advice on skin cancer

[isisdave]

As you age, you have to start going more often for regular inspection and care. I had my first BCC at 30 (thanks, Irish forebears) and at 70 now schedule automatically 4 months out, kinda like the dentist. There's always something to freeze, always something to ask about, and occasionally something to cut off.

 

[clifffaith]

Thank You. You sharing your story is so appreciated as it is very important. Checking you skin and catching a problem early save lives.

I go to a dermatologist every year for a body check. Even with one you must keep checking. A week after seeing her a pimple scab that kept bleeding began and did go away 8 weeks later. It ended up not being cancer, but if it was waiting a year for my next appointment would have been too long.

As you have said SUNSCREEN is a must. My doctor insists I put it on my face everyday. Between the smells and irritations and trying almost every brand it was hard but finally found one that I actually like, actually got it at my dermatologists office when she changed affiliations.

Not one word was said to Cliff about a hat or sunscreen, which floored my mother who got all of those warnings after her surgery. His 6-7 inch long wound healed up so quickly that now less than two months later the scar is all but invisible. He has decided to stick with a goatee rather than go back to his beard of 55 years. That suits me because the cancer on his hand came back almost immediately, so I prefer to be able to see his cheek right now. In fact he has an appt in two hours to remove the cancer on his hand again (doctor's office rather than hospital this time), although we both suspect the biopsy itself took care of it because it hasn't grown in the two months he's been waiting for his appt.