The rise in melanoma is being attributed to binge tanning during holidays and the increasing use of tanning beds or sunbeds. SunSmart Caroline Cerny, manager for Cancer Research UK’s campaign, advises:

“Spending time on sunbeds is just as dangerous as staying out too long in sun. Sunbeds don’t offer a safe way to tan. The intensity of UV rays in some sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun.”

According to SunSmart, risk factors for skin cancer include fair skin that burns easily, lots of moles or freckles, a history of sunburn (especially when young), red or fair hair, light-colored eyes and a personal or family history of skin cancer.

Those with one or more risk factors are advised to avoid sunburn by using shade, clothing and SPF 15 or higher sunscreen. Finding skin cancer early is crucial.

How are you protecting yourself against skin cancer?

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Skin Cancer on Rise in UK Women

Read on…

She was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on her scalp in 2001. The cancer was removed, along with about ¼ inch of bone from the top of her head. She also had chemotherapy. The cancer was in remission for quite a long time, about 5 years, which was a miracle considering they only gave her 9 months to live when originally diagnosed.

When the cancer returned, it returned internally, in the center of her brain. It was inoperable, and somehow the decision was made to try the new “Gamma Knife” — they were clear that this was a one time only thing since the radiation is so concentrated. It had to work this time.

Well, she ended up having seizures after the procedure that left her paralyzed on the left side of her body. I guess you could technically say it helped, since she just died in May of this year. But the last year of her life was miserable, with her slowly losing more use of her left side, her verbal skills, and her memory.

She was hospitalized with various blood clots, strokes, and swelling of the scar tissue from the tumor the procedure killed. She was completely dependent on others the last 9 months of her life, and once the hospice people were called in she only lived two more months.

I’m honored that I was there to help take care of her, and I hope I provided some comfort. We spent her last days reading from the bible, and talking about the people she would get to see once she arrived in heaven.

The one thing that I was left with was this-she regretted the decision to have the Gamma Knife procedure. She would have rather died without me, or anyone else, ever having to clean her after using the restroom, or helping her change her adult diaper.

I know different things are important to different people, but I would recommend thinking long and hard before ever agreeing to have that procedure done. To some people, dying with dignity is important, and if that experience could have been whittled down to less time, my mother would have been ok with it.

I hope this makes sense-thanks for letting me vent.

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If you have a cancer story to tell, please email me at gloria.g@b5media.com

Post from: Blisstree

My Mother Regretted Agreeing to the Gamma Knife Procedure: A Cancer Story by Tina Norberg