Sunshine can kill you...dammit...

[grampa1114]

This is my first time here with you all and I might not do procedures right yet but it's worth a try under the circumstances. I'm home resting after my third skin cancer surgery. I wasn't the smartest when it came to sun protection. If it's not too late for you then please consider covering up and using some sun screen. I hope someone told you this before and I'm being redundant. SPF is good for you. Thanks for listening.

[endless]

First welcome to the board and I'm sorry to hear about your skin cancer. I'm definitely one who don't use any kind of skin protection and really need to. I thank you for your post and pray everything will be good for you! Thank you!

[grampa1114]

I appreciate your thoughts and hope you will take heed... even a little bit helps... never been much for folks on soap boxes but..... now I are one.

[grimlin]

I always bring sunscreen. When i went back to TX on a vacation trip i forgot to pack it.I ended up getting sun poison on the top of my head.What made it worst was I usually always wear a hat too...I forgot that.

I completely forgot it gets much hotter in Texas during the late spring than it does here in Michigan.I paid the price. I was in pain the whole trip down there and another week up here.

[Uncle Leo]

Whatever is not covered gets sunscreen.

I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery, thanks for reminding us.

[SirSnookalot]

Get well soon.......I recently had some pre cancerous spots removed from my forehead and scalp, all is well.

[Senkoman12]

after getting badly burned last year i now never go fishing without

[GTrombly]

Hope you heal up fast. I am pretty sure I keep Coppertone in business. Between landscaping and fishing I go through a tube like every week. The kids I work with get burned everyday and just don't seem to care but they will.

[Root beer]

I save money on sun screen by wearing Columbia, Under Armor, or similar clothes with sun protection. Even the long sleeve version on a hot summer day. Just stay hydrated and you won't get hot.

Hope you heal up well.

[hookingem]

This is seriously a helpful reminder and I appreciate it more than you know. I'm a young gun and often times am too overzealous to remember the simple things like sunscreen, posts like this make me recall something so simple yet so important.

[Red]

I have been sunburned to the point of blistering several times over the years.  Last year however I did not get burned once.  I finally decided to start using sunscreen.  Thanks for the reminder, I need to stock up for the summer!

Cliff

[MMan16]

I was never one in the past to wear sunscreen. I own a landscaping business and for about 7 years never thought twice about it "I was young". Now I get to go yearly to the skin doc for a check up. And I know wear sunscreen regularly. To this day all is well but I think back about how stupid it was not to wear sunscreen. It's simple and keeps you from getting uncomfortably burnt. Good luck and prayers with you.

[grampa1114]

More wonderful news from skin people...It seems that....once the barn door is left open.....Didn't matter how much I covered up in the sun....trust me, I looked like a mummy all year. They're carving me up again. DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT...put yourself in this position. Please use Sunscreen.

Grampa

[deaknh03]

Most conventional sunscreens contain a cocktail of dangerous chemicals, the best protection is to cover yourself and to try to spend less time in the sun. Covering your self is usually the best option, as avoiding the sun is not easy. The skin is your biggest organ, and slathering chemicals all over it can't be a good thing. Attached is one of the many reports on the dangers of conventional sunscreen. There are safe alternatives, you just have to look.

http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/natural-health/5-dangers-of-conventional-sunscreens.aspx

[Sam]

Granpa, I not only get checked anually by my dermotologist but I always wear long sleve shirts and long leg pants.

Even if it is 100* outside and sunny. Long sleeves and long pants plus a cap with a flap over the back.

My annual physical showed that I was low on Vitamin D. So I now take one 1,000 mg pill of Vitamin D each day to make up for the missing sunshine.

While growing up in south Louisiana I always looked like a red crawfish on Mondays. So I am very careful to make sure there are no moles, etc. anywhere on my body.

My cousin who lives in New Orleans and fishes every weekend just had some small cancers removed from his face. He is doing fine but it was a wake up call for me as we always fished together all those summers ago.

Thanks for reminding us all that we are not immune from skin cancers.

[Sam]

I just remembered.

My dermotologists checks my scalp and ears.

She told me that you can get melanoma on your head under your hair and behind your ears.

So guys, check your scalp and ears, too.

And places where you do not get sunburn like your feet.

The cancer will attack the weakest part of your skin.

I lost a good friend to skin cancer when it developed on the top of his foot and is family physician thought it was a Planter's Wart. He left behind a beautiful wife and three little boys.

[SirSnookalot]

I had some pre cancerous spots removed from my scalp and forehead early this year...............I always wear a hat, I was surprised.

[llPa1nll]

This is a great reminder, I feel for you as you move along with your recovery and I hope you get back to your usual self asap. My mother has suffered dearly from skin cancer. She has had bouts of Melanoma, which has spread to her lungs, colon and gall bladder. She is doing better now but the battle has taken allot out of her. I keep multiple tubes of the highest quality and SPF on my boat and tackle bag and apply it 2-3 times a day or as needed. I hope this sinks in with some of the younger members. The sun is a very harmful thing in regards to your skin, especially if you have fair/pale complexion.

[BassThumb]

I have to admit, I'm really bad about using sunscreen. I never get sunburned, so I rarely use it, except for my nose, upper cheeks, and ears. I love the feel of the sun on me. It makes me feel strong and full of energy. I'll need to reconsider before it's too late. I'm not that young anymore.

[grampa1114]

Thanks guys...I appreciate that somebody's paying attention....

Grampa