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Post by Fenwick on Dec 18, 2020 9:59:27 GMT -6
FWIW: (Hm, there's a timely song title in there somewhere but I digress)
Last month I went to a Dermatologist concerning a vicious skin rash on the back of both hands. A prescription ointment called Clobetasol fixed that right quick. During a followup visit I requested and received a head to toe skin cancer examination what with having accumulated umpteen sunburns over the years.
The dermatologist excised a suspicious bit from the left side of my neck (a tiny flat area compared to the rest of the contours of my neck) and some from a tiny odd bump on my right shin for a biopsy.
I had no idea about the area on my neck. Didn't know what to make of the tiny odd bump on my shin.
The biopsy results came back and we had a winner in both categories!
On my 65th birthday this past Tuesday I had the basal cell carcinoma removed from my neck and thirty stitches put in its place. Looks real pretty.
On Dec. 23rd I return to get the stitches out and the squamous cell carcinoma (that tiny odd bump) removed from my shin.
It was explained the basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas remain localized and once removed are done with while it is the melanoma that is the truly evil variety of skin cancer.
No melanoma on me...so far.
I must now return for a full head to toe skin cancer screening every six months forever.
I'm sure you farmers, ranchers, guides and outdoorsy folks already know all too well about this subject and routinely get chunks of flesh taken out all the time.
Good thing so many outdoor wear manufacturers offer so many forms of attire to shade ourselves.
The lightweight wide brimmed hats, Buff neck gaiters and those SPF rated long sleeved sportswear shirts make great gifts.
Go get checked!
- Fenwick
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Post by gui on Dec 18, 2020 15:17:41 GMT -6
Man, warm wishes for a full recovery.
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Post by jonbo on Dec 18, 2020 15:31:43 GMT -6
Thank God it wasn't melanoma, Grant. I hope your little surgeries heal right up and you're cancer "clean" going forward.
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Post by turfdawg on Dec 18, 2020 15:48:34 GMT -6
Hoping you have a speedy recovery and no more problems.
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Post by Fenwick on Dec 18, 2020 16:16:49 GMT -6
Thanks guys!
These days we all know about cumulative sunburn damage and the potential for skin cancer but we also remember the times back when we'd get sunburned and shed like snakes.
My youthful summers at the Jersey shore or out on the water and then moving to Texas and being out in the intense sunlight some more added up.
Googling around about skin cancer will convince you that every mark on you must be "it" which isn't so.
I was surprised to learn that spots on my skin I was sure were "it" were nothing at all and the ones I didn't suspect turned out to be the culprits.
The smartest thing to do is to go get a full screening especially at your age when you know darn well that is what you ought to do.
Ditch the tobacco while you're at it.
- Fenwick
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Post by golferjeff on Dec 18, 2020 20:22:48 GMT -6
Enjoy that snow up your way. Dive in!
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Post by mirvc17 on Dec 19, 2020 18:10:27 GMT -6
Speedy recovery !
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Post by freebird on Dec 27, 2020 13:42:20 GMT -6
Wow!! Good thing you just decided to discuss it with your doctor during the follow up! No melanoma is a great thing!
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Post by schrederman on Jan 3, 2021 14:39:42 GMT -6
When I was a kid, my entire summer wardrobe consisted of a pair of underwear and a pair of shorts... and we were out all day. I've flown gliders all my life... both models and the real thing... and I've fished all my life when I could. A lot of my career was spent outside on poles and towers... I'm 69 and had a Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from my face 20 years ago... and another from my neck last year. No Melanoma for me yet but I've seen friends burned down with it. It usually didn't take too long either. So now I wear hats that cover, regardless of how ugly they are... 8^)... and light colored long-sleeved shirts, and whatever other covering I can. I hope you all do the same. Cancer of any kind isn't pretty. I've lost enough friends from it, many of them young and full of life that they didn't get to finish...
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Post by captwoody on Jan 9, 2021 20:04:24 GMT -6
I just got 12+ stitches on the end of my nose from a carcinoma removal. A stark reminder to wear wide brim hats and sunscreen. I was never one to just go get a tan but my fishing and sailing put me on the water a lot. I though I had escaped the skin cancer trap (I'm 74) but the last couple of years they have started popping up. Be careful!
PS. My childhood dress code was the same as Schderman. Hmmmm
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Post by Fenwick on Jan 10, 2021 12:04:14 GMT -6
Went for my Dermatologist followup check last week. All clear. What I have to show for it is a 2.5" lateral surgical scar on the left side of my neck and a half inch deep bowl shaped divot the diameter of a penny on my right shin which will take three months to close up. I must now be given a head to toe skin cancer screening every six months. Better to have that minor inconvenience than unchecked skin cancer, especially if it turned out to be melanoma. Having Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield health benefits is a plus. Next up, a physical.
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Post by huntnfish2much on Jan 10, 2021 13:16:12 GMT -6
I hired a guide / outfitter when I went to New Zealand. The guy had obviously been under the surgeon’s knife many times to remove tumors from his face, ears, and neck. He slathered on sunscreen daily, and asked me to do the same.
It rained much of the time I was there, but he ritually put sunscreen on anyway.
More of the story - He cooked red stag several times for me during my stay. He cooked a few of the trout I caught, too. I contacted him a couple years ago, and he has retired.
He sent me some pictures of a few trout that other clients had caught since my visit. Awesome!
JR
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Post by hoss on Jan 14, 2021 10:30:40 GMT -6
Hey Fenwick,
Hoping and praying for a continued recovery and good health for you.
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Post by Fenwick on Jan 15, 2021 6:07:00 GMT -6
Thank you so much Hoss! I really appreciate that!
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