Skin cancer- we can all be at risk.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My husband died from malignant melanoma grade 4 . His oncologist said it was set down in childhood and activated as an adult. As child of the late 50's no suntan cream like today it was oil if your parents could afford it or nothing. He spent hours on the beach by himself as a child.

In January 2001 was told his diagnosis and give 5 years to live. He had a biopsy couple of days after Christmas. Had the cancer removed from his face which was hidden in his sideburn by his right eye. It had appeared within a couple of days had to have a skin graft taken from the side of his neck. October 2003 given the terminal notice. 3 tumour's in his right lung ,1 in his chest and 2 in his brain by the optical nerve. Given 4 months to 2 years. He died just under the 4 months four days after his 47th birthday which he wanted to get to. He died in agony and unable to breath. I told him to stop fighting and we would be ok . He died minutes later. I was 45 our children 20 and 16.

Lost half of me the moment he took his last breath and haven't been whole since.

Never under estimate the power of the British sun all year round.

As a golfer I am very aware of that in summer and do usually wear sunscreen but I hate it. Sticky whatever brand I buy.

So sorry for your loss Whiff, it must be very hard.
My DH has strawberry blond colouring and has never sunbathed, but in the past men rarely used anything on their faces. For several years now he regularly sees a dermatologist as little areas of dry and discoloured skin appeared on his face and hands. Fortunately due to the care of the dermatologist, none have developed into anything more serious. Of course he now wears factor 50 sunscreen and special prescription ointment, also a hat.
I’ve drummed skin care etc into our DSs, the one who spent some years in OZ knows how important it is.
Here in the UK there’s hardly a mention of avoiding sun skin damage and especially protecting the face skin.

It always surprises me to see so many bald men out in the sun without a hat , preferably with a brim to protect the ears.
Despite my dh always wearing a hat he has still had skin problems.

My mother died of malignant melanoma so I am naturally very wary. I'm had three skin cancers, but none were malignant. Sunbathing, especially here now with climate change, is something we all need to be careful with.
On the brighter side, - I read that there is now the beginning of some hopeful treatment for melanoma. Let's hope it develops into a real cure soon. Meanwhile, prevention is best.

A friend of mine had cancerous growths on her toes - worth remembering to put sunscreen there if you wear sandals or bare feet.

Whiff that must have been so hard for you and at such a young age,too. They do make all the primary school children wear sun hats here in Summer but not the older ones. As you said often those nasty melanomas start at a young age and remain hidden and inactive so we need to look after the youngsters.

I’ve got an appointment with the dermatologist on the 29th. I’ve waited 18 months for an appointment. I’ve had a pre appointment with a nurse already about 3weeks ago.
I’ve had two BCC’s removed privately but this time I thought I would take the risk , wait and try and get a NHS appointment instead.
BCC’s don’t kill, ‘only’ spread and I have been keeping a close watch on the development of mine. If my concern had grown then I would have paid again, 🤞that I don’t have to lose much more of my nose. It wasn’t that big to start with!

When my husband died 2,000 people died every month from skin cancer . By now the figures must be higher. If you notice a mark that can be pale brown to black ,or a mole that has gotten bigger or changed shape or is weeping get it checked out.

You do not want to see what skin cancer can do to a fit healthy man . You do not want to hold your husband every night for months while he cried himself to sleep or hold him while he screamed with pain.

NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE SUN IT COULD COST YOUR LIFE.

My hairdresser had a growth removed from her leg years ago. The oncologist told her that’s where many women get them because their kegs are exposed and they don’t notice them on the back of their legs. I lost a very dear friend who had spent a lot of time outside in his youth. And because he only had his hair cut very infrequently no one notices the cancer on his head till it was too late. Having said that I also know several people that had skin cancer many years ago and are still ok. I think Australia led the way in skin cancer awareness and treatment.

I have a mole on my leg that had grown through the summer. I went to my GP who seemed happy enough with it, but I was told if it grows much more, gets darker or uneven edge I've to go back to get s biopsy done on it.
I'm a redhead, my mum never had the money for suncream when we're kids, so most summer holidays at the caravan I was like lobster. We all now are so careful, but a lot of damage has already been done.
My thoughts are with all of you who have lost loved ones.

I was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma stage 4 in August 2021. Treatment has developed massively in the last several years. Surgery to excise the tumour is the first line of defence. Then immunotherapy, a relatively recent development has had significant success with a number of cancers, but especially melanoma. It used to be lethal. Nowadays, a better outcome is possible. Treatment is evolving every month.

But it is still critical to notice changes in the skin, and to get to a GP and insist on referral to a dermatologist pronto.

With a thinner ozone layer and hotter Summer weather, even in Northern Europe, people are vulnerable.

Blinko thank you that's brilliant news about the treatment available now. I hope you live a long and quality filled life.

My husband was diagnosed in 2001 only treatment was removal of the cancer luckily they removed it all. After his skin graft healed it was weekly checks they had taught me. First sign he had secondary tumour's was a cough in summer 2003 and tests found the growths . Only palative chemo and radiotherapy available then. The day he should have started radiotherapy was the day he died.

Your post has made me very happy I know it's strange to say but it has. I know if family members get it there is hope for them. 😊

Whiff

Blinko thank you that's brilliant news about the treatment available now. I hope you live a long and quality filled life.

My husband was diagnosed in 2001 only treatment was removal of the cancer luckily they removed it all. After his skin graft healed it was weekly checks they had taught me. First sign he had secondary tumour's was a cough in summer 2003 and tests found the growths . Only palative chemo and radiotherapy available then. The day he should have started radiotherapy was the day he died.

Your post has made me very happy I know it's strange to say but it has. I know if family members get it there is hope for them. 😊

whiff Bless you.

If the melanoma was familial, there are even more options that are proving life savers nowadays. Sending heartfelt wishes that it doesn’t crop up for you and your family.

Alioop, if i were you i'd be back to the doc insisting on a referral to dermatology, esp at the moment when everything takes so long.
all the best.

I've had five BCC's removed, one from my nose and the top of my shoulder a couple of months ago, in fact I had a letter from the hospital this week confirming that they were cancer and that all traces had been removed.
Previously I had two removed from my nose and one from my ear.
I spent a few years in the Far East in the late 60's and early 70's, my main pastime was sunbathing, so all self inflicted.

I had a non malignant skin cancer on my nose. After seeing my GP I was seen by a dermatologist within 2 weeks. I had it removed a few weeks after that and have a 2 inch scar on the side of my nose. I now have another strange blemish on the side of my face and am seeing a dermatologist in January.

Someone I sing with has just had a cancerous lesion removed from her nostril and it has a plaster on it atm. This afternoon we were both singing in a concert and I was one tier higher than her so I could see the top of her head, and in her parting there was a small blue/grey lesion which I am sure she cannot see ... it was not raised and about 2mm in diameter. After I came home I wondered if I should have mentioned.it .... I don't really know her and am a bit torn about this. WWYD? I do not know her name so it would have to wait till term starts.

I think you have to tell her when you are back after Christmas.

My husband actually went to the GP twice and his melanoma was dismissed as nothing. He went to a skin specialist only because me and a friend said we didn’t like the look of his dark splotch. The specialist ordered a biopsy and clapped him straight into hospital where he had it removed and a large skin graft. If we had left it he wouldn’t be here now. Moral of the story being- if you are in doubt get a second opinion!

Ladyleftfieldlover

I think you have to tell her when you are back after Christmas.

Please tell her asap. My friend didn’t know about the skin cancer on his head because he couldn’t see it. It makes me think of people whose lives are saved because they’re on tv and someone watching them spots something that needs treating.

Luckygirl3 get in touch with the choir master and tell her what you spotted today. It could be nothing but it could save her life. As with all things medical the quicker they are treated the better.

Years after my husband died I was talking to someone at a bus stop . I didn't know her but spotted a lump on her neck and told her to see her GP asap . I explained why I wanted her to do it . Month or so later saw her she thanked me and had it removed it was non cancerous but she was now very body aware and checked herself and family regularly.

My son in law had his moles mapped 3 years ago by a dermatologist and my daughter checks them weekly.

People forget our skin is under attack everyday and until my husband's malignant melanoma we where guilty of not looking for changes. Since then I have banged the drum about checking your skin.

I noticed a brown patch on my cheek, was a bit concerned so did a bit of online research. I suspected actinic keratosis, which is a pre cancerous condition so I sent a picture in to my GP, one of the doctors is particularly interested in dermatology and he came back to me the same day. He said he thought it was pre cancerous and prescribed a chemotherapy cream, which I used for a couple of weeks. I had a pretty unsightly sore on my face but once it healed the patch was gone, hopefully for good. It's always worth contacting your GP if you are worried.