HikeArizona.COM

Yesterday I went for my sixth skin cancer surgery, I've lost count of the freezes.
This one was on top of my collarbone and was a basal cell carcinoma. I've also had squamous cell carcinoma and so far no melanoma.
Although not as tricky and pricey as my Mohs surgery under my eye (18 Benjamins out of pocket :tt: ) it seemed to gone on forever.
Well this morning we took the bandage off to check and dress and Holy Snickers it's four inches long!
The nurse said yesterday there were 6 internals and 24 external stiches. She counted them cuz I accuse my doctor of charging by the stitch.
So slather up and wear protective clothing.
I have a feeling this gonna eat into my beer budget

@Alston Neal

Alston Neal wrote: so far no melanoma.

I'm glad for you .
And yes,EVERYBODY USE THE JUICE!

Alston Neal wrote:Yesterday I went for my sixth skin cancer surgery, I've lost count of the freezes..So slather up and wear protective clothing.

Yes, I know that story too. I do 6 month visits to my dermatologist with needed liquid nitrogen applications each visit and have had two needed MOHS surgery in the past three years. For my upcoming AZ spring & summer hiking/camping, yesterday I purchased online from Woolrich Co. three pricy new long sleeve UPF 40+ Tech Shirts. I have still not figured-out a good hat solution for my sun exposed head and face areas

@Grasshopper
My son makes fun of my landscaper straw hat.
He wonders why I don't bring a leaf blower while hiking.
I'll be checking out those shirts, thanks.
May the SPF be with you.

Yikes! I will be well-protected next week in Yuma.

@big_load
Yeah especially when you bring out that pastey white Jersey skin...

Wait a sec, why am I making fun of you. ;)

Alston Neal wrote:This one was on top of my collarbone and was a basal cell carcinoma. I've also had squamous cell carcinoma and so far no melanoma.

I've had the full trifecta... I've had more cuts and punches than I can count. I donate to my Dematoligists sons college fund every quarter. They took the first "Sample" in almost 5 years last month. Cancer free for 9, almost 10 years now.

Alston Neal wrote:Yeah especially when you bring out that pastey white Jersey skin...

A while back, TSA selected me for extra interrogation because my hands were more tanned than the rest of my exposed skin. I started wearing sun gloves last year, so now I'll be more uniformly pale.

Anyway, I hope you stay clean.

@big_load
Uniform pale.....
We just had a couple of folks in the gallery from Seattle.

They looked like they've been bobbing for French fries....

@Alston Neal

"I have a feeling this gonna eat into my beer budget". Worry not my little chickadee. You need only venture down to the Old Pueblo. $1.00 PINTS of Miller's finest malt beverage can be had at Che's Lounge from the time it opens until you're arrested. Besides, don't we hike just to work up a thirst, anyway? Why don't you just skip the hikin' and slatherin' nonsense, and meet SAMBA at Che's at noon. You pick the date. I'll be there anyway.

SAMBA (aka LaFong)

SAMBA wrote:You need only venture down to the Old Pueblo.

A little far to travel from North Phoenix for a few suds ;)

Wow....that's a lot of "-omas" from this community. I hope everyone continues to slather on that SPF 50. I must be blessed with lots of melanin from my Native American heritage because I just brown up. I have used a 30 SPF since I moved to AZ in 1999.

So this is obviously a very serious subject, and everybody should take care to prevent over-exposure to the sun. But it may also be worth mentioning that the ingredients in sunscreen may not be particularly good for you either. In fact, there are plenty of studies with varying results, but some show that some sunscreens can actually increase the risk of cancer.

Think of the chemicals you see in the ingredients of many foods ... yuck!

Then look at sunscreen: oxybenzone, aminobenzoic acid, benzophenone, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate, etc. Is it good to rub these directly into your bloodstream? (*Some of these are banned in the EU or Japan, but not the USA, or visa versa ... so the danger apparently varies by region )

And remember: many sunscreens block only UVB rays (preventing sunburn) but do not block UVA rays (which cause melanoma) -- resulting in an unintentionally higher risk of cancer by a user who thinks they are being protected and therefore are exposing themselves to the sun more than they might otherwise!

I'm no doctor, and I do wear sunscreen on occasion. But I tend to prefer limiting my sun exposure (via shade or clothing) much more than using polysorbate-80 and red dye #6.

@chumley
Well aren't we just the freakin ray of sunshine.....
I do agree that toxins are almost a trade off and clothing is the best option.
Since I was born here in sunny AZ. and from I've learned is that the sun damage is set by 10 years of age.
So it's a matter of time and more exposure that bring out the best in our little noma friends.

Don't use it and don't plan on starting now (damage long since done).

The only way to insure no skin cancer is hike virtually via Pixal Triva and I could use some serious competition. ;)

@SuperstitionGuy
I'd like to come over to your place and do a biopsie on your computer.... ;)

What do those things look like? I guess I should have myself looked at.

azbackpackr wrote:What do those things look like? I guess I should have myself looked at.

Stangely the one I had removed was pretty non descript. But it had spidered out, cuz I think there was a freeze done on it many years ago and didn't get it all.
Usually a heavy scab that won't go away is pretty common. Little dry fluffy spots are damage that could worsen in a few years.
I'd go see a skin doc, cuz as versed as I am, this last one was not on my radar.
On a side note my brother-in-law, being Italian and born in upstate New York, had a melanoma on his back removed.
He probably only went shirtless when he was a kid and his skin I would of thought would be much less sun sensitive than my Irish skin.
Also my first surgery was done on a carcinoma under my nose and under my mustache when I was 23.