going to tell you to also show a dermatologist. I am NOT a dermatologist, and I know that if you are showing me your spot, then you are worried that you may have skin cancer. Or melanoma. If you weren't worried, then you wouldn't show me and want me to tell you if you have cancer. GO see a dermatologist and DON'T wait. Don't think you are being ridiculous, or wasting your time. Don't forget about it and see what happens. What happens isn't pretty. Skin cancer is disfiguring.
If you don't know of a dermatologist, ask your doctor to refer you. Or ask family,or friends who they use. If you have moles, you should be seeing a dermatologist regularly to have skin checks on your moles to make sure there are no abnormal changes. You should do your own skin checks monthly as well. Look for the ABCD's of skin cancer.
There are 3 Types of Skin Cancer and they fall into two groups:Non-melanoma and Melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
"Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most frequently occuring form of skin cancer. BCCs are abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). BCCs often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars. Usually caused by a combination of cumulative UV exposure and intense, occasional UV exposure, BCC can be highly disfiguring if allowed to grow, but almost never spreads (metastastasizes) beyond the original tumor site. Only in exceedingly rare cases can BCC spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.
There are an estimated 2.8 million cases of BCC diagnosed in the US each year. In fact, it is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. More than one out of every three new cancers are skin cancers, and the vast majority are BCCs. It shouldn’t be taken lightly: this skin cancer can be disfiguring if not treated promptly. Are you at risk?" (Source SkinCancer.org)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
"Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising in the squamous cells, which compose most of the skin’s upper layers (the epidermis). SCCs often look like scaly red patches, open sores, elevated growths with a central depression, or warts; they may crust or bleed. SCC is mainly caused by cumulative UV exposure over the course of a lifetime. It can become disfiguring and sometimes deadly if allowed to grow. An estimated 700,000 cases of SCC are diagnosed each year in the US, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths.
SCCs may occur on all areas of the body including the mucous membranes and genitals, but are most common in areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs. Often the skin in these areas reveals telltale signs of sun damage, such as wrinkling, changes in pigmentation, and loss of elasticity." (Source SkinCancer.org)
Melanoma
"The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanomas often resemble moles; some develop from moles. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Melanoma kills an estimated 8,790 people in the US annually.
If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that at present, about 120,000 new cases of melanoma in the US are diagnosed in a year. In 2010, about 68,130 of these were invasive melanomas, with about 38,870 in males and 29,260 in women." (Source SkinCancer.org)
I know that there have been many people who have had something that a dermatologist has told them doesn't look like anything worrisome, and want to watch it, only to find out later on that it WAS something and that something was left to grow and now it is too late. Not all skin cancer's LOOK or ACT like skin cancers! If you question if it is cancer, get it biopsied. Don't take no for an answer! Don't wait and watch it and don't let a doctor tell you to just wait and watch it! Doctors ARE human. They don't know EVERYTHING and they make mistakes. (Trust me on this. I work with doctors!) And remember, if you are scared to have something biopsied, it is better to catch it early. The longer it is let go, the worse the scar, treatment and prognosis. No one wants a scar, but a scar is MUCH better than being dead. So, put on your big girl, or big boy pants and GO GET IT CHECKED!!
That little annoying spot, MAY be nothing, but at least you will know and it will be caught early if it is skin cancer. Trust me, you are NOT invincible. You are not immune. You have skin, therefore you CAN get skin cancer. You can get melanoma and you can die from it. If you are a tanner, please realize the major, REAL risk you are taking when you tan.
Unfortunately, it IS someone's reality.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
UV Index
The UV Index provides a daily
forecast of the expected intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. I check the UV index in my area daily and have since I was diagnosed with melanoma last year. I believe it is an important tool. You still should be using sunscreen every time you plan on spending time outside. Even on cloudy days, the UV index can be high and UV rays can still do damage to your skin.
Check and see if your state is listed at http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/statefacts.html
There are facts about melanoma and skin cancer per state with a map county by county of melanoma rates. My state is Michigan. Michigan Deaths from Melanoma- About 248 people in Michigan die of melanoma every year. Since 1975, the melanoma death rate has almost doubled. WOW.
Take precautions against becoming a statistic! Don't be like me! Protect your skin and it will protect you!
Check and see if your state is listed at http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/statefacts.html
There are facts about melanoma and skin cancer per state with a map county by county of melanoma rates. My state is Michigan. Michigan Deaths from Melanoma- About 248 people in Michigan die of melanoma every year. Since 1975, the melanoma death rate has almost doubled. WOW.
Take precautions against becoming a statistic! Don't be like me! Protect your skin and it will protect you!
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