The subject matter of this post admittedly isn’t a pleasant one, but I’m addressing it for two reasons: because the health of the 50 plus male is a primary concern of this blog, and perhaps you can benefit from my recent personal experience. I’m speaking about melanoma, a cancer that starts in pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes, and is perhaps the best known form of skin cancer.
While melanoma can occur at any age, the chances of contracting it increase as you get older. According to the researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, half of all cases transpire in the 50 plus age group and men are more likely than women to develop this condition. Age and gender, however, are only two of the prevalent risk factors. An additional one is having in excess of 50 moles on your skin; I easily fall into this group, with the majority of my moles between my hips and shoulders (including my arms). The number of moles isn’t the only contributing factor; melanoma occurrence is also a by-product of the type or pattern of your moles. The good folks at Melanoma.com speak much more authoritatively on this aspect of melanoma than I can. Both of the sources I’ve linked for you provide easy to understand information on all risk factors.
I go to my dermatologist for an annual head-to-toe check-up right before Memorial Day weekend. These visits di
dn’t start until I hit my forties; definitely not one of the brighter moves I’ve made in my lifetime considering I had been a sun worshipper up to that point. My very first appointment provided an initial jolt resulting from the various posters on the walls depicting some of the abhorrent skin conditions, including melanoma, treated by dermatologists. During my visit this year, my doctor discovered a suspicious-looking mole on my back that she decided to biopsy (a simple in-office procedure), with a lab report to follow in 3-4 days.
When my doctor subsequently called me with the lab results, she literally froze me in my tracks…the biopsy showed the excised mole had very early-stage melanoma. I was told to immediately make an appointment with a plastic surgeon, as there was a likelihood that a wider and deeper excision than the one she made would be necessary and this was best done by the surgeon. I took care of this the following week and this biopsy (which required a minor amount of stitches) produced clean results; all traces of the melanoma were gone. Early detection and quick treatment prevented any spreading of the melanoma, known as metastases. Needless to say, my sun-worshipping days have come to an abrupt end.
I want all of you to enjoy many more years on this earth, so please consult a dermatologist. The old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” doesn’t do justice to this discussion; not when a literal life and death scenario can be avoided.
-Neal
note: title credit for this post courtesy of Sting (“Nothing Like The Sun” is the title of one of his best CD’s).
