By Nanci Dixon
I am (literally) writing this from the doctor’s office, where I am waiting to have a procedure done that will cut out the skin cancer I recently discovered on my body.
Being a native northern Minnesotan who has not experienced the sun’s rays like the Southwesterners do, I was diligent about UV exposure but, evidently, not diligent enough. While this is the “best” kind of skin cancer to get, it is definitely better to not get it at all!
Sun in the Southwest is brutal
The sun in the South and Southwest is brutal! My husband and I have been park hosts for six years in the winter months in the Southwest. With all our outside work, I was careful to always wear a hat and sunscreen. Well, most of the time.
When I was slathering on the SPS 70 sunscreen, turns out that I was totally missing my upper lip. Up popped a bump. It took months to get an appointment with a dermatologist. However, I will say, it’s a lot easier to get a dermatologist appointment in Arizona than it is in Minnesota!
Biopsy
The biopsy confirmed that it was basal cell carcinoma and directly a result of the sun’s UV rays. Bummer. Big bummer. Could it have been all those years as a child with no sunscreen? Maybe. Or a combo of both. Who knows? Who in my generation even heard of sunscreen in their youth?
I had the opportunity to ask a few questions of the amazing surgeon, Joshua Tournas, MD, as he was expertly removing the cancerous cells.
Are people in the South more prone to skin cancer than those in Northern climates?
Dr. Tournas replied that the closer you are to the equator, the stronger the sun and UV rays are, but even in Northern climates there is exposure to harmful UV rays. He said you need protection everywhere, no matter the geographic location.
What should RVers know?
Dr. Tournas said that RVers are probably outdoors and in the sun more than the average person and need to be extra diligent about covering their skin and using sunscreen.
When should you first see a dermatologist?
Have a baseline full body examination by age 50.
What else is important for RVers?
Dr. Tournas mentioned the need to be aware of the sun when traveling. Just because you are inside a car or RV does not mean that you are safe from exposure to harmful UV rays.
Arizona car dealers usually add UV protection film to cars, but Northern cars may not be as protected and car side windows vary tremendously. Windshields are a bit more protected— the layer of plastic in the windshield absorbs almost all the UVB rays that cause sunburn but not all the UVA rays that cause skin damage. A 2007 study showed that people that had left-side skin cancer spent the most hours driving. For more info on vehicle glass and the studies on UV protection click here.
What type of sunscreen is best?
While SPS 30 is okay, thick lotion-like cream is preferred to sprays.
A few more facts about skin cancer:
Who is prone to get skin cancer?
- Light, fair skin tone
- Skin that burns or freckles with a history of sunburn
- Blond or red hair
- Blue or green eyes
- People who have more than 50 moles
- Dark or irregular-shaped moles
- Used tanning machines
- Had organ transplant
- Blood relative had skin cancer
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
Prevent skin cancer and protect yourself
- Use sunscreen. Lotion is best with at least SPS 30 or higher. If using spray sunscreen, make sure to get all exposed skin areas.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours.
- Use waterproof sunscreen if swimming or boating. The sun’s rays are magnified in the water.
- Wear sunscreen clothing—it really works!
- Wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, hat and sunglasses.
- Wear a large-brimmed hat when outdoors.
- Try to stay out of the sun when the UV rays are the strongest. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., try to stay in the shade.
- Do regular skin self-exams.
Self-check
- Examine your body front, back and sides in a full-length mirror
- Check the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror
- Check arms—front, back and hand palms
- Check back and bottom
- Check the backs of your legs
What to look for
- Changes in moles
- A- Asymmetry—One half of a mole different than the other half
- B- Border—Irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border
- C- Color—Varies from one area of the mole to the other
- D- Diameter—Size enlarging- usually the size of an eraser but could be smaller
- E- Evolving—Looks different from the rest of the moles or is changing
- Bumps that grow and bleed, don’t heal or are crusty
- Spots, bumps or moles that are itching, bleeding or a shiny pink
- Age spots that are changing
Types of skin cancer
- Basal Cell Carcinoma—The most common type of skin cancer. It rarely spreads but can go deep into the tissue.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma—The second most common form.
- Melanoma—The deadliest form of skin cancer and may appear without warning.
See your dermatologist
- Do a baseline check with a dermatologist for a full-body check.
- Set up future skin check appointments with a dermatologist as advised.
- Make an appointment immediately if you see any skin changes.
- A biopsy will be performed if an area is suspicious.
Easily treatable if caught early
- One in five will get skin cancer in their lifetime
- All skin types can get skin cancer
- Must be treated early for the best results
Lather up and save your life
Lather up with sunscreen, protect your skin and see a dermatologist. It just may save your life.
##RVT1081
This is very likely from long past sun exposure. The ones I’m now having removed are from my pre-sunscreen life.
I’ve had two Squamous Cell Carcinoma’s removed with Moes surgery & the dermatologist said they were likely the result of exposure as long as 30-50 years ago. They are a very slow developing cancer & nothing to panic about if caught relatively early. Now, in my late seventies, I’m of the opinion that I’ll be long gone before any current exposure develops into cancer.
True, there is a lag time, but I’ve had several outbreaks, and they were from exposure 6-20 years prior, certainly did not take 30-50 years to develop. Would hate to have someone see that comment and decide “well, I’m over 50, no worries”. Removal of these things is painful and costly.
I’ve also had a friend whose cancer was ‘nothing to panic about’ until it reached way deep and required major surgery at a distant medical center.
I’m not going to go nuts putting on sunscreen every 2 hours, but I am taking reasonable precautions. Everybody needs to get their Vitamin D time in the sun, but after the first hour, do some covering up and lotioning up.
DO NOT wait an hour. You can burn in as little as 15 minutes.
Husband got Squamous Cell from a drug he took for 3 months that had a half life 18 months. Had a great dermatologist that referred him to a great surgeon. On his legs, several patches on one, one on the other. Had to use a wound vac. All ok, no more incidents so far. As a side note, that was the least of the side effects of the drug. Almost killed him. Although all were listed as side effects, some of his doctors aren’t believers, while others say…oh yes know all about that drug. Shouldn’t have been on it for 3 months, possibly not at all. This was 6 yrs ago and made for 18 months of hell. As you can tell, still boils our blood!
So sorry for all the discomfort. Would you care to share the drug name so we can all be aware should it be prescribed?
Thanks for sharing this.
Good article and unfortunately many will read it and not follow the advice. I’ve had 4 procedures, both invasive and laser on both lips and my left ear. I have another spot that needs attention on my lip and it will be treated in January. Do exactly what the article advises and be diligent! These procedures are usually short but they are NO FUN.
My add to this piece is find lip balms (or lipstick) with SPF 30 or better and USE IT!
I feel for you Nanci as I just had the same treatment a year ago but mine was on the side of my nose. You have to be very careful as the 6 month check up showed that I also had just small little areas that could develop easily into more of those basal carcinomas. I underwent a light treatment that gives you the worst sunburn of your life but after all the pain and peeling you are good! Best sunscreen is the one the dermatologists recommend. And if you are a person with allergies like me and constantly are wiping your nose…put that on everytime you go out the door. I always wear a sun hat..even on cloudy days. Best of luck!
Nanci, good info! We probably look like twins, as I also just last month had a basal cell removed from my upper lip. Consistent with sunscreen use, but maybe not so much on my lip edge, apparently. Hoping you heal quickly.
Folks, insist your dermatologist check if you have doubts about an odd bump; I had raised questions about this several times in exams, but only recently was it tested by a new doc.
Great information! Thank you, Nanci! Always good to remind people of the value of sunscreen and covering up when in the sun for extended periods.
Good information. Another thing to be aware of, regarding the sun, is eye protection. When we moved south, the eye doctor said there is a higher incidence of earlier cataracts in the south. He said that people aren’t as careful with wearing sunglasses as they should be.
After two stem cell transplants, my “survivorship” nurse sounded like I should never even open the front door during the day. Well, that wasn’t going to happen. But I do always wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a floppy wide-brimmed hat when outside – always. And if possible I walk on the shadier side of the street.
I’m currently treating my fourth and fifth melanomas. The first two were skin cancers. The last three were/are internal. As kids in the fifties we hardly ever wore shirts while playing outside and I never used sunscreen until the first skin cancer in 2014. I expect this will be an ongoing situation for the rest of my life and probably the cause of my demise unless a city bus gets me first! Slather up and go out and have fun while you can.
Good advice, necessary advice; thank you, Nanci!
While I am not recommending it as some smokers do not develop cancer, I never wore any sunscreen from the time I was a young boy until an old man and still do not use it. I just stayed out in the sun for my skin to darken over a few days while avoiding sunburn to where I could stay out all day in the sun and never burn. There were not really any true sun screens either when I was a teenager.
Drat! Nanci! Word limit police got me in mid-sentence! Grew up in Augusta, GA, going to the Masters every year, sometimes, coming home with 2nd degree burns on my legs. AT THE TIME, WE DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS CUMULATIVE! (Not yelling, just making a very important point). I see my Dermatologist (not a surgeon, just a wizard) twice a year. If I leave the office without being cut on, it’s a good day,and if I showered in 150+ sunscreen, I’d still get skin cancers. Always squamous or basal; I’ve lost count of how many, and none have been a melanoma. So it’s just another day at the office for me, except when any of my friends or relatives see me without a hat, they’ll scream, “HAT!”
Thank you, Nanci! I’m glad that it was so obvious and so easily treated. I hope you get no more. Safe travels! 🙂
Back in the late 40’s and thru the 50’s we knew nothing of skin protection, nor did we know it should be at all. In fact we spent most of Minnesota summers in the sun and on a dock at the lake laying face down to get that tan! We also seldom wore shirts and most of the summer in shorts too. I usually tanned easily, my sisters not so easy – burned first! Not sure if they have had any problems on their backs altho 1 sister in SCal had a nose cancer and the other in Mpls had a lesion on the inside of one leg; both removed without further problems.
I developed what looked like a little pink wart on my left upper arm. Itched like crazy! My GP said it was a wart. Dermatologist said squamous. Had it removed and so far, all is good.
I get skin check up every 6 months. Had a couple of basal cell removed.
It is cumulative sun exposure and most on here should be going to a derm dr at least once a year.
You’ve had it tough lately! We’re rooting for you to get back to smooth sailing!😘
Join the rest of us, my left side from driving all these years is taking a freezing..( Get It?)
I visit the skin doctor every 6 months now.
Take precautions everyone.
I had a biopsy a few weeks ago on a painful spot on my forehead. Yep cancer. Next week I have the Mohs surgery but I think they got most of it with the biopsy as it was quite small.
Being single it is hard to check yourself and I plan to have them give me the full body check on my next appointment after this surgery.
Didn’t we all, those of us in our 60s and older, grow up putting baby oil on to get better tans? Now we slather on creams to keep the sun away.
Good luck, Vanessa.🤞 And, yes. I remember the baby oil and laying out in the sun for as long as my busy schedule would let me. (I worked summers and weekends beginning when I was 12, but still managed to work on my all-important tan.) So far, so good. Knock on wood. We wish you a speedy and complete recovery. Take care.🤗 –Diane at RVtravel.com
For all you sun worshippers be very careful. My son was raised in Florida, a swimmer and a surfer, at 20 years old he had a spot removed on his lower back that was a melanoma. Well when he was 40 years old he had a spell where he started passing out and was rushed to the emergency room, after much testing they found 10 lesions on his brain which was discovered to be melanoma, somehow they hadn’t gotten all the cells when he was 20 so it spread. They had given him a death sentence. Luckily they had recently started a new procedure called immunotherapy and it eventually made the lesions disappear, (a miracle in my mind) but be aware skin cancer is a killer.
Praying for your healing and recovery. Well written article and excellent advice. I worked outside most of my life, have regular exams, and am always getting stuff burned off or sliced off. Small price to pay for living to 71. (So far…)