...then let me serve as a stern warning.

Just had a dime-sized piece of flesh cut out of my cheek right next to my nose. This is the fourth basal cell carcinoma I've had removed in my life.

When you think about it, our parents were more concerned with keeping us out of the pool for an hour after we ate (to keep us from "getting a cramp") than they were keeping us from getting extremely sun-burnt.

Use your high-factor SPF sunscreens, and parents, slather it on your babies. And take a vitamin D3 supplement if you have to. Us white folk aren't designed for this.

'Tis nuthin' compared to our friend, the beast. The problem starts when they go undetected for long periods of time (which was not the case with me).

The upside is that, if you have to get cancer, this is the kind you want.

Glad you caught it early my friend.

-Dennis-

Ounce of prevention......glad they burned the bas^&% off ya! [smiley=hug.gif]

Joe

They only did the burnin' after they did the slicin' and dicin', my friend. And that was just to stop the bleeding. The actual lesion was 9mm across, but just a little pinhead-sized blister on the surface. Ended up with more than a dozen stitches.

Now it's sleepy-sleepy-nite-nite time.

Been there....Melanoma in Situ on my left cheek a few years ago. When the phone call came all I heard was Melanoma. Scared the hell out of me. I know I do not want that feeling again......ever.

Sunburned all the time as a kid......plus a family history dating back 4 generations....I get checked every 6 months without fail. (that's how it was found)

Brew is spot on......protect your children...and yourself.

Keeping an eye on it myself.

No basal cell carcinomas in evidence so far, but my father had several removed during his lifetime. 

Thanks for the reminder, Bill.

Best wishes,

George

George wrote on Nov 24^th, 2010 at 12:48am:

Keeping an eye on it myself. No basal cell carcinomas in evidence so far, but my father had several removed during his lifetime.  Thanks for the reminder, Bill. Best wishes, George

Right there with ya, Bill. And Brew, praying for a swift and uneventful recovery. Enjoy the nitey-nite sleepy time. Blessings! lance

Enjoyed thoroughly, Lance. Thanks!

Now it's back at it - there's cardboard to be moved.

Went in last year with what I thought was a spider bite on my left forearm.  Squamous cell.  Cutting left a 1" diameter scar.  I see my dermatologist on Dec. 6 for my annual going over.  I know he'll burn a lot of AKs off my face.
Glad they caught it Brew.

Skin cancers that used to be seen only in people 65+ are now seen in people much younger.  If we live long enough, most of us will eventually be diagnosed with some sort of skin cancer.

I had squamous cell cut out of my leg a few years ago.  I'm sure it will not be the last.  To many summers of burning and peeling.  Sun exposure is accumulative, so the damage has already been done.

Check yourself over and get checked by a Dermatologist every 6 months if you have a history of skin cancer!!  Almost 20 years ago, I noticed a dark brown spot on a friends leg.  I pestered her for months to get it checked out.  She was self-employed and uninsured and kept using that as an excuse to not go to the Dr.  I read about a free skin cancer check at the local hospital and told her she had to go.  I'm so glad she did.  It was melanoma.  Forturnately, it was growing out instead of in (Dr's words) or she would not be happily married with a daughter today.

Glad you had it taken care of, Brew!!  A stern warning that needs reminding.   

Sounds like good timing Brew.

My Dr. scared me to death a couple times. I had those: "changes in a wart or a mole" thing. I was lucky however.

Glad you're on top of this Brew. Stay well.

Charlie

It's a very common problem here in NZ with very little airborne pollution and the ozone hole, lots of people from middle age go through this sort of thing, including several people I know.

However doctors are very clued up about the problem and are quick to refer people with possible issues.

It's like just about anything in medicine, if in doubt act to get an opinion from someone suitably qualified rather than waiting and doing nothing.