It's Officially Summer - Beware of the Sun

Welcome to summertime!  I hope 2013 is your best summer yet!

Just a little reminder though from someone who was diagnosed with Melanoma in October, 2010, to be sure to wear sunscreen, and apply it often.  Though the sun is a beautiful thing, it came be harmful, even a killer,  I was told that my tumors were evidence of too much sun exposure in my youth - yes some thirty-plus years ago.  I was lucky as the disease had not yet gained access to my lymph system.  Had it done so, there is no chemotherapy designed to attack this type of cancer.

If you see pictures of Melanoma, it is usually a dark brown or black spot on your skin (very ugly) and it would be obvious that you would need to see a dermatologist.  However, mine was pink.  It looked like an eraser on the top of a pencil.  I had it for over a year before I made the decision to have it checked.  When I had the biopsy done, the doctor wasn't too alarmed...until the results came back a few days later.  I met with a surgeon the next day and a week later, two good-sized tumors were removed from my left forearm.  Again, I was very lucky.

So please, enjoy all the outdoor activities that summer has to offer but be sure to wear sunscreen.  I would hate for you to go through what I did, or worse.