I Got Cancer

[rickshaw]

Really. Over a year ago this "thing" grew on my upper lip. I thought it was an ingrown whisker or something so I didn't pay it too much attention. Shaved it off accidentally once and it grew back. There it was, everytime I looked in the mirror. If it had been on my back I wouldn't have paid it any attention, but people noticed, asked me things. So finally I go to the Dr, who cuts it off for biopsy. It was a skin cancer. It wasn't the worst kind, a melanoma, but the next one down, a sarcoma which I understand is like benign, BUT could get worse. Dermatologist did more scraping and burning and now its gone, but she said I have to be checked twice a year from now on.

Interestingly she asked if I have ever had a bad case of sunburn. I did remember one time when I was 14 and I guess that's enough. 49 years later that sunburn can turn into skin cancer. Now I'm supposed to put sunblock on, etc etc. It probably won't kill me, but it could.

So cyclists, you guys and gals who spend hours on your bikes in the sun, take note.

Sunblock
Get those strange growths things checked out.
Anyone else??
Live Long and Prosper

 

[Polyarmour]

Sorry to hear Rickshaw, good luck with that.
I always have a small panic when I hear that.
As a child I lost count of how many times I was sunburned.
I just remember peeling my skin off year after year.
I think I managed to keep my own kids out of the sun though.

 

[elapid]

+1. Sorry too. Same as Polyarmour, I burnt and peeled every year. As a surgical oncologist, I'm only too aware of the potential for me to develop skin cancer because of how bad I was as a kid. I now take low dose aspirin daily because this significantly decreases the risk of developing some skin cancers, but not sarcomas. Good luck!

 

[ElChingon]

Bummer man, hopefully its just one of those localized things/cases?

I know I always have a day when I forget sunblock and end up burned to a crisp, just happened last Sunday, applied sun block to the face and then forgot the arms... well burn city, now is starting to peel. Yea, worry about the issues but most of the time its spf 50 or so (I know all the BS about the pro's and cons of spf ratings lets not go into that).

Keep us updated on any details.

 

[rickshaw]

Hey! Thanks for the thoughts.... I guess the important thing for everyone is awareness and being vigilant. Know your history, know your exposures, and risks, get tested and examined. Prostate, colon, breast, skin, all cancers we can be proactive with. Like the SPF jersey I got last season, every bit helps.

Later

 

[Izzy eviel]

I would use sunblock but I have no idea what factor I should be using.

Is there a website to help with this?

 

[FitSsikS]

I would use sunblock but I have no idea what factor I should be using.

Is there a website to help with this?

Simple, use the sunblock with the biggest number.

Rick, my Dad had the same thing and had it treated in a similar fashion. He has been riding for decades and still rides the track once a week.
Oh ya and he's turning 90 in 2 months.
So your prospects are xlnt. Btw, now he is a little more liberal with the application of sunscreen. Hmm, I wonder if there is a flavoured UV blocker out there?

Rick is there anyway way at all the Lance's 'awareness' efforts can be credited with your successful treatment?

 

[durianrider]

If I had a cancer scare Id be looking to clean up my diet and lifestyle vs blame the sunshine...

 

[BroDeal]

If I had a cancer scare Id be looking to clean up my diet and lifestyle vs blame the sunshine...

Coming from an Australian, this is freakin' hilarious.

 

[rickshaw]

what's to clean up???

If I had a cancer scare Id be looking to clean up my diet and lifestyle vs blame the sunshine...

I'm up to 38 bananas a day, my wife's breasts are the size of casaba melons, what's left?

Of course I blame sunshine, and puppies and fuzzy kittens, long walks on the beach and Moonlight in Vermont.

And these guys

 

[pedaling squares]

+1. Sorry too. Same as Polyarmour, I burnt and peeled every year. As a surgical oncologist, I'm only too aware of the potential for me to develop skin cancer because of how bad I was as a kid. I now take low dose aspirin daily because this significantly decreases the risk of developing some skin cancers, but not sarcomas. Good luck!

Good advice, didn't know that. Having a strong dose of Irish blood and spending most of my life in a hot climate (well, hot summers anyway) I've been burned more times than I can count.

If I had a cancer scare Id be looking to clean up my diet and lifestyle vs blame the sunshine...

You know fruitboy, there is more than one form of cancer. Or maybe the scientists have it wrong. Maybe I am leaving trace amounts of cancer on my lips every time I eat a steak. Is that how it works?

 

[FitSsikS]

I'm up to 38 bananas a day, my wife's breasts are the size of casaba melons, what's left?

Of course I blame sunshine, and puppies and fuzzy kittens, long walks on the beach and Moonlight in Vermont.

Oh durianrider's that guy......

I dunno how many YouTube videos I have clicked on and ended up watching a few seconds of his schtick. Drives me...bananas.

 

[elapid]

If I had a cancer scare Id be looking to clean up my diet and lifestyle vs blame the sunshine...

DR, you're an a$$. This shows your complete lack of understanding of diet and lifestyle on the causes of cancer. Furthermore, it shows how little you are to say something like that to someone that has cancer.