The Junkyard

Good post, I know this is about sports and all but I do feel like we should all be trying to look out for one another.

Thanks, MarshLandDawg!

Thanks for the reply. We all know the benefits of using, and the dangers of not using sunscreens. I just posted this for positive reinforcement for these, and appreciate your acknowledgement with your comment. UpVote!

I can tell you that during my teen years in the 60's, we country folk here in SW Georgia didn't use the more expensive, commercially available Sea and Ski or Coppertone suntan products. Maybe our 'older' members can relate to this - we'd put about 20 drops of Iodine in a 6 oz bottle of Johnson's Baby Oil, shake it up vigorously, and use this as our suntan oil.

By mid-June, we were dark as modern creosote telephone/light poles. In retrospect, I guess this tanning wasn't all that smart, but the dangers of over exposure to the sun was unknown; at least to my generation it wasn't. Wish I could turn back the clock of time now to erase the long-term damage this has personally caused me and I'm sure countless others who tanned this way. Thankfully there's now liquid nitrogen, and surgery that can help erase the damage done by sun over exposure!

Your comment is exactly why I posted this thread; positive reinforcement for using sunscreens. Thanks for your post! I hope you have a great day at the beach! Can't wait until I can again get there myself.

Wear your sunblock, y'all! And, as always,

Good advice. Last year I had a cancer the size of a quarter removed from my forehead. Like JAWJeRDAWG, my youth was spent in Sowega farming during the summers. Back then sunscreen was for sissies and old ladies. Unfortunately some folks have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

1eyedJack

Thanks for sharing that with us. More insight like this vividly points out the need for sunscreen. Unfortunately the damage of long-tern over exposure isn't pronounced until it's sometime too late to reverse the damage. UpVote!

I like your reference to peeing on an an electric fence to reinforce the point! Only we country boys would know much about that!

Back in high school, I actually had a friend do that while we were out dove hunting. There's nothing like a jolt of electricity up the urinary stream into the urethra to stop urine flow -immediately! Dead cold painful he professed as he writhed on the ground in agony! Ouch!

Hopefully sharing your skin cancer experience will help reinforce the dangers of sun over-exposure. Thanks for sharing!

I would like to ask all of you Dawg fans (and anybody else) who has a good relationship with our Lord to keep me in your prayers.

I was diagnosed this past week with bladder cancer. This is a reoccurance of the cancer that I beat 11 years ago. I believe we caught it much earlier this time and I feel my prognosis is as good as possible. I see my oncologist Tuesday to set down a protocol. Probably chemo and radiation. Thankfully, I have a good woman and a good family to take care of me. I would remind all of you if you experience any discomfort or pain, have a change in your stream (not just because your an old fart), or notice any blood or dark colored urine to see a urologist immediately. I also had a .7 inch stone.

Every path has a few puddles.

1eyedJack

I am so sorry to hear this, my friend. You've beat this one time, and I'm hopeful that with this early detection, you can beat it again! I will pray for you everyday.

Please keep me updated through PM as you progress thru treatment. I wish you all the best in a full recovery! Stay in touch!!

JAW, Jr.

PLEASE READ WHEN YOU HAVE TIME!

And, thanks to those of you who have read this thread and rated it as worthy of posting. I appreciate knowing that.

I would like to close out this thread with some insight from the Mayo Clinic into the recognition of skin cancer. I hope you will take the time to read this information on the recognition of the various forms of skin cancer, and you'll take the time to look yourself over carefully and have a significant-other check those places on the back of your ears, neck, shoulders, and back that you can not see well. I've shortened this to be as succinct as possible, but still give you an idea of what to look for in recognizing a possible skin cancer.

I share this you not only because of my personal experience with my skin cancers, but because I lost my sister-in-law from melanoma about 35 years ago at the age of 26. I truly hope you'll read the below from the Mayo Clinic. It just might save your life!

Where skin cancer develops:

Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day — your palms, beneath your fingernails, the spaces between your toes or under your toenails, and your genital area.

Skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. When melanoma occurs in those with dark skin tones, it's more likely to occur in areas not normally considered to be sun-exposed.

Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms:

Basal cell carcinoma usually occurs in sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your face, ears or scalp. Basal cell carcinoma may appear as:

A pearly or waxy bump,
A flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion.

Squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms:

Most often, squamous cell carcinoma occurs on sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your face, lips, ears and hands. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as:

A firm, red nodule,
A flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface.

Melanoma signs and symptoms:

Melanoma can develop anywhere on your body, in otherwise normal skin or in an existing mole that becomes cancerous. Melanoma most often appears on the trunk, head or neck of affected men. In women, this type of cancer most often develops on the lower legs. In both men and women, melanoma can occur on skin that hasn't been exposed to the sun. Melanoma can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones, melanoma tends to occur on the palms or soles, or under the fingernails or toenails.

Melanoma signs include:

A large brownish spot with darker speckles,
A mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds,
A small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, white, blue or blue-black,
Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina or anus.

Signs and symptoms of less common skin cancers:

Kaposi sarcoma. This rare form of skin cancer develops in the skin's blood vessels and causes red or purple patches on the skin or mucous membranes. Kaposi sarcoma mainly occurs in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with AIDS, and in people taking medications that suppress their natural immunity, such as people who've undergone organ transplants. Kaposi sarcoma can also occur in older adults of Mediterranean heritage.

Merkel cell carcinoma:

Merkel cell carcinoma causes firm, shiny nodules that occur on or just beneath the skin and in hair follicles. Merkel cell carcinoma is usually found on sun-exposed areas on the head, neck, arms and legs.

Sebaceous gland carcinoma:

This uncommon and aggressive cancer originates in the oil glands in the skin. Sebaceous gland carcinomas — which usually appear as hard, painless nodules — can develop anywhere, but most occur on the eyelid, where they're frequently mistaken for other eyelid problems.

When to see a doctor:

Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that worry you. Not all skin changes are caused by skin cancer. Your doctor will investigate your skin changes to determine a cause.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, AND SEE A PHYSICIAN AT THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY SKIN ABNORMALITY! I care about you. And, I close with

JAW, Jr.

I'm only 24, but i'm pretty sure i'm screwed on my shoulders, back, and chest unless God prevented any worse damage. My dad failed to put sun screen on me when I was a toddler and got close to third degree burns, but my skin appears to be ok...so far.