[zcaveman]

I made it through the Efudex treatment. Efudex is not fun. It is a chemical burn of the nth degree. They say you will feel pain but they don't say excruciating pain and itching. Hydrocortisone took care of the pain and itching. And then you peel like a sunburn. I am still waiting for the redness and remaining hot spots to go away.

I had the squamus cyst(?) cut out on 6/27. Now I have about a 3 inch stitched area on my forearm. The basal cyst on my shoulder will be done on 7/7. I still don't know the status of one they cut out on the forearm. I haven't heard from pathology yet. Hopefully since they did not call it wasn't malignant. I am going to call tomorrow for the status.

Thanks for asking.

[nONIE]

Z,

Wishing you good luck tomorrow when you call. Waiting for results can be positively nerve wracking.

[Laura]

TO Z - not trying to be nosy, but how old were you when this started? And how old are you now? I have a friend who simply will not take the seriousness of the deadly Florida sun. I am trying to help her.
Thanks for your reply.

I really wish the Villages had more indoor pools and more indoor exercise equipment for people who cannot be out in the sun.

Thinking of you Z. Good luck.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by Laura

TO Z - not trying to be nosy, but how old were you when this started? And how old are you now? I have a friend who simply will not take the seriousness of the deadly Florida sun. I am trying to help her.
Thanks for your reply.

The doctor said that it started when I was young. I grew up in Jax, Florida. No shirt, no shoes, etc. Typical southern boy. Used baby oil for suntan lotion. Starting in the 60s I started wearing a ball cap full time. I am now in my 60s. And it is catching up. I will have to start wearing the sunscreen and stand in the shade more often.

[gemorc]

I have only been here for six months. Up in Michigan, the sun was also very bad for your skin. I started wearing long sleeve cotton polo's, for golf, along with linen pants two years ago. I have received many stares and comments about how hot I must be. I don't find it very uncomfortable at all. My standard reply to their comments is, " how many Arabs do you see in the desert wearing shorts and short sleeves?"

[zcaveman]

I got the results - finally!! They got it all and I am clear on the forearm. Monday is the basal cyst on my shoulder. As you can tell from my notes I do not call it cancer but I call it a cyst. My wife who had throat cancer keeps trying to correct me.

[travelstiles]

So happy that your news was good. Thank you for starting this thread, as it reminds us to pay attention to what we are being told about too much sun.
Regarding an earlier post, I also wish there were some indoor pools here (included with our amenity fees). In Arizona the communities have tarp-like shades posted high above the pools so there is ample shade all day. It's a thought for the future.

[zcaveman]

Thanks. that was why I started it . Just to let people know about sunscreen and the dangers of the sun rays. I know that the Springdale pool put screens over the sitting area. But I know of no plans to cover the pool area.

[gfmucci]

Cave:

I went through the same treatments as you...first the melenoma removed from my forearm, the the Efodex (sp?) treatments for a few weeks. And then yearly chest x rays and an occusional MRI brain scan. The two places melenoma like to travel to are the lungs and the brain. I've been clear for about 9 years now.

Second point...ask your dermatologist about the recent success of the intected culture that kills melenoma cells. This was in the news a couple of weeks ago.

[bestmickey]

Z, glad to read the good results! Great post too. I had my first basal cell removed when I was only 30. I had a few sites of basal cell over the years, but I'm lucky in that none have been within the past ~10 years. After that first one at 30, I learned my lesson and have stayed pretty well covered from the sun since.

[Niels]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

I got the results - finally!! They got it all and I am clear on the forearm. Monday is the basal cyst on my shoulder. As you can tell from my notes I do not call it cancer but I call it a cyst. My wife who had throat cancer keeps trying to correct me.

Glad to hear that everything is good with your forearm, zcaveman. Hope everything turns out well with your cyst too.

Your post is an important reminder to people concerning use of sunblock, especially for people not used to the Florida sun. I have very fair skin so I always use a sunblock with an SPF of at least 50 when I visit Florida. When I move to Florida, I'll have to stock up on a lot of sunblock.

[zcaveman]

Final report. I had the last of the stitches out today and both cancers were clean. The doctor froze four small spots on my arm and said I am good until next July.

I should be back to golf next week. And I will be wearing my sunscreen and full brimmed hat.

Thanks for all the prayers.

Z

[Shirleevee]

Great news!


For medical reasons, I cannot be exposed to the sun. Here is a list of sun protective clothing websites I have bought various items from:

www.coolibar.com

www.solumbra.com

www.solartex.com

All sell products that block 97% of UV RAYS.

The clothing is pricey and recently, I found another alternative. It is call Sunguard and you wash your own clothing with it. I think this product blocks 95% UV RAYS. The website is:

www.sunguardsunprotection.com

Wishing you good health.

Shirleevee

[KathieI]

Z, so happy to hear your news. Congratulations, good work....

but listen to Shirl, I know other people who wear the special clothing in Los Angeles and it works very well. You must wear long sleeves as well. I used to garden in the high desert of LA and always wore long sleeves and it never ceased to amaze me that I would still get freckles on my arms even through the sleeves. Sunglass are a must as well.

Keep up the good work. This is a second chance. Please be careful.