Traveling Mamas Give Back: Skin Cancer Foundation

Other posts by MudslideMama

Sunblock on Vacations

Sunblock on Beach Vacations

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Over a million people are diagnosed with some sort of skin cancer or melanoma every year, including me. I traveled to the Caribbean every year when I was a kid, and when I was in high school and college I baked myself mercilessly in the sun. Back then, tropical vacations didn’t include sunblock. It was about sun tanning cream – remember that? It seems laughable now. If ever there was a candidate for basal or squamous cell carcinoma, it was me. And now, two decades or so later, those second-degree sunburns I basically gave myself as a traveling, beach-going adolescent have indeed resulted in this non-malignant skin cancer.

Around half of all diagnosed cancers annually are skin cancer/melanoma, despite it being one of the most preventable types of cancer. These days, parents presumably know to slather the sunblock on their children and themselves before spending some vacation time in the sun. I hope that, as years pass, the high rate of diagnosed skin cancer decreases (since our awareness has increased). Over 90% of skin cancer/melanoma can be traced to unprotected sun exposure, after all. I got this information from The Skin Care Foundation, which is the organization the Traveling Mamas are showcasing for the month of May. The Skin Cancer Foundation raises awareness and works towards decreasing the “incidence of skin cancer through public and professional education and research.”

Self-Portrait; Limit Sun Exposure on Vacation

I got my diagnosis a few days ago (as of this writing), and while the dermatologist is pretty certain that this is the “good kind” of cancer, it’s still been scary. This non-malignant melanoma was treated by spot-freezing it with liquid nitrogen. A little cold, but painless. It took less than 5 minutes, in fact, and I should consider myself lucky if this and the follow-up topical cream are all it takes (we’ll see). The Traveling Mamas hope that our children, and future generations of travel lovers everywhere, can avoid even this diagnosis. To help meet this end, we’re donating $100 to the Skin Cancer Foundation this month. Really, it’s the least we can do. Well, that, and wear sunblock.

  • Share/Bookmark

May 4, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Family Travel, Travel News 

Comments

19 Responses to “Traveling Mamas Give Back: Skin Cancer Foundation”

  1. jamie says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    Oh, Jen! I’m so sorry you had to go through this scary medical episode. You poor duck. Also? If you’re trying to look shabby in the above photo, you’re going to have to try a lot harder in my opinion.

  2. MountainMama says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    Just went to dermatologist for son this morning (wart, not sun damage). But had Dr. check a thingy on the side of my face. He said it wasn’t urgent at all, but could get it removed “next time I’m in.” I go annually for full-body skin checks and have had maybe 5 moles removed cuz they were sketchy? Money well spent – even with our crap medical insurance (gotta love Mom & Dad both self employed).

  3. Sharlene says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    This is an issue close to my heart. My dad died of melanoma 7 years ago. He was in his early 50s. Much too young. He had it once and they removed it but it came back and when melanoma comes back, it comes back internally and is very hard to cure. Please take care of yourself and go to the dr every year for checkups. If my dad went for his checkups like he was supposed to he may still be here today. I am so glad you caught it so early. Every please, have fun in the sun but protect your skin! :)

  4. Sheila Scarborough says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    I was never a huge sun bunny but I did my share of exterior baking. Nowadays, it’s so automatic for me to put on sunscreen at the pool or beach, but I know I have years of carelessness waiting to bite my butt. Thanks for the reminder!

  5. Nancy Brown says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    Thanks for the reminder. Both our kids are swimmers and our daughter is a lifeguard. I bought her a sunshirt that blocks out the harmful rays. Does she wear the shirt or a hat?

    “Are you kidding mom? I’m not wearing that shirt. I’d look stupid.” Teenagers!

  6. Vera Marie Badertscher says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    Thanks for the very important life lesson. Too bad that when we are most vulnerable, we think we are invulnerable. Need a teen model to make pale the new tan.

  7. wandermom says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    Since my DH & I are both Irish, as a family, we’re of the ultra-white, freckled skin persuasion and I am obsessive about sun protection.
    Factor 50+ all the way and swimshirts (rash guards) or sun protective clothing (www.coolibar.com) if possible.
    I’ve found Land’s End to be a great source for affordable swim/sun shirts for kids. I noticed that REI now stocks own-brand products also. Both are less expensive than premium brands like Quiksilver.

  8. Emma says:
    May 4, 2009 at

    How scary for you Jen. Hope the follow up goes well. A potent reminder of why we should all wear sunscreen every single day of the year and stop the pointless baking.

  9. Caitlin says:
    May 5, 2009 at

    I’m from Australia so we’ve had the sun safe message drilled into us for years. Even 20 years ago primary schools in Queensland would not allow kids to play outside at lunch time if they’d forgotten their sun hat. Despite this, I’ve still had my fair share of sun burn incidents and I have discolouration on my face as well.

  10. Keith says:
    May 5, 2009 at

    I don’t know if it’s a valid point or not, but I read a report from Australia that said kids were starting to suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, (didn’t that use to cause rickets???) because they were overdoing the anti-sun precautions.

    I think it’s right to take these precautions … but don’t overdo it.

  11. Marilyn says:
    May 5, 2009 at

    Amen Sistah! I’m heading to the dermatologist today to get the results of yet another spot on my poor nose. I have had 3 basal cell cancers removed and this may be the 4th. Let me tell you, basal cell is treacherous. It appears on the top of the skin like a tiny little blister, but it is reaking havoc underneath. By the time the little spot starts aggravating you because it won’t heal or go away, the roots of it are deep. Can’t just get a removed easily — it takes a special MOHS doctor to do their thing — usually takes hours as they go slow removing only little pieces and then studying it in the lab before they come back to take more. All this to be sure they get it all, but in the meantime, it is a slow and anxiety ridden period of time and you are left with a big bulbous bandage and multiple stitches on your nose until at least a month of healing and then an obvious scar depending upon the amount of cancer cells they had to take.

    Ok, not a fun experience and I’m already nervous in preparation for the final result (which i already know is positive.)

    I was a sunworshiper too and lived in the tropical spots all over the country and still in Florida WITH a convertible. But, I don’t leave without a hat or sunscreen. I’m 61 years old and my skin cancer started in my early 50’s with most by the time i was 55. That is when the old damage begins appearing — so now trying to avoid further.

    The problem is – we all love the sun and the media loves us to be tan. Drat! What a mixed media issue we always have. Age does make us wiser, but what a penalty to pay for ignorance. Good luck to you.

    Marilyn @ MarilynsOnTheMove

  12. Lanora says:
    May 5, 2009 at

    Thanks so much for sharing this, Jen.

    I have some spots I’ve been meaning to get looked at. The worse one is under my eyebrow so it’s been too easy to ignore.

    You’ve inspired me to make the appointment today.

  13. Traveling Mamas and Skin Cancer Awareness Month | The Top Floor Flat | Meaghan Fitzgerald says:
    May 10, 2009 at

    [...] of my favourite travel blogs, Traveling Mamas, has done a feature on the significance of the month and are donating $100 to the Skin Cancer Foundation. I highly recommend that you check out the [...]

  14. Anne McNew says:
    May 10, 2009 at

    Hi Jen, that was so scary.

    That was why I’m so afraid to use anything on my face. I don’t have that beautiful skin (especially on my face) but because I often stay out on the field, I am afraid I might look like those others who has so many mascara and their skins have accumulated all those black spots and skin damage.

    So good to hear from you about this, this is a stern warning for everyone.

    Thanks for the share – Marviene

  15. jessie voigts says:
    May 15, 2009 at

    oh, jen – how SCARY. as a very pale redhead, i am so afraid of the sun it is crazy. so many sunburns when i was young have led to extreme caution – high spf, lots of sunscreen, sun shirts and hats and staying inside from 11am-3pm or so.. yet i am always aware that i am at high -risk. thanks for this very informative article. GOOD LUCK! we’ll be thinking of you.

  16. Philip Ze says:
    May 16, 2009 at

    I’m sorry to hear that you had to go through the medical process. I live in Malaysia, the weather here is hot sunny all day long. I exposure myself under the sun everyday going to work. Thanks for sharing with us, I remind myself to wear sunblock.

  17. Techettes » Blog Archive » I Got It From My Mama says:
    May 17, 2009 at

    [...] of our favourite travel blogs, Traveling Mamas, has done a feature on the significance of the month and are donating $100 to the Skin Cancer Foundation. I highly recommend that you check out the [...]

  18. I Got It From My Mama | Techettes says:
    May 30, 2009 at

    [...] of our favourite travel blogs, Traveling Mamas, has done a feature on the significance of the month and are donating $100 to the Skin Cancer Foundation.  We highly recommend that you check out the [...]

  19. We’re Not Kids Anymore Blog Carnival - 6/1/09 | it-takes-work.com says:
    June 1, 2009 at

    [...] Mama presents Traveling Mamas Give Back: Skin Cancer Foundation posted at Traveling Mamas, saying, “I hope this is the appropriate carnival; the post is [...]

Leave a Reply