I’ve been getting checked each year since 2015. Two days ago I had my annual full body check. Doc found 2 small precancerous spots on the left side of my face and 1 on the right side. Previously only had 1 back in 2015. She froze them with liquid nitrogen and am good to go.
Most people on this site spend a lot of time outdoors. Use sunscreen or UPF clothing.
So important to protect your skin from UV rays. I neglected it in a few spots over the years and I have permanent skin damage on my forehead from the sun (diagnosed by a dermatologist in 2019).
I’ve been far more cautious about it since. Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, and UV clothing all help. Be especially careful during the peak sun hours in the summer time.
Very good reminder Netguy! A friend of mine just had the full body check too and had a couple frozen. He is an avid golfer and never wears sunscreen. I gave him a stern look when he said that.
Forgot to add in 2022 I had a mole removed where my neck meets the shoulder. It was “as atypical before the pathologist would classify it as cancer.” Initially the dermatologist removed just the mole. After the pathology report, a skin surgeon removed the margin around the mole to be sure to get all the atypical cells. No further issues.
I had a couple bad sunburns as an early teenager that may have contributed to that one. Sun exposure is additive throughout your life.
I wear a baseball style hat all summer – there’s times when I think the old timers had it right with the floppy or straw hats though. My ears cheeks nose neck can take a beating . Hate sunscreen – not a big buff gaiter fan either .
Well damn, I am an old timer now. I wear a floppy hat that has a piece of fabric that hangs down to cover my neck during the summer. I have a friend that has had to have cancer patches removed from his face a few different times in the last 20 years.
I wear a baseball style hat all summer – there’s times when I think the old timers had it right with the floppy or straw hats though. My ears cheeks nose neck can take a beating . Hate sunscreen – not a big buff gaiter fan either .
Everything stated above cannot be repeated enough.
Had a melanoma removed from my arm in 2008. I wear upf clothing all summer if outside mowing grass, fishing, etc. Long sleeves, pants, hat with neck/ear protection and sunscreen on my face. Have had several more spots removed but all have been benign. Take care of your skin.
I’ve had three squamous cell cancers and one melanoma removed from my face and top of my head surgically, the last one in January, two months after my 6-month checkup. I had another suspect site on my back/shoulder that tested negative. At each 6-month checkup I usually see between 11 and 20 pre-cancerous sites frozen, so you’re doing good Netguy.
Like it or not like it, sunscreen is your best buddy if you have fair skin and are prone to burning. I’m not so much a fan of it but I use it religiously. I’m in my mid-70s and when I was a kid in the summer I hardly knew what even a t-shirt was and I am paying for it now.
There is a history of melanoma in my family and I get checked every year. I have had spots on my head removed many times. Wearing a hat outside is not enough prevention. Get checked regularly. Good luck.
I have to get better.
The first 3 decades of my life I rarely wore a shirt May-September, and it scares me to think how stupid that was and whether or not I’ll pay for it down the road.
I’ve bought more long sleeve spf shirts and have a few of the neck gaiter/buff deals along with those cooling towels I’ll tuck under a hat to shade my neck. I cannot stand the smell or feel of sunscreen but sometimes it’s a necessary evil
SPF clothes, hats, etc… cover up. I am not against lotions, but if you do a little research, there are a lot of harmful chemicals in lotions that may cause other issues, still better than nothing I guess.
Dermatologist visit yesterday. No issues but have had pre-cancerous cells removed from my face in the past. I’ve adopted long sleeve shirts in year round, use sunscreen regularly and wear a brimmed hat most of the year (stocking hat in cold weather that covers my ears). Baseball hats aren’t sufficient. A few friends who always wear baseball hats have had cancerous cells removed from their ears.
for those that go see a dermotologist….. how long does it take to get in, or say an appt.
around these parts it seems like at least a 6 month wait. my kid needed to see one and he had to drive all the way to Willmar……. from Richmond!!
Thanks to Netguy and others for sharing. Considering every member of this site most likely enjoys the outdoors more than your average person, I think there are two preventative measures we all probably don’t spend enough time on-skin protection and hearing. Good reminders to do better at those things now before it’s too late.
for those that go see a dermotologist….. how long does it take to get in, or say an appt.
around these parts it seems like at least a 6 month wait. my kid needed to see one and he had to drive all the way to Willmar……. from Richmond!!
If you have never seen a dermatologists, it can be a challenge to get in to see one. If I remember correctly I think I had to get a referral from my regular doctor to see a dermatologist for the first time. I know they are usually out at least 6 months to get in to see one. We usually make an appointment when we leave for the next year (I only need to go yearly). As stated some of the chemicals in sunscreen out there are not very good for you either. I have heard from the dermatologist that the spray-on sunscreen is some of the worst for chemicals.
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<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
for those that go see a dermotologist….. how long does it take to get in, or say an appt.around these parts it seems like at least a 6 month wait. my kid needed to see one and he had to drive all the way to Willmar……. from Richmond!!
If you have never seen a dermatologists, it can be a challenge to get in to see one. If I remember correctly I think I had to get a referral from my regular doctor to see a dermatologist for the first time. I know they are usually out at least 6 months to get in to see one. We usually make an appointment when we leave for the next year (I only need to go yearly). As stated some of the chemicals in sunscreen out there are not very good for you either. I have heard from the dermatologist that the spray-on sunscreen is some of the worst for chemicals.
I requested an appointment Wednesday, was seen yesterday morning. I am in the south Metro, likely more providers available than in Glenn’s area.
2 cases of melanoma on my face and numerous small spots, I am paying the price, use precautions now, checked twice a year
for those that go see a dermotologist….. how long does it take to get in, or say an appt.
around these parts it seems like at least a 6 month wait. my kid needed to see one and he had to drive all the way to Willmar……. from Richmond!!
just made my annual appointment the other day.. 3 to 4 weeks out at the most here..
SPF clothes, hats, etc… cover up. I am not against lotions, but if you do a little research, there are a lot of harmful chemicals in lotions that may cause other issues, still better than nothing I guess.
x2 except I am against lotions. I still use them when on vacation in the winter, but sparingly and try and lean on the rash guard SPF shirts, hats, sunglasses.
66 years old and several years ago had cancer cells froze off on my face and surgery on my nose to remove a cancerous growth.
As a kid we ran around in shorts and no shirt all summer long. Get one good sun burn and then you were good to go. Didn’t know any better.
Today I wear wide brimmed hat, UV clothing and sunscreen.
Don’t forget the sun glasses as I have had growths removed from each eye due to excessive exposure to sunshine and wind. Called Pyterygium. Not a fun surgery at all
I have a closet full of long-sleeved “uv” shirts that I’ll wear all summer when I have outdoor plans. Yes, they can be spendy, but I buy all of mine in December off clearance racks for way less than half of the retail price. I’ve gotten to like the ones that are hooded and pile the hood up and around on my neck. Remember, they only help blocking some of the uv rays so sunscreen on the arms first.
About the appts. Derm is perhaps the busiest department in any clinic. I see my dermatologist every 6 months and make the appt for the next visit when I check in for my current appointment. Here in Rochester, I use the “other” clinic [Olmsted Medical Center] in town rather than Mayo, for my basic derm checks and any cuts they do for the usual [basal cell, squamous cell] cancers. This clinic refers me to Mayo for the melanoma cuts. The last cancer done in January showed up two weeks after my November visit. I watched it for two weeks, then just stopped by the Plastic Surgery department at the Hospital since I’m a frequent flyer there and they took a peek on the spot. I left with an appointment for the next week. The bottom line on this skin cancer crap is that if you spend time outdoors in the sun and are over 30, get checked. Light complexion, dark complexion, doesn’t matter. Make the appointment and get checked. If you need to get a call in to your regular doc for a referral, do it. Some of these cancers can grow faster than anything else that can mess with your health and the sooner they’re found the better.
The chemicals in sunscreen is just as bad as the sun. It’s a draw in the end. Spf clothing are my go to.
I used to use sunscreen but I think it affected how many fish bites I got. A buddy who usually doesn’t use sunscreen used to out fish me. You are also supposed to reapply every 2 hours to get the full protection. Now I use UPF clothing: hats, sun buffs (not my favorite to wear but you get used to them), shirts, pants and gloves. Some of the manufacturers are:
Columbia
Stryker
Aqua Design
Solbari out of Australia for a great sun hat that’s cool
Duluth Trading Company: Dry on the fly clothing
I got Maui Jim sunglasses last year with bifocals and wear them almost all the time also. 
My dermatologist said I was good to go for 2 years, but if these precancerous spots I had treated showed up in one year, she’ll be seeing me next year!! 
I was at the doctor for something else entirely. She said “oh this is interesting” looking at my calf. Another checkup and it was a pre-cancerous mole that was then surgically removed along with the margin. Long sleeved shirts and pants of synthetic quick dry material are a blessing.
Had a scare recently too with this. Ended up being totally fine. Worth the money to get hooded sun shirts. I really like the simms ones when they are on sale. Plenty of other brands that are probably just as good though.
If you have issues with chemical sunscreens, use zinc oxide variety. Looks goofy but better than having chunks removed.
I’ve been pretty diligent about this for 8-10 years now. I’m not even 40 yet and I’ve had moles removed etc, plus a family history with different cancer. Like others said, I’m long sleeve sun shirts, wide brim hat, glasses, and sunscreen. Only think I don’t like is that my big hat tries to fly away when I really giv er on the throttle.
Rapala makes a sun shirt that’s a hoodie with a gaiter built in. Those have been my go to recently.
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