DrugBuyers.Com: Skin Cancer Help!!

I come from a country that is seen as the skin cancer capital of the world. Our lifestyle is so outdoors based, that almost every one has some kind of sun damage, not always cancerous in nature. Our doctors, even the local GPs take an extensive training course in recognizing the various forms of sun damage and which are cancerous and which are not.

Back in my very early 20's, I had a spot on my back that was very black, larger than my thumbnail, irregular and would at times bleed a little. It was in a place I couldn't actually see it for myself, but a girlfriend noticed it one night. I took myself off to my local GP the very next morning.

He took one, long look and pronounced it to be Melanoma. I very quickly found myself face down on an examination bed, numbed up and the doctor removed the Melanoma, using a deep V cut that was easily three quarters of an inch all around of the spot. Stitched me up and sent me off home again. The spot that had been removed was examined by a specialist.

Oddly enough....a few years later, I took a bullet in the back in just the place the original scar was. You should see the one I have now. Makes for much better after dinner conversations than saying I had a Melanoma removed.

Within a matter of days, I received a call to please come to his office again. That is when he told me what he had removed. Scared the living daylights out of me, even though it was now gone. The fright was worth it however. I now get my skin checked every 6 months, without fail...and I've never had another one in the 20 odd years since. The one and only Melanoma I had was caught before it had spread too much, and that has greatly relieved my mind.

Strange looking spots can easily scare the daylights out of you....But never let it hold you back from seeking treatment as soon as you are aware of it.

Now, in our schools, every child entering pre-school is given a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen...as well as being taught the dangers of too much exposure to the sun. They also learn what those odd (usually benign) little spots are, and what to do when they do find one. Every doctor and nurse in my country is taught what to look for, especially if said spot is not yet a full blown Melanoma. Most odd looking spots are benign, but it never hurts to have them checked by a professional. Having one Melanoma doesn't mean you will get more.

My country now has a well publisized campaign of Slip, Slop Slap. Slip on a shirt, Slop on the sunscreen and Slap on a hat. It has dropped the Melanoma rate by 80% over the past 10 years.

D2003