A Reality Check -- Skin Cancer

Attachment 56221Yesterday, 3/4, my dermatologist removed a skin cancer from my hand. It was what they call a "Squamous Cell Carcinoma" ....he had to really dig a big chunk out of my hand to make sure he got it all....11 stitches.....it is not the worst kind you can have but it can take you down.....he said this came from many previous years of not using any sun screen.....in recent years I have been trying to use it often....when I can remember to put it on.....once I get on the water I don't want to stop fishing (reminds me of Bobfish) to do it so I started putting the sunscreen on at home before I left (Didi taught me that).....folks, I am not posting this to draw attention to myself, but to issue a warning to all those out there like me who do not worry about the danger....you know, when you cut yourself with a knife, there is an immediate wound that you can relate the action with the consequence.......with skin cancer, it can take years before you see the consequences of not using sun screen.....I will be OK....the doctor said the worst kind is Melanoma and I do not have that.....make yearly checkups with your dermatologist see him immediately if you find something not normal.....I am posting 2 pictures....I hope they are not to gross for anyone but they may wake someone up (like me) to start taking this disease seriously.....sometimes it takes a picture to have a "reality check"...now, lets go jerk some slabs.....

Sorry to hear that PS. A little food for thought never hurt anyone.

Glad they got it all..thats a big chunk missing out of your hand...my wife and i are nurses and i always worry about sun damage..i use sunscreen most of the time but prevention is hard especially when you are outdoors a lot .I worked on the oncology floor for a while and any kind of cancer is scary, I had a friend,fellow fisherman who died of melanoma..i am happy that you will be ok...i do a lot of wound care so nothing grosses me out....lol...take care and hope to see ya on the water

I have been putting on sun screen for years every morning. First place that I noticed was on my ears. I have had places cut off on arms, ears, face and have had numerous places frozen. All I can say is go and buy some good shirts, good hats and put sunscreen in your truck, boat and tackle box and use it.

Glad to see it was not the worst kind for you. I've now had basal cell carcinomas removed from my face and one from my back. Thankfully mine was not a aggressive form of cancer.

I use sunscreen all the time now on my face and like you it's applied at home before going out but I don't like to use sunscreen on my hands. I wear sun gloves like these while on the water. Glacier Glove Dr. Shade Lycra Sun Glove with PU Palm

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Originally Posted by LBM

Glad to see it was not the worst kind for you. I've now had basal cell carcinomas removed from my face and one from my back. Thankfully mine was not a aggressive form of cancer.

I use sunscreen all the time now on my face and like you it's applied at home before going out but I don't like to use sunscreen on my hands. I wear sun gloves like these while on the water. Glacier Glove Dr. Shade Lycra Sun Glove with PU Palm

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thanks LBM.....I have been using a pair of cloth gloves ($1.50) with the fingers cut off but I will go to BPS tomorrow and see if they have them in stock.....thanks again....

Glad to hear the outcome was good and thanks for the reminder I've gone too long with using anything so maybe it's time I start.
"gene"

Glad to hear they were able to remove all of it.Even though I'm only 36,I wear sunscreen on my face,hat, and wear breathable long sleeve shirts in the summer.I see guys that fish all day without a shirt on.They will pay for that later on in life...Columbia makes a real nice pair of lightweight,breathable fishing gloves with the fingers cut.I bought some last year but haven't tried them yet.After seeing this,I will this summer...thanks P.S.

I sent this email to Bruce(Prefers Shiners) this morning...

Bruce, just went through 3 surgeries starting with a little bump about the size of a pencil eraser on the back of my arm..Didn't get it all with the first surgery so my GP sent me to a surgeon and he went wide and deep..He got all of the cancer but found a swollen lymph node under my arm..Did the 3rd surgery removing the lymph node.. The biopsy came back showing no signs of cancer..I looked like I had been in a car wreck from my arm pit half way down my side...It was also squamous cell...This routine started in December and ended this past Wednesday...I guess that old Gulf Coast sun did me in..

I also put the sun screen on prior to leaving the house or I won't do it..

Glad we both got good results...

Folks.........protecting yourself from the sun is just as important as wearing a life jacket.....it could save your life.......

Two weeks ago i had a spot removed from my left cheek that tested to be skin cancer.sun screen for me now.long sleeves ,wide brim hat, will try the gloves also.

just heard from the doctor on my skin cancer.....the results shows he got it all......get stitches out Friday.....healing up nicely......also, he had removed another simlar one on my wrist when I went in for the surgery.....it turned out to be benign......non cancerous.....so, thank the Lord for that.....I ordered the gloves from Cabellas...didn't have them in the store......went fishing Monday...one 3# bass (shiners) and 2 sacs....going somewhere Thursday after this rain blows thru....looking out the window right now and cloudy and no rain....wish I was there right now.....I got the fever.....by the way.....the water level in Belle River has come way up almost to what I would call normal level and it has a very good color to it.....very fishable......

I found a suspicious spot on my back last June, that looked like a blood blister. Went to the dr. and they sent me to the dermatologist where they cut it out and long story short it was melenoma. Had to have surgery to remove more to be sure they got it all and they went under my left arm to remove lympnode to find out if it had spread. Luckily it had not. Thing is guys and girls I very seldom ever go without a shirt on and have worn sunscreen for years on face,ears,arms, and hands. They say the uv rays can actually penetrate your clothing. I'm now wearing the shirts with the built in sunscreen when I fish. The back is the most common place for a man to get melonoma and the legs for women, though you can get it anywhere they say.

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Originally Posted by broharrell

I found a suspicious spot on my back last June, that looked like a blood blister. Went to the dr. and they sent me to the dermatologist where they cut it out and long story short it was melenoma. Had to have surgery to remove more to be sure they got it all and they went under my left arm to remove lympnode to find out if it had spread. Luckily it had not. Thing is guys and girls I very seldom ever go without a shirt on and have worn sunscreen for years on face,ears,arms, and hands. They say the uv rays can actually penetrate your clothing. I'm now wearing the shirts with the built in sunscreen when I fish. The back is the most common place for a man to get melonoma and the legs for women, though you can get it anywhere they say.

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glad to see you you will be OK....you obviously did the right thing in having it checked out...."when in doubt, check it out"......I saw some of those shirts in Cabellas this week....you point out a very good message, which is....I don't think it will happen to me....this is why I started this thread....to warn others that this is a real threat to anyone....give something to the ones you love by protecting yourself and see a dermatologist at least once a year or sooner if you see something unusual....

Do any of you have pics showing the questionable spot you had?

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Originally Posted by bassadict69

Do any of you have pics showing the questionable spot you had?

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I do not have any "before" pictures of mine but here is a link to pictures of SCC....

Squamous cell carcinoma. DermNet NZ

look for 4 other links to pictures on the page after you open this....

Bassadict69, if you have a spot in question, get it checked out! It's serious business.

Nothing questionable...I am wrapping up nursing school & we have studied this quite extensively and I thought it would be interesting to see a "real life" pic rather than something in my textbooks!

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Originally Posted by LBM

Glad to see it was not the worst kind for you. I've now had basal cell carcinomas removed from my face and one from my back. Thankfully mine was not a aggressive form of cancer.

I use sunscreen all the time now on my face and like you it's applied at home before going out but I don't like to use sunscreen on my hands. I wear sun gloves like these while on the water. Glacier Glove Dr. Shade Lycra Sun Glove with PU Palm

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X2 on those gloves and sunscrean. Both ears, face, and end of nose. Put on screen at home before leaving, Got a chapstick looking tube in tackle box to recote nose and around eyes.

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Originally Posted by bassadict69

Do any of you have pics showing the questionable spot you had?

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I just found this picture of the basal cell carcinoma spot on my back. A small spot (approximately 4mm) that just wouldn't heal over. I never saw the Dr on this one. His PA diagnosed it and removed it.

The one on my face probably wasn't as large as this one on my back was. The Dermatologist did see the one on my face and was in on it's removal as he looked over the PA's shoulder as she removed it. It was kind of like they done a face lift but only on one side of my face. :)

Both spots were basal cell carcinomas.

I am pleased to see the response to this thread and my fishermen buddies doing the right thing by getting these things checked out......my thoughts in starting this thread was to bring awareness to everyone of the danger in ignoring anything unusual on our skin......I am guilty for one....thanks LBM for sharing......