Don't Mess With This! See your Dermatologist

brshooter · 03-27-2005, 07:25 PM

I had a couple of moles removed and a biopsy done on a spot in my right sideburn a couple of weeks ago. The moles were fine, but the spot on my face came back as a "Melanoma in Situ". This is a stage 0 melanoma and cure rate approaches 100 percent by surgical removal. Since it is on my face, they have referred me to a plastic surgeon. I will be getting it evaluated and removed in the next few weeks.

I just want all of you to know how important it is to get checked on a regular basis. Go to a dermatologist every year. Melanoma is very curable if detected early. The following link has some good information.

Melanoma Information

We all love the outdoors. It doesn't always love us. Wear a hat and shades. Don't forget the sunscreen. If you see anything suspicious, get it checked immediately.

Silver Hilton · 03-27-2005, 07:33 PM

Absolutely. Keep an eye on this - it took my father at age 56. Hats, sunscreen, and an annual checkup for me, thank you.

Good for you that you caught yours at this stage.

judyfish99 · 03-27-2005, 10:13 PM

I have Kaiser medical....how do I have my skin checked?? Via primary doctor??? I have thought about this since I am out on the water alot.

Jennie@ifish · 03-28-2005, 04:38 AM

I'm moving this to the fishing board, as I feel it is important for all fishermen and women to see, since we are all out of doors so much.
My Dad has spots removed every year. I haven't been to a dermatologist in ages, and although I'm sick to death of doctors at this point, I'm making an appointment!
Thanks for the wonderful reminder for all of us fishing fans!
Jen

Fast Water · 03-28-2005, 04:48 AM

Yeah, it's time for my annual as well.

Thanks for the reminder BR.

BCF · 03-28-2005, 04:51 AM

Thank you

BCF

3riversBob · 03-28-2005, 06:35 AM

Judy, you should be able to see your primary care physician and if needed ask for a referal.

Seeing my doc today for my back and will ask about a couple of spots I have. Good reminder and thanks Jennie for moving this to the main board.

Bob

Beancounter · 03-28-2005, 06:40 AM

Skip your primary Doctor. I went to a dermitoligist one mont after a complete physical with my primary Doc. and the dermitologoist found two pre-cancerous moles.

Even spending your own money on your health is okay. Most of us spend more on car maintenance than health maintenance!

skrimmy · 03-28-2005, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Most of us spend more on car maintenance than health maintenance!

Wow, I've never looked at it that way, but you are dead right. Well stated, should be a wake-up call for many of us, myself included.

brshooter · 03-31-2005, 09:35 PM

I just want to bring this to the top. This topic has become very important to me lately. Not only am I diagnosed with a stage 0 "Melanoma in Situ", but today we find out that my wife has a stage 2 melanoma and a basal cell carcinoma. I don't know what is going on for us, but please get regular screenings and protect yourself when you are out in the sun.

reelbigfish72 · 04-01-2005, 12:22 AM

Don't forget good sunglasses too. A couple years back my dad had pre-cancerous cells removed from his eye. He's pretty sure at least part of the cause was from being outdoors alot without sun protection on his eyes.

dogfishboy · 04-01-2005, 06:18 AM

Hey Bill,

I made an appointment when I got your email. I have a spot I know needed to be looked at and your reminder helped. We'll keep a white light around

JS.

David and Piri

Silver Eagle · 04-01-2005, 07:25 AM

I just had my first Mole check on Monday, my wife has had several removed, her sister died at 40, I have been a Sun worshiper all my life and after seeing what her sister went thru have been cutting down on the tans, we go to Mexico every year and Yuma once a year and have really cute down on the Sun time, I had lone checked behind my ear came back ok but could have been bad just as easy, don't over look them little things they can tell you something. Get them checked...................Ray

Fish Tales · 04-01-2005, 07:53 AM

I had a Melanoma removed from my head 4 years ago stage 1 considered an 80% cure rate The doctors don't take any chances I had skin remove then a skin graft they say if you go 5 years with no complications most likle you are cancer free. My wife has just had a stage 1 removed from her leg and lymph nodes removed they were negative.
Melanoma is a deadly cancer if it goes inside.
All caused by the sun. I always wear a hat and use sunscreen now. Lesson learned

ondarvr · 04-01-2005, 09:22 AM

18 years ago I found an odd looking spot on my arm, the doc said it was melanoma and if they didn't remove all of it I would only have about 6 months to live. I get checked regularly and have had all sorts of things removed, but have been cancer free since then.

I show people the scars on my arm when they ask why my hat is so large, or why I have a long sleeve shirt on in hot weather, then I hand them the sun block.

Get Checked

brshooter · 07-06-2005, 06:25 PM

Just wanted to bring this to the top again as summer is in full swing. Had my surgery to remove the melanoma from the side of my face back in April. All went well. Surrounding tissue came back clean.

My wife also was diagnosed a week after I was. She had a stage 1 melanoma on her shoulder and also a basal cell carcinoma on the top of her head. She had her surgeries and is recovering fine

I went and had another screening at the dermatologist last week. Had one new spot on my ankle that she wanted to biopsy. Got a call today that the biopsy came back as melanoma (in situ). Here we go again. Get to go have a re-excision done on my ankle now.

When you and your family are spending time in the outdoors. Please remember to protect yourself and your family from the sun. Try to limit your exposure and wear sunscreen, sun glasses, and a hat. If you have not had a screening from a dermatologist, I recommend that you go at least once a year. Melanoma is a deadly cancer that is often not caught until it is too late.

Melanoma Info

Full Throttle · 07-06-2005, 06:45 PM

I've got six stitches being removed from my forehead tomorrow at which time I will find out the results of the biopsy. Went in to have a small red spot checked, which I thought was nothing, but came out with stitches a week later.

If in doubt about anything unusual.....get it checked.

fineline · 07-06-2005, 07:39 PM

This is serious stuff. How many fishermen can no longer warn of the dangers because the sun has taken it's toll. Two melanomas in the last six years myself. One on my back and the other on my chest. Both have scars 4 inches long that stretch and feel uncomfortable at times during the first year. I used to enjoy soaking up the suns rays but now I mostly enjoy it in the shade. I have to get an annual checkup from a good dermatologist per my primary care doctors instructions. I have thought about mapping my moles with my digital camera to help spot something new or changed. This is something the dermatologist is always looking for. I wear a hat that keeps the sun off my face, ears, and neck. I use sun screen even though I don't like it but melanomas are far worse than the cool feel of sun screen first thing in the morning. Protect yourself and those that you care about from the harmful effects of the sun. It will probably become an even bigger problem in the future. Here is a hat that looks kind of like mine ( no black sides).

Fish_N_Russ · 07-06-2005, 08:21 PM

I have a lot of moles all over, and have had them checked out regularly........did have one big one right between my shoulder blades on my back. Doc decided to remove it via shave biopsy.........came back negative but I have a big 2" divot in the middle of my back that took forever to heal

ampersat · 07-06-2005, 08:28 PM

I take a bit of grief over my hat. Now you know why I wear it.

I caught an article not long ago about how sun block could actually increase your chances of other types of cancer. The most effective way to get vitamin D is by exposure to UV rays. Vitamin D is a strong antioxidant that can help ward off other, more deadly forms of cancer. That being said, I usually only catch an hour of sun before reaching for the sunblock and I never go without my hat and a shirt of some kind.

fineline · 07-06-2005, 08:57 PM

Fifteen minutes of sun exposure two or three times a week may be all it takes to make adequate amounts of vitamin D. There are other ways to boost vitamin D. If people are concerned about their vitamin D production, the answer is to supplement their diets with vitamin D [fortified milk] as opposed to going out and getting more sun. www.healthcentral.com