Posts Tagged skin cancer

Happy Birthday Bob Marley!

February 6, 2012 at 12:30 pm · Filed under Prevention ·Tagged , ,

Bob Marley was born to his parents as Nesta Robert Marley on this day in 1945. The legendary musician and King of Reggae would have been 67-years-old today. Marley died at the age of 36 on May 11, 1981 when he lost his battle with skin cancer. The skin cancer was first found in 1977 when Marley complained of an injury on his toe that was not healing. He underwent surgery to remove the malignancy from his foot, but because of his Rastafarian beliefs did not heed doctors advice to have the toe completely removed in order to stop the spread of the cancer. Bob Marley passed away at a Miami hospital and left these last words to his son Ziggy,  “Money can’t buy life.”

 Although African-Americans and other individuals of color have a lower risk for skin cancer than people with fair skin, it is important to know that they are also at risk. It is often common for African-Americans and other dark-skinned populations to not catch the signs of skin cancer early. It is also a thought that if you have dark skin then you are more immune to skin cancer. This is not true! Darker-skinned people need to look for changes to their nail beds, the soles of the feet and hands. Checking for changes to your moles and skin every month and getting yearly check-ups with a Dermatologist is very important in skin cancer prevention. 

Rest In Peace and Happy Birthday!

 

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All Skin is Created Equal

January 20, 2012 at 12:27 am · Filed under Melanoma Newz ·Tagged , ,

No one is immune to the chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer. It sees no color, race, gender or economic status.  It is blind to the fact that you may be a Mother, Father, Sister, Brother or Lover. That is why it is so important that you pay attention to your body–your moles and freckles. Look for the signs of skin cancer before it finds you!

To make it easy just follow the ABCDE’s of skin cancer: 

  • A is for asymmetry. Suspicious moles will not be even if you were to draw an invisible line down the middle of it.
  • B is for border. A mole with blurry or spotty edges is cause for concern.
  • C is for color. Moles should be all the same color and never change. If yours does then have it evaluated by a doctor.
  • D is for diameter. If it is larger than a pencil eraser it needs to be examined. Even if it normal in asymmetry, border and color.
  • E is for elevation which means the mole is raised above the surface or has an uneven surface.

Early detection is key!

We all have that attitude of invincibility. At times we put that same invincible status on celebrities and athletes. Lots of celebrities have been diagnosed with skin cancer and some have succumb to it like Bob Marley. Recently, Bruce Jenner had surgery to remove a red mark that was identified as early stage skin cancer. Lucky for him it only left a small scar of the right side of his face. Reports say that doctors gave Bruce the advice of wearing a hat while he golfed. Hope he listens!

No matter what we think or how untouchable we feel it is up to everyone to spread awareness about skin cancer and look out for each other. Education is such an important factor. What we don’t know may and will kill us. Scary thought right? Well, a new study published in the Archives of Dermatology this month states that socio-economic status has a lot to do with Melanoma survival rates. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. If not caught early it has a seven to ten percent five-year survival rate. It was found that people of a higher socio-economic status were more likely to survive Melanoma.  This could be due to the fact that those with a lower socio-economic status usually have inadequate health insurance, less knowledge of skin cancer, lower rates of self skin examinations and physician screenings. It makes sense, but does it have to be that way?

Share your thoughts…

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Anti-estrogen Therapies Have Been Found to Reduce Melanoma Risk

January 11, 2012 at 12:24 am · Filed under Melanoma Newz ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Early this past week researchers from Switzerland and France at the University of Geneva released results from a study that showed women with breast cancer undergoing anti-estrogen therapy may have a lower risk for melanoma.  Christine Bouchardy, M.D., Ph.D., professor at the University of Geneva and the head of the Geneva Cancer Registry, and colleagues gathered information on 7,360 women diagnosed with breast cancer from 1980-2005. During the study 54 percent of the patients received anti-estrogen therapy. During the follow-up in 2008 there was a recorded 34 melanoma cases.  The results, published in Cancer Prevention Research,  found that “the risk for melanoma was 60 percent higher among patients who did not receive anit-estrogen therapy”, compared with those that did.

What did Christine Bouchardy have to say about the results?: 

  • “This study suggests that anti-estrogen therapy modifies the risk of melanoma after breast cancer.”
  • “Although our results are in agreement with the hypothesis that estrogens could play a role in melanoma occurrence, these results  need to be replicated in other studies, particularly given the numerous side effects linked to this kind of drug.”

Cancer researchers are aware of the important role that estrogen plays when it comes to breast cancer, but there is still more to learn about the effects of estrogen on other cancers. The researchers believe that the research backs up their hypothesis, but warn the public against the wide-spread use of anti-estrogen treatments to treat melanoma. The side effects haven’t outweighed the benefit even though those treatments are commonly used to treat breast cancer.

What are the anti-estrogen therapy side-effects?

  • Joint pain and increased symptoms of rheumatic disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Pain in general can be experienced since normal estrogen levels help women regulate pain.
  • Hot flashes can occur because the lack of estrogen modifies the functioning of the hypothalamus which is like the control center for the body; regulating body temperature, appetite and sleeping patterns.
  • Mental impairments such as verbal memory and planning skills were found to be affected with the treatment of an estrogen blocker called tamoxifen.
  • Depression could occur (particularly with the use of tamoxifen) and it has been found that the drug interaction between the estrogen blocker and anti-depression medication is not safe.
  • Osteoporosis can occur in long-term use of anti-estrogen treatments because “normally, estrogen in the body prevents calcium from leaking out of bone tissue, and therefore helps keep the bone strong.”

That’s a total of six side-effects! Is the trade-off worth it?

Source:

HemOnc Today

www.upi.com

www.healthjockey.com

Effects of anti-estrogen pills in women

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/196736-anti-estrogen-side-effects/#ixzz1j8CoAWN

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Wordless Wednesday With Words

January 4, 2012 at 7:28 am · Filed under A Day in the Life of..., Melanoma Newz ·Tagged ,

When life takes a turn that you never expected–how do you feel? When a doctor tells you that you have been diagnosed with skin cancer or worse melanoma–what do you say to get through each day? I cannot speak for either, but I can feel for both. For the past three years I have been writing about the prevention of melanoma and I have never had to speak about being personally touched by the wrath of melanoma. Today I am sorry to say is my first.

A few months ago I was approached by a woman named Randi. Mother. Wife. Blogger at Randi’s Journey With Melanoma.

Now a Melanoma angel.

She emailed me basically to say she loved our products, our mission, but that the blog needed some help. Her and I corresponded over email and she helped me to clean-up some of our outdated melanoma blog links. Even though I didn’t know her personally I could sense her positivity and fighting personality.

In her words–

I am a fighter, mother first and and this is my cancer battle

I was diagnosed with stage 3c malignant melanoma in 2005 that had spread to the lymph nodes in 1 area already. After 2 surgeries-1 entire lymphnode dissection and interferon, I was NED for 5 years (miracle in itself). April 12,2011-melanoma reappeared in all its glory-brain, and body without warning. Today I am in the chaos of the cancer world again and in the fight for my life. There is always hope-never give up-famous words from my Oncologist who has kept me going. 
Our condolences go out her family. Randi fought for you and her love will always live on. You are in our thoughts! 
~From all of us at UV Skinz

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5,000 Facebook Fans by 2012!

December 27, 2011 at 9:48 pm · Filed under Skinz Newz ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Over the past six years we have had the honor to touch so many lives and help people enjoy the sun worry-free with our uv-protective swim shirts. We are definitely more than just a swim shirt–UV Skinz is family, love and perseverance even in times of great difficulty. The journey from tragedy to advocacy for melanoma awareness has been unbelievable!  If tragedy hadn’t touched Rhonda’s life there wouldn’t have been the opportunity to educate or help people who have also been affected by the disease. Melanoma awareness to us is sharing personal experiences, exchanging knowledge and creating a community where everyone feels hope. With melanoma cases on the rise,  an estimated 70,230 adults in the U.S. will be diagnosed with the disease this year. It makes up only 2.3% of all skin cancers, but is responsible for 75% of skin cancer deaths. It’s not stopping and neither should we!

With the New Year upon us, our resolution at UV Skinz is to reach as many people as we can.  Melanoma awareness only works if we work together. It is our hope that UV Skinz can reach 5,000 people by 2012! Help us spread the word about smart and easy sun protection and you could WIN!

This is an exclusive Facebook GIVEAWAY!  But don’t worry–it’s easy to enter! and…

There will be a total of 7 UV Skinz Prizes up for grabs!!

(The giveaway entry will begin on Thursday December 29, 2011 and end Sunday January 1, 2012 at midnight)

  • The first step is to “LIKE” UV Skinz on Facebook
  • Then SHARE the official “5,ooo Fans by 2012″ photo on your wall. Leave a comment on our Facebook wall–letting us know you shared!
  • You can share the photo as many times as your heart desires! (The more you share the more chances you have to win!)
So…WHAT are the Prizes?!: 
  • One Grand Prize winner will WIN a Family Four-Pack of UV Skinz swim shirts!
  • One First Prize winner will WIN one UV Skinz item of their choice!
  • One Second and one Third Place winner will WIN a UV Detector Key chain!
How will the winners be chosen?
Grand Prize winner will be chosen based on the Facebook Fan who shares the official “5,000 Fans By 2012″ image the MOST. The Second place winner will be chosen randomly using random.org, but keep in mind that the more you share the more entries you receive and the better your chances for winning. Second and Third place winners will also be chosen at random (similar to Second place).
***The image will be unveiled exclusively on Facebook–THURSDAY!***
Comments on the blog post will not count as an entry.

SWING on by our Facebook Page THURSDAY!!

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