I love the feeling of sun on my skin but………..
Lounging outside on a cloudy, humid day last Thursday I became fully aware of the sun's burning rays penetrating the cloud cover and having experienced seven minor operations for melanomas does make one wary.
I reflect back on the many hundreds of hours I have spent sunbathing 10am until late afternoon on Asian and Pacific beaches. I have no regrets. Even then I was aware of the dangers of skin cancer, but the lure of feeling the sun on my skin was more seductive than thinking of its consequences.
Today many must have similar thoughts as they use sun beds or as they lie on the beach for countless hours.
Unfortunately for too many it comes with a cost as it did for two families I know, devastated by the loss of their 42 year old mothers succumbing to skin cancer.
For me it is an ongoing cost of surgery and skin checks. A cost I conservatively put at over $15000 over the last fifteen years.
I now have twice yearly checkup for new skin cancers and they seldom go without having at least one biopsy.
I reflect back on the many hundreds of hours I have spent sunbathing 10am until late afternoon on Asian and Pacific beaches. I have no regrets. Even then I was aware of the dangers of skin cancer, but the lure of feeling the sun on my skin was more seductive than thinking of its consequences.
Today many must have similar thoughts as they use sun beds or as they lie on the beach for countless hours.
Unfortunately for too many it comes with a cost as it did for two families I know, devastated by the loss of their 42 year old mothers succumbing to skin cancer.
For me it is an ongoing cost of surgery and skin checks. A cost I conservatively put at over $15000 over the last fifteen years.
I now have twice yearly checkup for new skin cancers and they seldom go without having at least one biopsy.
