Corpusfishing.com

[NaplesJohn]

TO KAYAK FISHING (DR VISIT & PRE-CANCER REMOVAL)

Noticed a couple months ago that I had a funny little spot on my nose. It did not appear to be anything major, but I was somewhat concerned because it didn't clear up. Well finally had time between additional sun exposure, work and work-related travel to make a doctors appointment. Long story short, being seemingly over cautious is a good thing as the Doc said it was "pre-cancerous", and he burned it off with liquid nitrogen while I was there. Lots more on the net, but bottom line, pay attention to the little warning signs!! Guess I'll by some sunscreen

Additional info-
Actinic keratosis: Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, is a precancerous skin condition caused by overexposure to the sun. Actinic keratoses are small (usually less than one-fourth inch) rough spots that may be pink-red or flesh-colored. Usually they develop on the face, ears, back of the hands, and arms of middle-aged or older people with fair skin, although they can arise on other sun-exposed areas of the skin. People with one actinic keratosis usually develop many more.

Actinic keratoses are slow growing. They usually do not cause any symptoms or signs other than patches on the skin. It is possible, but not common, for actinic keratoses to turn into squamous cell cancer. They also frequently go away on their own but may come back.

Even though most actinic keratoses do not become cancers, they are a warning that your skin has suffered sun damage and should be checked regularly. Some actinic keratoses and other skin conditions that could become cancers may have to be removed. Your doctor should regularly check others for changes that could indicate cancer.



http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthinfo/adult/skin/actinic.htm

[Tyler]

Be careful. I am half Mexican and half Norwegian with Olive skin and I was diagnosed with Melanoma on my ear about four years ago. Immediately the Dr's office called to tell me to get a chest X-ray and a blood test to see if it had spread. It had not but it scared the crap out of me. Please wear long sleeve shirts, hats, and sunscreen as it is not worth the risk. I love having a tan and used to lay out in the sun when I was a greek god looking to get brown. It is not worth the risk.

TT
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[Blast-n-Cast]

[mansfieldjetties]

Im 25 and am wondering at what age to begin checking more closely.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."

[The Trash Heap]

Missed out on that big pomp haul last week in part because of two fresh biopsies on hand and forearm I couldn't get wet. Won't know precisely what the lesions are until after Christmas when the skin specialist uses the lab analysis reports to decide how to remove the rest of them, but her initial diagnoses are squamous cell carcinomas. The two look entirely different to me, and were variously diagnosed previously as basal cell carcinomas and/or fungal infection. She's taking a wait-and-see position regarding a third, darkly pigmented lesion with irregular borders on my back. Could be an age spot, or what Tyler's doctor found.

I had red-brown hair until it turned white, and for two years when I lived as a kid in Hawaii saw the skin on my nose burn and peel twice a month. Didn't have much in the way of sunscreens in those days. Now I wear long-sleeve shirts, broad-brimmed hats, and "grease down" on fishing and rockhounding expeditions, but much of the damage was done 40 years or more ago.

Those little actinic keratoses dot the backs of both hands, except for one that grew slowly for 5 years until it attracted attention. It's just a flat, hardened area a centimeter and a half across, with a flaky center, and maybe a little pinker than the surrounding skin.

The thing on the inside of my forearm is half again as large, raised, reddish, peeling, and itches a little. It wasn't preceded by any keratosis or even severe sun exposure that I can recall, and it's grown much faster than its companion on my hand. Treatment with the prescribed anti-fungal cream didn't slow its progress.

The moral of the story is that anything that changes on your skin, exposed to the sun or not, deserves an expert opinion. Show it to your primary care physician, and, if it continues to change, keep showing it until you get referred to a specialist. Even a specialist will have to call for microscopic analysis to pin down the problem among all the other skin problems, including age, to which we're heir.
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The Trash Heap Has Spoken!
NNYYAAAHH!!!

[SurfRunner]

Ditto and what everyone is saying.

About 5 years ago, I went in for a physical and the doctor asked me if I had any questionable moles. I remembered one and showed him. He biopsied and come to find out, it was pre malinoma.

I take the sun serious now and wear long sleeves or lots of sun screen.
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Andrew J. Jones

[Mad Dog]

Ditto to all...

mansfieldjettie -- "Im 25 and am wondering at what age to begin checking more closely."

Because of history of various cancers in my family I started having annual exames at age 40. At 45 my primary care doctors noticed some placed on my back and referred my to the skin doctor. 3 biopsies found two precancerous spots. Both were surgically removed. I now have two scares about 3" long to make sure all the radical cells were removed. So, to answer the question, if you see any irregularities on the skin get them checked. If you there is a family history or cancer or heart conditions 40 is the recommended age for annual exams. In no history of heath issues then you can wait until you are 50.

Hope this helps.

Long sleeve shirts, long pants, hat with a neck shade, and SPF 30+ suncreen on face, neck, ears, and hands. I prefer the Coppertone Ultra Sport. Its just like my wife and her makeup, I don't leave the house until its done.
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Ego piscor, ergo sum

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