Sunbaking/skin cancer

[Pam]

Hi all,

I have a sunspot (Basal Cell Carcinoma) I have on my cheek. It's the least dangerous and most common skin cancer. Phewww!

Did I sunbake? Hell yes! I remember as a kid laying next to my big sister sunbaking with her, lathered in olive oil!! I continued sunbaking every chance I had all through my teenage years. A girlfriend and I fell asleep sunbaking on the beach and we lay there 5 hours all up! I remember being so burnt, I had 2 days off work as I couldn't bare to put clothes on! :O

Thank goodness the message is slowly getting through, not fast enough tho. Did any of you see 60 minutes a few weeks back about skin cancer? Scarey! I never sunbake now, I cover up and put plenty of sunscreen on. Better late then never.

My sunspot can be cured, so nothing to worry about. But I thought my experience would be a good reminder to everyone to go check all their spots, and keep an eye on them!

Who else has been cooking in the past like me ? :(

[MissieK]

I used to, a little. Thankfully, living in Melbourne we didn't have much sun LMAO

j/k

I can't remember sunbaking much at all.

Melissa

[Patricia]

I too remember spending hours out in the sun as a kid/teenager, I have paid the price lately too with several sun cancers having to be cut out of my arms. Since I have been diagnosed with Lupus (about 16 years) I have had to stay out of the sun completely as the sun causes an exacerbation of Lupus.

[Ptolly-Totts]

I had a Basal Cell Carcinoma on my eyelid near my nose, mine was not sun related, however a lot of these cancers are. Pam you are still fortunate you had the sun spot seen to promptly this cancer can gradually eat away the skin and do terrible damage to the skin surface, though it is very slow growing, I have seen some quite nasty photos showing this form of cancer where treatment was delayed for far too long...

[Monty]

Pam that is no good I'm sorry, and I'm sorry to all those who have suffered skin cancer. My nana has had many many skin cancers especially on her face, arms and legs. She was always on to me as a teen to lather up but there was the odd occassion I forgot to. I was reading an article today and it says that most of the skin cancers we get are from when we got burnt as a child/teen, and don't usually develop until 20 years or more onwards... Scary.

[MissieK]

My sister gets moles a lot - she just has really fair skin. At one point, she had to have a check up every 6 months & have her back photographed each time. She's had a few moles removed, as far as I'm aware none have been cancerous, thankfully.

Melissa

[PinkDot]

I did sometimes when I was little, I havent for a very long time though. For a long time now I have avoided doing it and tried to look after my skin as much as possible. I think you just have to be aware of it, especially when you have your own kids because these days there is knowledge of it, unlike before.
Good luck and Im glad you will be ok :hug:

[floria]

I'm reasonably fortunate being olive skinned so don't burn easily but can remember in my younger years spending way too much time out in the sun. These days I spend most of my time out of the sun, wear a hat and sunscreen whenever needed. Too sensible now as I get older, don't want the extra wrinkles or brown age spots LOL

[Leigh]

Jake had a very large one cut out of his back last year. He'd often be outside all day with his shirt off. He'd often come in from fishing, or working on the car red as a lobster.
He is a lot more careful these days, and covers up when he is out for long periods. Unfortunately it's probably too late, and it will be the first of many down the track.

I think most of us remember the peeling many times as a kid each summer and noone every thought anything of it.

At least we are all now more aware, and can teach our children to be more careful in the sun.