I never thought I'd say this, but.........

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
Don't tan! Wear SPF 30 sunscreen!

I really hesitated to post this b/c it's a bit personal but I figured WTH, it might help someone. After 25 years of serious UV exposure, done for my psoriasis since until recently it was the only truly effective treatment, a few weeks ago my derm found a carcinoma on my leg (strange place for it, no?). Now, I am def. not looking for sympathy b/c right now it's not a big deal. Certainly nothing compared to what some folks are going through. Not life threatening, not making me feel bad or sick, & I'm having it removed the first week of Jan. I just want you ladies to be more aware.

That said, it makes me a little nervous to be touched w/skin cancer at the age of 40. Where will I be in 10 years? :confused:

Honestly, I don't know if I myself would do anything differently, even with what I know now. I had the choice of walking around w/90% of my body covered with an angry, red, scaly rash or risking skin cancer. Instead, I'm now on meds w/a high risk of lymphoma. But I do hope those who have a choice stay the hell away from the sun & the tanning beds. If I had a choice I think I would have seriously limited my UV exposure a long time ago.

Now, I guess I'll be seeing my natural skin color again. I'm not sure what it is after all this time. :eek: I guess the next year will bring a paler, healthier version of Laura. :p
 
Coverage is good. Sorry to hear about this Laura. They found a melanoma on me a little more than five years ago. It was pretty shocking -- there I was driving my two young boys to the park and on the cell phone my dr. is telling me there is a 95% chance of more than a five year survival. Kind of freaky, but in my case they caught it very early and more than five years later I am fine, but you better believe that I go in every year for my skin checks! Hats, ladies -- wear hats!

ETA: and gents!

-Beth
 
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Sorry to hear this.:(

Hope the removal goes smoothly, and there are no complications.

As for where it showed up : I've heard that a common location for skin cancers is behind the knee (which seems like an odd place to me). Maybe because the skin is more sensitive their? Maybe because it's often neglected when people put on sunscreen?

Have you tried seeking the advice of any alternative medical practitioners for your psoriasis? Or doing some online searches for methods that are less toxic?

Before I read your post, I'd scheduled a total body skin cancer screening with a dermatologist next week, just because I'm very pale, and didn't protect myself from the sun at all until I was around 30 (though I didn't go out a lot in it and didn't sun bathe a lot, I did get several sunburns, including a really nasty burn when I was 16). I'm hoping the only fallout from that neglect are the three sunspots (splotches, 'age spots', 'liver spots', there's no pretty name for them) on my face.

I picked up kinda nasty smelling (very strong herbal/mint) sun screen that's full of antioxidants and natural sunblocks (only SPF 25, but they claim higher SPF's don't add that much protection, but need strong, and perhaps unhealthy, chemicals) here: http://www.impex-intl.com/
 
Beth! Holy crap! I'm so glad you're OK!

Kathryn, I've had this wretched disease since I was 14. I've been through the ringer w/meds, alternative & otherwise. A few years ago my skin got so bad the bottoms of my feet fell off in chunks. I couldn't wear shoes, even the thought of a hot shower made me sick to my stomach. So I took the plunge & went on the biologics.

The good news is it should prevent psoriatic arthritis, which evidently I'm very prone to since I get it in my nails. But there's a relatively high risk of lymphoma. :(

Whoa, TMI I guess. :confused:

Oh, & the carcinoma is right above my knee on my quadricep. And it was white--I thought those things were always brown & shaped funny. Very strange.
 
I'm so sorry!

My dad had skin cancer a little while ago and had it removed. It went very well. It did take a while to heal. I got the sun damage when I was just 11 years old, so its too late for me! And, it is so weird that we get spots that aren't exposed that much to sun at all. My uncle got a spot where the sun don't shine :confused:
 
At 40, I had basal cell on my right temple and had to have Mohs micrographic surgery to get it removed (not fun as it was an all day affair). I also had something (can't remember if it was basal cell or what) on my left quad right above my thigh)...that one they just froze it and it bubbled up like a blister, not bad at all. I'm due to go back for another skin check....being fair skinned, freckle easily, growing up in FL, getting many bad burns, and my Mom also got basal cells on her face....guess it's just the luck of the draw---these things are very treatable if caught early...so just add it to your list of yearly things that need to be done.
 
I am 41 and have had psoriasis since I was about 19. UV light is virtually the only effective treatment for me as well. I do use the tanning bed, but VERY SPARRINGLY - no more than a couple times a week in the winter for no more than 12 minutes at a time. Yes, still a risk, I know, but in the winter, it gets bad and I am in a lot of pain. :(
 
Yeah, I have to see my derm every 4-6 mos b/c of the meds I'm on.

Oh that's the other thing that's killing me--no legs for a week! I just took a break for surgery 8 weeks ago dammit! :(
 
Laura - so sorry to hear this! I was just telling myself last week that it is time to go in for a skin check. Both my grandfather (on Mom's side) and my dad have skin cancers often, thankfully the "good" kind but still...one of Dad's had gone past the least invasive to the one in the middle. I have to keep on top of it. Glad you got in and are taking care of it - all the best. Shana
 
fit@home1 said:
I am 41 and have had psoriasis since I was about 19. UV light is virtually the only effective treatment for me as well. I do use the tanning bed, but VERY SPARRINGLY - no more than a couple times a week in the winter for no more than 12 minutes at a time. Yes, still a risk, I know, but in the winter, it gets bad and I am in a lot of pain. :(
Click to expand...

Fit, you're not on Enbrel or Humira? You must convince your doc to get it for you. It's been a life & sanity saver for me. A hassle w/the insurance & paperwork, but I'm 99% clear now & I thank heaven these meds exist.
 
I had a basal cell removed at age 34 (I think) right around my collarbone. It totally freaked me out. It was flesh colored and the only thing that made me go to the doc was about a month after I noticed it, I saw a tiny black dot in the center of it. I SO wish I hadn't gone to the beach AND tanned with the beds in my high school and college years. I used to remember my dad saying "off to the cancer bed?" Guess he was right. I go yearly for a skin check....that is scheduled. I usually get freaked out about a spot a couple of times throughout the year and am in there more often. In face, I have an appt next week.
 
Hi Laura,

Thank you so much for your input. I'm so sorry about what is happening to you.

You are courageous to talk about it to other people in hopes to help them.

I use 70 SPF sunscreen (even though I don't have psoriasis), as often as I think about it. Because of you, I will think about it more often.

You will trigger a lot of response, and I'm looking forward to reading others opinions.

Thanks again Laura, do take care and let us know how things go for you.

Janie
 
Janie, you nut! You're too sweet. No courage here, it's really not a big deal.

Except for the missing leg w/o. Now THAT'S a big deal! ;)

Oh, & the pale face. THAT'S a big deal too! :p
 
Laura - thank you so much for sharing your experience - although I'm SO sorry that you have to go through this! Last week, I scheduled an appt. with my dermatologist to have cortizone injections on my hand - I have this thing called granuloma annulare and I had treatment on my right hand for it a couple of years ago and it went away. Now it's starting on my left hand. Anyway - when I called to make the appt. the receptionist asked if it was for an annual skin check and I said no - for the shot only - but after reading your post I realize I am WAY overdue for my annual check and will call back and tell her I want a full check up.

Hang in there!
 
Laura, I'm very sorry. You really have been caught between a rock and a hard place with your skin condition. I'm glad it was caught early and I appreciate your post. We could all use a reminder to have our skin checked by a dermatologist. It's something that never occurs to me and it should -- I used to relish baking in the sun in my yout. :eek:

I've been slathering myself in #30 sunblock for years and I've grown accustomed to my pallid complexion. I actually break out in a rash now if I get too much sun.
 
Hi Laura,

I think it's good that you posted this. I'm sorry about the diagnosis. What I wanted to tell you is that my husband just last month (at 39) found out he had a basal cell carcinoma on the very top of his head. For a few years now he'd get a scab like thing and pick at it and it'd go away only to return again. He's fair skinned and never wore SPF and also spent many months of his life in the sun. His skin cancer was so deep in his head that they had to cut all the way down to his skull. He didn't know it was going to be so deep and when he was sitting in the chair he said he was a little freaked out by the sound of the instrument tapping his head (eww!). It was certainly a lesson learned that he won't let things like a recurring scab type thing linger without being checked. Had he had it looked at it wouldn't have grown so deep. All was well though and it's the "good" cancer, so the doctor just said to be super-careful and to expect more of these in the future. I have to say that this did kind of wake him up to his perceived invincibility. He was a little weird for a few days there, but came out of it. He said it just shocked him since he's so young.

Anyway, just thought I'd share his story since you are both so close in age. Good luck to you!!
--Jen :)
 
Jen! OMG! You're making me nauseas! LMAO! That is just too freaky...........

Thanks to you & everyone for sharing your stories. Good to know I'm not alone & that life might continue as I know it! Well, except I'll be needing new makeup for my new skin tone. ;)
 
Laura - I'm sorry to hear about this but glad you have such a good attitude and so willing to share your story and remind us all to be more careful. I wish that the media would stop portraying a nice, tanned body as healthy and sexy. Even our fitness magazines do it every summer. Although they do talk about "fake" tans (and of course the gals who compete do the spray tans), so many of them show these gals with their "natural" healthy, sunkissed glows. It makes it so hard every summer to stay white and feel like you look decent!
 
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