USVI-On-Line

LLBL:
First let me say how sorry I am to hear about your skin cancer, however I am confident everything will be fine!
Growing up in Florida has left its mark on me. As a kid the most we had on was Coppertone, and in those days it wasn't much protection. Then as a teenager we all wanted tans. Problem is I am fair skinned and did nothing but burn. I am fortunate to have an excellent dermatologist. As other forum family have said, do not leave the house without sun screen, and get checkups annually.
I will say a prayer for you and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns...I definitely can understand the anxiety you are feeling.
Good luck, God bless!

LLBL, I am so sorry to hear your news, but want to thank you for sharing your story. I'm one of those "kids of the 60's" who did the baby oil and iodine routine...we just HAD to have a dark tan. I now use a lot of sunblock (still probably not as much as I should) but I'm sure the damage has been done. Best wishes with your treatment.

I've had some suspicious spots removed, but the scary part is that the dermatologist said the damage is already been done and that anytime I burned to the point of peeling in the past could mean trouble in the future. As mentioned previously in the thread, don't put off being checked out if there are any skin changes at all.

Ah, yes, skin cancer. I do have some experience with that. But it wasn't until the second time that the doc had to hack a basal cell carcinoma out of my cheek that I got serious about sun protection. The first one on my cheek didn't stop me. And all of the ones that had been cut, scraped and frozen off my back and shoulders certainly didn't stop me. But now I've had enough. I see the doc twice a year and have also used Aldara with good effect. My own thick-headedness and solid denial mechanisms help me to understand why some people are still going to tanning salons and baking in the sun.

My brother recenly had a melanoma found on his nose. It was found early and, for now, does not appear to have metastasized. I'm almost casual about basal cells now, but melanoma terrifies me. A basal cell carcinoma is about the best cancer you can get. A melanoma is among the worst because it can metastasize so quickly. That's what keeps me going to the dermatologist twice a year rather than once. Sometimes that six months can make a critical difference if it's a melanoma. The docs pick up on things that I might miss.

So I've given up chasing the tan. I use sun block liberally and often, cover up, stay in the shade. For me anymore, tanning equals surgery.

LLBL,
I'm sorry to hear about this. The "C" word is a scary one. If it is any consolation, I have heard from three people that I know this year who all had skin cancer spots removed from their face. They are all doing well. All now, wearing more sunscreen and getting checked regularly. Take Care.
Amy

I have not personally had an occurrence, yet, I fear that I may have one soon given the pale pale pale irish skin I possess and the amount of burns in my lifetime!! I have a raised bump on my face that I have asked the Doc about before and she seems to think that it is nothing, but my mother really got me freaked out about it the other day when she said that I really should have someone else look at it. Regardless, I still go on a yearly basis...so, we'll see...

That being said, my boss on the other had has had several bouts with it - it is a biannual thing for him to get basal cells removed. He had a huge one removed from his back several years ago, which prompted a tattoo covering up the scar, the second two major ones were on his ears for which he has had to have reconstructive surgery of his ears. The plastic surgeon used skin from the side of his neck to put over the cartilege of his ears...he says, "hey, at least I got a neck lift!!".....MIND YOU - he just finished building a condo in the Caribbean for his retirement some day...So, as you can see, there are other people out there who, even though they go through this over and over and in some of the worst possible ways, they still don't let it stop their love for the islands!

LLBL: I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through, and I'm grateful that you posted as a reminder to all of us. After years spent lifeguarding on Lake Michigan with nothing but baby oil between me and the summer sun (OK yes and a swimsuit!) I'm much more cautious now. Sometimes that sun just feels so darn good on my skin, but I know it's soooo bad for me. I make my kids wear sunblock all the time, even when going to school. (They're very fair haired.)

My friend and neighbor is a dermatologist and has the gorgeous skin to prove it. She is never ever tan, even though being Greek she could probably tan easily. Very sadly, she has recently been diagnosed with MS. The irony is that there are some studies that show a link between too little exposure to sunlight (for the vitamin D) and MS. That doesn't make me stop believing in the virtues of sunblock, but it sucks, doesn't it? Maybe they should make self-tanner with vitamin D in it.

Unfortunately, I know the risks all too well. My 40 year old uncle passed away this June from cancer. It "surfaced" as a brain tumor, but was finally traced to metastatic melanoma. That's right - melanoma/skin cancer. Had completely taken over his lungs, too. Got the diagnosis in January 2007, he was gone by June 2007, leaving behind a wife and two young sons.
I know this is an extreme example, but it has really opened my eyes. At 29 years old, I know I'll be visiting a dermatologist at least once a year, and am religious with my sunscreen now. The kicker - they never found any spots on my uncle that were deemed to be the "originating melanoma", that sometimes they're reabsorbed by your body, or just invisible to the eye. But my uncle was a contracter, worked outside in SC most days.
Sorry to be a bummer - I just like to tell this story when given the opportunity, maybe it will help someone else.
LandLocked - best of luck to you, glad you are being proactive!

Hi All -

I just wanted to forward a link to the sunshirts I use for my kids. They work great, don't discolor, and dry quickly. They are loose fitting and my kids never complain about wearing them - and they do so often since we have a boat here in Wisconsin (well for 3 months anyway! )

http://www.solareclipse.com/index.asp?P ... ProdID=343

Tracy

Last year I decided it was time for a routine skin doctor appt.

Well, a tiny mole on the top of my foot turned out to be a pre-melanoma. They surgically removed it and all the skin around it. I feel lucky that I caught it so randomly and so early.

I guess it's very common, for women, especially, to get melanomas on the tops of the feet. I think about how I sit in the shade on STJ, but had not been so careful about the tops of feet.

Please let me be the first to say, I am sorry for the bad news you received! The "C" word is always scary to hear.

I have been a faithful lurker (I read this forum at least daily) on this forum and the previous one, but never registered until this past weekend. I have been to St. John and St. Thomas 5 times and have had great trips because of the great advice and ideas I have read on this forum! When I read your post I knew that I had to make this my first post! I so enjoyed your trip reports this summer and looked forward to each installment.

I just returned from my surgeon a few minutes ago. I too received a similar message in late August. I had basal cell cancer in the corner of my eye and had Mohs surgery last Monday and occular plastic surgery Tuesday. I was a little apprehensive, but all went well. You may have something done called Mohs surgery (google it to read more), it was very easy - the worst part was the skin numbing, and it was really no worse than novacaine(sp?) at the dentist. Because of the location of my skin cancer near my eye, I had to see an occular plastic surgeon and have surgery at a hospital the day after the Mohs surgery. That too was not a problem, and again the IV was the worst part of the surgery(but oh how I love my anesthesiologist!). I was given pain pills and never needed them. Yes, I have a scar that will be with me for a while, but I am cancer free plus I have an excuse not to wear make-up for a while!

Yes, my next trip to St. John will be a little different than previous trips, but I will find new ways to enjoy our beloved island that do not involve as much sun damage as my past trips. Feel free to pm me with any questions. I don't have all the answers, but I will be glad to share with you my very recent experience. I hope that you will not have an anxious night tonight. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Di - Thanks for your first post! I know it won't be your last . I have to say I am feeling so much better today than yesterday, thanks to all the helpful posts! It is so encouraging to hear so many people "come out of the woodwork" with similar experiences! I'm so glad that everyone appears to have emerged from the experience healthy and much more intelligent when being exposed to the sun.

When I think of all the sunbathing I did as a teenager because "I just had to have a tan" for whatever night I was going out to look for some "boy of summer" that I could potentially meet - -it makes me sick. Those boys are long gone. This situation is here because of that and affecting my precious family who are here for the long-run. Lesson learned. The hard way.

OK done venting now...

chicagoans wrote:My friend and neighbor is a dermatologist and has the gorgeous skin to prove it. She is never ever tan, even though being Greek she could probably tan easily. Very sadly, she has recently been diagnosed with MS. The irony is that there are some studies that show a link between too little exposure to sunlight (for the vitamin D) and MS. That doesn't make me stop believing in the virtues of sunblock, but it sucks, doesn't it? Maybe they should make self-tanner with vitamin D in it.

That's really interesting. My Dad, he of the many basal cells, was diagnosed with MS in 1989. I think there are so many theories, but no answers. Not yet, anyway.

LL,
I will say most people love the sun fair or not. The best thing that happened (early on) is the demotologist finding your spots.
My sisters and my mom all had spots removed and went on fine.
I worked in skincare for 8 yrs and saw many, many people that just had too much sun. The damgage occurs b4 you are even 24 and does not show up til you are normally in your mid 30's and up.
I tell all my clients and did that it is never to late to wear sunscreen. Men in particular I have a hard time with since they seem to like that leathered look.
It was funny when I lived on island, people seemed quite smart about sun protection as opposed to people stateside. I see that alot here in S. Fl.
You are being proactive and this is the best thing.