Moving On with LIFE

Well, I am now a bit over 2 years out of cancer treatments. I am EXTREMELY BLESSED to be one of the few with a stage IV diagnosis who is still ALIVE. My philosophy has been to keep going forward, no matter how hard it seems.

When I was sick, I hunkered down into the horrific treatments of biochemotherapy. My body was broken down to its last bits of strength. I could barely walk 10 feet without being totally exhausted. Getting dressed to go to the doctor took all my energy for the day. I needed a wheelchair to get around after treatments.When people saw me, they looked away...it is hard to see someone dying.

BUT, I MADE IT!

My advice to anyone going through cancer treatment is to look to the future. What will you do when you are out of treatment? I always thought of the things I would do when I got through. Granted, I am now just getting my energy back. It has taken 2 years to recover. I did it! My hubby and I went to Glacier National Park and we had always wanted to go there!

We are busy living life,and even though my body took a toll from chemo and I have arthritic conditions in my hips that was exaggerated due to the cancer treatment, I will keep moving forward!

I send my love and support to all people facing cancer. I pray constantly for people who are struggling right now with cancer.

When you hear the words of a cancer diagnosis and see a doctor look at you with a SAD-SAD face....and you do not know if you are going to see your next birthday, your heart is broken. Your heart breaks for your family and those that may have to bury you and go on living after you have passed. I cannot express the sadness of that feeling. I faced that and I have come out the other side.There is no telling how long I will be NED, as melanoma is life long diagnosis & lifelong fight.

BE assured, I will fight like HELL again if I need to, and until then I will enjoy LIFE!

Teens & the Sun

 I NEED to share about why it is SO IMPORTANT that we in the melanoma community continue to encourage laws are passed preventing teens from using tanning beds. My family thinks I need a new job as a sunscreen police. BUT, let's not lose our heads here!

As an educator, I have studied brain development of teenagers. Teenagers do not have fully developed frontal lobes. This means they are unable to fully understand consequences of their actions. That is why we adults need to limit and prevent teens access to dangerous things, such as alcohol, tobacco, and tanning beds. Teenagers are literally challenged by their lack of brain development. It's just science.

My very own daughter and niece, who watched me almost DIE from "skin cancer" went out on a cloudy day and were horribly sunburned!  Even after a lecture from me, and after being given sunscreen, and told to simply stay out of the sun, they came home from a day on the beach with SUN BURNS.

In Southern California the term "June Gloom" describes the weather in June because of the marine layer that covers the beaches. This foggy and cool weather fools people into thinking they cannot get sunburned. This is FALSE SECURITY. You can still end up looking like Barbie. It is nothing to smile about Barbie!  You are ruining your skin and increasing your risk of cancer with every burn.

For those who think teenagers can decide for themselves, well...not even teens in my own family were able to make smart sun choices. AS the adults, we need to guide teens in safe sun use. I have a picture of my daughter's burn and will post the image at a later date. For now, I want to remind everyone of the how the UV rays hurt us.

Please cover up, even in June Gloom......a sunburn may last longer than you think 

with a diagnosis of melanoma. 

SHADE: The Best Sunscreen

With summer here for many us, we all will be hading to the beach, or out camping, or just to our gardens and decks. BUT, we need to remember to cover up.  Being a skin cancer survivor I make a point to learn about and use sunscreen. Therefore, I am going to get a little bit preachy with you today!  The teacher in me is coming out to school ya!!

What I have learned is  the following:

• We all need broad sprectrum sunscreen. The protects us from all types of UV rays, the ones that burn and the ones that cause cancer.
• Reapply every 2 hours with about an ounce. BE GENEROUS.
• The newest info says that NO SUNSCREEN IS WATERPROOF. FDA has passed regulations telling sunscreen companies they cannot say that their sunscreen is waterproof or waterproof.
• The shorter your shadow, the more damaging the sun.
• USE SHADE, CLOTHING, AND HATS TO COVER UP WHILE OUTSIDE.  (Yes, I have heard some women say they do not want "hat head", but let me tell you, skin cancer is much harder to deal with than messing up your hair.
• ANY "TAN" IS AN INDICATION OF SKIN DAMAGE.
• With every sunburn a person gets, his or her chance of melanoma increases, drastically.

SEEK SHADE:   shade is an orginal and natural kind of sunscreen. Stay in the shade for extra protection.

Please go to http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/shade/seek-the-shade#panel1-3

for more definitive information about shade and any other topics concerning the sun and your skin.

The bottom line is this: too much sun is NOT a healthy practice like we thought. Getting a tan, is not healthy. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and so many more people are being diagnosed with this disease. TAKE CARE of the skin your in. LOVE your pale complexion. Take vitamin D supplements.

BE SUN SMART, YOUR LIFE

MAY DEPEND ON IT!

ouch......