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“When I saw my Oncologist not too long ago, I told him “I feel like a low-flying albatross is circling over my head.”

I was diagnosed with Stage IV advanced Malignant Melanoma that was predicted to take my life by September this year — upon diagnosis back in February.

The problem with cancer is that unlike other diseases, you’re not likely to feel pain until after the cancer has grown to a point where, if malignant, might be too advanced and decrease your chance of survival.

Worse yet, at least in my case, their seemed to be a mass exodus of friends and support as soon as I started looking sick. For almost a year, while trying to find a surgeon who would remove a tumor on my shoulder that had now grown upward to over 5 cm. It was constantly bleeding and the fluid it produced was also effecting other areas of my body via the subcutaneous layer of the skin.

At times, it felt like razor blades were slicing my veins in both arms.”

I believe, in hindsight, that had it not been for the fact that I simply didn’t have the resources, I would have taken my life.

Finally, in February this year (the cancer became intolerable 6-months previous), I had lucked out and finally was referred to an aggressive surgeon who wasted no time in treatment.

February, March and April encompassed three separate surgeries. By June, I had felt like a different person. After you’re sick for so long and then you feel like a person you’d almost forgot, it’s an incredible feeling.

Sadly, that was short lived. By September, I noticed the weight I had gained back was beginning to drop, my energy level had waned and I feel pain constantly within my shoulder — approximately 15 lymph nodes were removed along with the tumor.

I was scheduled for the all the periodic Pet scans, CTs, MRIs a few months ago, but decided not to have it done. “If something is found, most likely it means more surgery and this time it’s likely to be in a less convenient area than before.” Moreover, it also means that it had definitely metastasized and the likely-hood of survival was moot.

This ‘head-in-the-sand’ attitude is extremely dumb on my part; however, unless you have cancer, you wouldn’t understand.

Why get naked? Skin cancer, is one reason. That’s right, it’s important to regularly look your body over for detection. Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S., with nearly one million new cases each year. Undiagnosed, it can cause serious problems.

Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are the most common, but melanoma is the most deadly. Melanoma is responsible for over seven thousand deaths a year and the incidence is increasing rapidly. Melanoma is now the number one cancer in younger women and second only to breast cancer in women over the age of 30. White and fair skin people are at the greatest risk. However, skin cancer is deadlier among African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians, even though their risk is less.

Most skin cancer is preventable. But it requires staying out of the sun as much as possible. If you’re going to be exposed, be certain to cover up. Wear a hat that shades your face and both the front and back of your neck, plus a long sleeve shirt and full length pants to cover arms and legs.

Also, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply it throughout the day - especially after swimming or sweating. Be sure to get new sunscreen each year, because last year’s is no longer effective. And, definitely avoid tanning booths, since they’ve been shown to increase your risk.

A diet rich in carotenoid fruits and vegetables plus a high quality carotenoid supplement can also help protect against skin cancer. Carotenoids are the phytonutrient factors in certain plants that help protect them from sun damage. Luckily, it can do the same for you. But, you still need to get naked. Take your clothes off and look yourself over for changes in skin. It’s an important habit for protecting yourself from skin cancer. And, always be sure to check out those hard to see places like your back, buttocks, bottom of feet and top of your head. Maybe a friend can help!

The fondest of summertime memories for most children, are those of long hot and sunny days at the beach. Those memories conjure mental pictures of playing in the surf, burying Dad alive and eating peanut butter and sand sandwiches. The thoughts that don’t usually jump to the front of our seaside memories are those of the sun burns. This is because we tend to remember the best of times more than the worst of times. No matter how well Mom lathered on the sunscreen, there were always spots missed, and boy, weren’t they visible at the end of the day! The advent of the rash guard shirt has come to the rescue of modern Moms and Dads to prevent these painful experiences.

The rash guard shirt was originally developed for surfers who were getting rashes from the wax on their surf boards. The wax would hold sand from the beach and then they would be rubbing their torsos on the wax as they paddled out to the break. Rash guards are now manufactured from fabrics that hold high UPF factors, most of them are 50+. This is about the best protection that you can get from the Sun’s damaging rays, short of staying inside in the first place. The primary benefit of the shirt is that there are no “missed spots” as there are with sun lotion. The rash guards are also fast drying, so they are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Once a child starts to wear one at the beach, it just becomes second nature, like a life jacket, and the entire headache and worry of sunburn is gone (at least for the covered areas.

Other sports and activities have adopted the rash guard shirt into standard operating procedure as well. In Karate, the shirt is worn under the Gi to prevent chafing from the stiff cotton uniform. In Grappling, most fighters now wear the long sleeve rash guard shirt, as they make it more difficult to grasp by the opponent. In yachting, professional crews now wear the rash guard shirt as a uniform item during water sports because they are fast drying and look much sharper than a wet T-Shirt.

When purchasing a rash guard shirt, look for several factors to insure the quality of the shirt in question. The stitching is very important, a poor seam can cause more discomfort than the sunburn it is attempting to prevent. Flatlock stitched seams are the best for comfort and durability. The fabric is also very important, NOT ALL RASH GUARD SHIRTS ARE UPF 50+! Also, as with any product, check the customer service policies of the seller.

There’s more to prevention than you think

Statistics surrounding skin cancer are astounding. More than one million new cases are diagnosed each year, more than all other cancers combined. This means that one in five people will have skin cancer in their lifetime. Despite this high number, Americans understand very little about how to prevent skin cancer, and actually take preventative measures even less. Understanding the types, cause, risks, and prevention of skin cancer is the best way to combat this potentially deadly disease.

The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma which are usually curable. The third type, melanoma, is much more dangerous and one of the most common cancers in young adults.

Ninety percent of skin cancer is caused by the sun’s rays, with UVA rays affecting the genetics of the skin and UVB rays altering the outside layers. Sun exposure in childhood can dramatically increase a person’s chance of getting skin cancer. One blistering sunburn in childhood can as much as double the risk of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, later in life. Childhood is also the part of life which holds the greatest sun exposure for most people. Most parents protect their children from the sun during the summer, or on a trip to the beach, but for children especially, every day is an opportunity to experience the damaging rays of the sun. It is important to protect against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays year round.

Risks of skin cancer increase in certain ethnic and age groups. Those with fair skin, blue or green eyes, light colored hair are more susceptible to skin cancer. As are those who burn or freckle easily. However, even those with dark skin can get melanoma and in those rarer cases, it proves to be more deadly. Age also affects a person’s risk of skin cancer. In white men over 50, melanoma is the most common kind of cancer, even more common than cancer of the prostate, colon, or lung.

Prevention of skin cancer seems pretty straightforward to most people. Stay out of the sun, and when you can’t, wear protective clothing and sunblock. It’s not quite that easy. To be effective, sunblock should be above SPF (sun protection factor) 15 and should be reapplied liberally at least every 2 hours. All sunblocks are not created equal. Look for sunblock that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and apply it 15 minutes before heading outside. Even with good sunblock applied well, UV rays can still reach the skin. This is why experts recommend staying out of the sun during the most dangerous, midday rays. Also, cover up with a wide brimmed hat, tightly woven clothing, and sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes. Try to avoid UV rays outside and inside, including tanning beds.

Although skin cancer is incredibly common, understanding the types, causes, risks, and especially prevention can help you and your family avoid this dangerous disease that affects one in five people. Be Sun Smart!

Deramatology Researchers at Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester have uncovered exciting evidence that oily fish in your diet could help in the prevention of skin cancer.

Omega 3 oils in fish have long been associated with health benefits in conditions such as poor concentration in children and protection against heart disease and dementia, but it now appears that these essential fatty acids protect the skin against the DNA damage that can cause skin cancer.

Sun burn is a major factor in the development of skin cancer. Fair skinned people are particularly susceptible and sun burn increases the chances of developing skin cancer at a later date.

The research consisted of a group of 42 healthy people being given a fish oil supplement that would be the equivalent of three portions of oily fish a week.

After one month, they were less likely to burn and after three months, their resistance had risen to 33% less likely.

A group of people who suffered from sun allergy doubled their defence after 6 months.

These groups were measured against a third group who had been given olive oil which had no effect.

The protection derived from the change in diet would be equivalent to a permanent mild sun screen but would not protect against fierce sun.

Many people only apply sun screen if they’re officially sunbathing and then it can be patchy.

Serious damage can happen in as little as 15 minutes - maybe walking to the shops or taking the dog out - doing a bit of gardening - how many of us would bother to put sun screen on for those tasks?

In the UK, skin cancer rates have doubled every decade since 1940 and there are now around 100,000 new cases and 2000 deaths a year. These increases are reflected in pale skinned people all around the world.

Much of the increase in the UK has been put down to more people taking holidays abroad and exposing themselves to excessive sun. However, there are many days in the UK when it would be advisable to protect ourselves but because the climate is mild overall, we don’t bother.

Increasing oily fish in your diet is easy - even canned fish (apart from tuna) retains the omega 3s, so salmon, mackerel, sardines and the like can all be used straight from the can.

Now is the right time to make the change in the Northern Hemisphere, so you’ll have the additional protection by next summer.

Why get naked? Skin cancer, is one reason. That’s right, it’s important to regularly look your body over for detection. Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S., with nearly one million new cases each year. Undiagnosed, it can cause serious problems.

Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are the most common, but melanoma is the most deadly. Melanoma is responsible for over seven thousand deaths a year and the incidence is increasing rapidly. Melanoma is now the number one cancer in younger women and second only to breast cancer in women over the age of 30. White and fair skin people are at the greatest risk. However, skin cancer is deadlier among African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians, even though their risk is less.

Most skin cancer is preventable. But it requires staying out of the sun as much as possible. If you’re going to be exposed, be certain to cover up. Wear a hat that shades your face and both the front and back of your neck, plus a long sleeve shirt and full length pants to cover arms and legs.

Also, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply it throughout the day - especially after swimming or sweating. Be sure to get new sunscreen each year, because last year’s is no longer effective. And, definitely avoid tanning booths, since they’ve been shown to increase your risk.

A diet rich in carotenoid fruits and vegetables plus a high quality carotenoid supplement can also help protect against skin cancer. Carotenoids are the phytonutrient factors in certain plants that help protect them from sun damage. Luckily, it can do the same for you. But, you still need to get naked. Take your clothes off and look yourself over for changes in skin. It’s an important habit for protecting yourself from skin cancer. And, always be sure to check out those hard to see places like your back, buttocks, bottom of feet and top of your head. Maybe a friend can help!

The fondest of summertime memories for most children, are those of long hot and sunny days at the beach. Those memories conjure mental pictures of playing in the surf, burying Dad alive and eating peanut butter and sand sandwiches. The thoughts that don’t usually jump to the front of our seaside memories are those of the sun burns. This is because we tend to remember the best of times more than the worst of times. No matter how well Mom lathered on the sunscreen, there were always spots missed, and boy, weren’t they visible at the end of the day! The advent of the rash guard shirt has come to the rescue of modern Moms and Dads to prevent these painful experiences.

The rash guard shirt was originally developed for surfers who were getting rashes from the wax on their surf boards. The wax would hold sand from the beach and then they would be rubbing their torsos on the wax as they paddled out to the break. Rash guards are now manufactured from fabrics that hold high UPF factors, most of them are 50+. This is about the best protection that you can get from the Sun’s damaging rays, short of staying inside in the first place. The primary benefit of the shirt is that there are no “missed spots” as there are with sun lotion. The rash guards are also fast drying, so they are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Once a child starts to wear one at the beach, it just becomes second nature, like a life jacket, and the entire headache and worry of sunburn is gone (at least for the covered areas.

Other sports and activities have adopted the rash guard shirt into standard operating procedure as well. In Karate, the shirt is worn under the Gi to prevent chafing from the stiff cotton uniform. In Grappling, most fighters now wear the long sleeve rash guard shirt, as they make it more difficult to grasp by the opponent. In yachting, professional crews now wear the rash guard shirt as a uniform item during water sports because they are fast drying and look much sharper than a wet T-Shirt.

When purchasing a rash guard shirt, look for several factors to insure the quality of the shirt in question. The stitching is very important, a poor seam can cause more discomfort than the sunburn it is attempting to prevent. Flatlock stitched seams are the best for comfort and durability. The fabric is also very important, NOT ALL RASH GUARD SHIRTS ARE UPF 50+! Also, as with any product, check the customer service policies of the seller.

There’s more to prevention than you think

Statistics surrounding skin cancer are astounding. More than one million new cases are diagnosed each year, more than all other cancers combined. This means that one in five people will have skin cancer in their lifetime. Despite this high number, Americans understand very little about how to prevent skin cancer, and actually take preventative measures even less. Understanding the types, cause, risks, and prevention of skin cancer is the best way to combat this potentially deadly disease.

The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma which are usually curable. The third type, melanoma, is much more dangerous and one of the most common cancers in young adults.

Ninety percent of skin cancer is caused by the sun’s rays, with UVA rays affecting the genetics of the skin and UVB rays altering the outside layers. Sun exposure in childhood can dramatically increase a person’s chance of getting skin cancer. One blistering sunburn in childhood can as much as double the risk of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, later in life. Childhood is also the part of life which holds the greatest sun exposure for most people. Most parents protect their children from the sun during the summer, or on a trip to the beach, but for children especially, every day is an opportunity to experience the damaging rays of the sun. It is important to protect against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays year round.

Risks of skin cancer increase in certain ethnic and age groups. Those with fair skin, blue or green eyes, light colored hair are more susceptible to skin cancer. As are those who burn or freckle easily. However, even those with dark skin can get melanoma and in those rarer cases, it proves to be more deadly. Age also affects a person’s risk of skin cancer. In white men over 50, melanoma is the most common kind of cancer, even more common than cancer of the prostate, colon, or lung.

Prevention of skin cancer seems pretty straightforward to most people. Stay out of the sun, and when you can’t, wear protective clothing and sunblock. It’s not quite that easy. To be effective, sunblock should be above SPF (sun protection factor) 15 and should be reapplied liberally at least every 2 hours. All sunblocks are not created equal. Look for sunblock that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and apply it 15 minutes before heading outside. Even with good sunblock applied well, UV rays can still reach the skin. This is why experts recommend staying out of the sun during the most dangerous, midday rays. Also, cover up with a wide brimmed hat, tightly woven clothing, and sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes. Try to avoid UV rays outside and inside, including tanning beds.

Deramatology Researchers at Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester have uncovered exciting evidence that oily fish in your diet could help in the prevention of skin cancer.

Omega 3 oils in fish have long been associated with health benefits in conditions such as poor concentration in children and protection against heart disease and dementia, but it now appears that these essential fatty acids protect the skin against the DNA damage that can cause skin cancer.

Sun burn is a major factor in the development of skin cancer. Fair skinned people are particularly susceptible and sun burn increases the chances of developing skin cancer at a later date.

The research consisted of a group of 42 healthy people being given a fish oil supplement that would be the equivalent of three portions of oily fish a week.

After one month, they were less likely to burn and after three months, their resistance had risen to 33% less likely.

A group of people who suffered from sun allergy doubled their defence after 6 months.

These groups were measured against a third group who had been given olive oil which had no effect.

The protection derived from the change in diet would be equivalent to a permanent mild sun screen but would not protect against fierce sun.

Many people only apply sun screen if they’re officially sunbathing and then it can be patchy.

Serious damage can happen in as little as 15 minutes - maybe walking to the shops or taking the dog out - doing a bit of gardening - how many of us would bother to put sun screen on for those tasks?

In the UK, skin cancer rates have doubled every decade since 1940 and there are now around 100,000 new cases and 2000 deaths a year. These increases are reflected in pale skinned people all around the world.

Much of the increase in the UK has been put down to more people taking holidays abroad and exposing themselves to excessive sun. However, there are many days in the UK when it would be advisable to protect ourselves but because the climate is mild overall, we don’t bother.

Increasing oily fish in your diet is easy - even canned fish (apart from tuna) retains the omega 3s, so salmon, mackerel, sardines and the like can all be used straight from the can.

Now is the right time to make the change in the Northern Hemisphere, so you’ll have the additional protection by next summer.

Skin Cancer, Often Underestimated

Skin cancer strikes an estimated three million people a year worldwide making it the most common of all types of cancer. We know the main cause of most skin cancer cases and we know how to prevent the vast majority of them. Yet still millions of people across the globe are ignoring the warnings and deliberately putting themselves at risk of developing a disease which can both maim and kill its victims.

The difficulty in tackling many types of cancer lies in the fact that no-one knows the real cause - and that’s a major obstacle to prevention. Skin cancer is different. Over exposure to the sun causes most types of skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma) so reducing that exposure and taking sensible precautions are obvious prevention measures.

Thanks to high profile public health campaigns in recent years, most people in the developed world are aware of the danger of damaging ultraviolet rays and know, at least to some degree, what they should be doing to protect themselves. So why do holidaymakers still flock in their droves to fry themselves on sun drenched beaches each year? And why do tens of millions of tanners across the globe expose themselves to the UV rays of artificial sun beds.

One simple answer could be that a tan is still perceived as sexy. A bronzed body has been the ultimate fashion accessory since Coco Chanel arrived back from the south of France with one in the 1920s. But in those days we didn’t know the dangers of stripping off intermittently in pursuit of a sun-kissed skin. Now we do.

Many stars of the pop world and silver screen still flaunt a tan as something highly desirable (whereas many dermatologists will tell you a tan is a sign of damaged skin). Sunscreen manufacturers assure us we’ll be protected from skin damage if we slap on their expensive high protection lotions (whereas studies have shown that many of these high factor lotions don’t live up to the claims of their makers). And many unscrupulous tanning salon owners promote their sun beds as an aid to good health (whereas some skin specialists want them outlawed claiming they cause skin cancer.)

It seems Joe Public is at the receiving end of a lot of myths and mixed messages about a disease which now accounts for one in three of all diagnosed cancers. This site exists to provide independent information about skin cancer (its causes, prevention and treatment) and to encourage open public debate about a disease which has driven health campaigners into battle against the multi-billion-dollar tanning industry.