May is Melanoma Awareness Month and throughout the month I’ll be posting various articles, stories, pictures, and links that relate to skin cancer prevention and early detection.
Some of the articles I have planned are (Note: edited to include links):
- Confessions Of A Tanning Goddess
- That Odd Looking Spot Sure Doesn’t Look Like Melanoma
- What To Expect At Your Full Body Check: A Visit With Dr. Ha
- Connecting The Dots
- Tips For Running Safely In The Sun
- Sunscreen Surprise
- Alternatives To Tanning
- 2014 TKO Melanoma 5K Race Recap
Dear 16-year old me:
Lying out in the sun for an hour is stupid.
You’re a fair skinned girl and won’t get a golden tan.
What you will end up getting are 3-inch diameter blisters
everywhere your tiny bikini doesn’t cover;
and you’ll be planting the seeds for a future melanoma.
I’ll be talking more about that horrible burn,
and many more that were to follow, during the next few weeks…
In the meantime, get naked, look at your skin,
and become familiar with every little freckle, mole, and mosquito bite!
And then look at it again, and again, every month, and note any changes.
I found my melanoma early.
Hopefully, you will, too!
- Questions:
- Did you get any bad burns as a child?
- Do you check your skin regularly?
- Has your life been touched by melanoma?
I’m with you on that one! We used to have a family beach cottage in MA and we would spend the majority of our summer there every year. We always spent the entire day outside and fought tooth and nail against putting sunscreen on (not for vanity, just hated it as kids). A few years back I had a “pre-cancerous” mole removed, and then a little more taken out as well, from my back and now get screenings every 6 months. I’m lucky that when I switched doctors a few years ago, one of the NP’s there specializes in dermatology and she is VERY thorough, taking measurements and pictures. I love seeing her!
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…Newport 10 Mile Race Recap
It’s great that you have a good doctor. I do, too!
Back when many of us were kids, sunning was encouraged and no one knew about skin cancer. And not to mention wrinkles.! I have my yearly check with my dermatologist-it’s so important. It’s great that you are putting it out there.
Deborah recently posted…Liebster Award
I came home from college and saw a tube of sunscreen on the bathroom sink and asked my parents what it was. I’d seen zinc oxide before, but it was the first time I saw sunscreen! Of course, at the time I was using baby oil on my skin when I lay out in the sun!
It’s great that you get your skin checked yearly!
Great post, look forward to future articles. I’m naturally tanned but don’t take that for granted. I cover up and use sun block when necessary. We lather our kids up any time we are going to be out in the sun. Prevention is our rule of thumb. We know a number of friends that have had small items removed because of sun exposure, any of those could if been serious.
The running schlub recently posted…Still Got My Fingers Crossed
Thanks! I bet that if you don’t burn easily that it’s harder to remember to apply sunscreen. The memory of pain from burns years ago reminds me to lather up!
My mom was diagnosed with melanoma a few years ago. I go yearly to get checked now since she was diagnosed. I’m very fearful of finding one, I was a sunbather and tanner for YEARS and have had a few very bad burns. It’s definitely scary!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…My First Friday 5: FIVE Things I LOVE about the Running Community
Early detection is the key for those of us that burned in the past. That, and lathering up to prevent future burns!
[…] This May, Please Learn From My Mistakes Dear 16-year old me: Lying out in the sun for an hour is stupid. You’re a fair skinned girl and won’t get a golden tan. What you will end up getting are 3-inch diameter blisters everywhere your tiny bikini doesn’t cover; and you’ll be planting the seeds for a future melanoma. […]
[…] promised in This May, Please Learn From My Mistakes, look for these other articles on Deb Runs during the month of […]
[…] promised in This May, Please Learn From My Mistakes, look for these articles on Deb Runs during the month of […]
[…] promised in This May, Please Learn From My Mistakes, look for these other articles on Deb Runs during the month of […]
[…] This May, Please Learn From My Mistakes […]