For everyone out there that loves to tan in any form without sunscreens, sun worship, tanning booths, please don't do this to yourself/skin. I've been battling skin cancer for the past 6 years & grew-up in the sun living in CA. I had a small sore on the side of my face (by my ear) that would not heal, thought it was a freckle at first & noticed it would ooze clear fluid off & on, then heal w/a scab & repeat all over again for the next 6yrs. (because I ignored it & was busy in life, I thought) finally went to the doctors & had a culture taken, came back positive for Basal Cell Carcinoma, this is a GOOD Cancer I was told hummmmm & proceeded to set-up for surgery ASAP & for the next few years have had to watch & be very aware of my skin & body & stay outta my beloved SUN. Next week I'll be setting up another appointment to have more strange things looked at & confirmed "What the heck is that" still. Again take care of YOU.
Well my family just placed my grandmother on in home hospice care. I don't like it. I have no voice and I honestly think this is going to end badly. My grandma is old but not sick or disabled..they just need a break but Hospice care? I hear a lot of bad things. Any comments out there?
My father-in-law just died of cancer this past June. He was placed in a hospice and the people there were wonderful. They gave spiritual support as well as emotional support. It was a much better environment than a hospital or nursing home. I hope that the hospice unit chosen for your grandmother is just as good. I will keep both of you in my prayers and good luck.
my friend of more years than i care to remember was in hospice care for the last few weeks of her life, although it was sad the actual place was like home from home, we visited when we wanted taking normal things, made cuppas which we cant live without, the only difference was a trained nurse on hand when she got into difficulties so as far as im concerned hopices are like people u get good and bad in all
why not drop in and see or ask questions thats what we did
My mother was in hospice too & I visited her every day after work even when she was in a coma, I did her nails & toe nails & sponge bath, talked/told her stories for 2 mos. & finally kissed her goodnight & told her it was OK to go & that I love her. I received a call @ 2am that she passed. So please ra of sun try & go for a visit & just be w/her.....
Thank you so much for sharing your story of skin cancer with us April. I still see so many friends and acquaintances sunbathing weekly, whether by tanning booth or in direct sun poolside or at the beach. I beg them to wear sunscreen and try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, especially when laying out for the purpose of tanning. I used to think that being tan equated to looking healthy. Well, for the past 3 years, I wear sunscreen daily and have embraced my semi-fair skin. I don't care if I am sitting in a sun dress pale as can be drenched in sunscreen while everyone else is tan. I've said my peace with all of my friends and feel that there is little else that I can do, because they always look at me like I'm crazy. I think that they feel that it can't and won't happen to them. Maybe I need to site examples and case studies, as well as send them articles on skin cancer. Thank you for bringing this to light April.
Thanks Pup, I think I FRIED my inners too.... grew up w/Beach Boys lol.... Now I use Jergens natural glow just for some slight color & it doesnt turn me ORANGE HA....Good luck trying to convince others of this as my own kids will not listen sometimes....selective hearing UGH...
Spray and lotion tanning is really the safest way to get color in your skin without damaging it from the sun. I started to spray tan when I stopped tanning by the sun. Though thought to give my skin a bit of an overall break from everything over the past year. But I really do love the Jergens, as I've tried it and it gives a glow rather than an orange appeal. Thanks for the reminder, think I'll give it a go. And I do understand the frustration of people not listening. Sometimes there's only so much that we can do.
Good luck April with skin cancer. i am glad that you are getting the help you need to take care of yourself. It is never easy to convince those who think they are invincible to take care of themselves. I make this in reference to those who continue to smoke knowing the health risks. To those who talk and text while driving and do other stupid things that put themselves or others in harms way. But I guess that is a whole different topic.
Mkbrath, such a great comment and I totally agree. I think a lot of people think that they're invincible and thus lay out endlessly in the sun and think that they'll never be affected negatively by it. The attitude of "it'll never happen to me" is a dangerous way to live.
April, how are you doing with your skin? Is everything progressing well? Do you have any tips that others should look out for, such as warning signs?
I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through all this, but I'm also glad you kept fighting.
Being sick always puts people down, it makes you see how vulnerable you are, and how fragile you can be, but we only get out of it stronger, and tougher.
Someone dear to my heart once said
"what do you do when you fall down?
you get back up
everyone knows how to get back up
but there's sometimes in life, when you fall down and you feel like you don't have the strenght to get back up.
because I tell you, I'm down here, face down, it should be impossible for me to get back up, but it's not, you see, I will try one hundred times to get up, and if I fail one hundred times, if I fail and I give up, do you think that i'm never gonna get up? NO!
But if I fail and I try again and again and again..."
I just want you to know that it's never the end, it matters how you're gonna finish, and you're gonna finish strong, and you will find that strenght to get back up! We will all find that strenght.
Thanks Poppys Mom, glad I finally got to meet you as I noticed your status & was looking in relationship section & didnt find any post to be able to talk w/you.
Anyway, yes am sure it will be an ongoing awareness to manage & keep track of & stay out of my beloved sun, I dont worship (sunbathe in it) anymore & am glad I havent had any reoccurring weird things show up since the first discovery in 04' LOL.
Welcome to SupportGroups & I look forward to talking w/you as your questioning/sharing relationship/Skin Cancer topics.
Thank you for replying to my message. It is so nice to talk to someone who has been through the same thing. No, I can’t go in the sun anymore and don’t want to. I have a large scar on my face about one inch long but at least the surgeon was able to put it in my smile line pretty well. but, is was a huge wake-up call for me. I shouldn’t have said worship, I guess…bad choice of words. Every new spot freaks me out on my skin, though, and I have to find a way to get over that I guess. Nice to meet you and I hope to talk to you soon.
LOL, I AM a sun worshiper, born & raised in CA., lived on the beach, sucks now though forsure & your right even a new freckle or age spot. I'm 2,000 miles away from there now but scars remain......Live & learn huh.
I have 2 sons and a daughter. My boys are always out and about and my daughter is just at the age where she is starting to date. She has a nice boyfriend who is her age and they hang out together. It brings me back to my youth. I often think if only i knew then what I know now. Boy life would be different. I don’t want the actions of her father affecting the view of men in her life. I worry about this a lot. Silly how I worry about everything. But you know what they say, practice makes perfect and by now I am a perfect worrier. I have decided to put my worries on the back burner for a while. They are really taking a toll on me. I still feel great anxiety daily but am trying to tell myself to stop it since it won’t change things. Not so sure this is going to work but it is worth the try. I know I can come here and pour my heart out and be with others who care and understand and sometimes that is just what I need.
Mkbrath, thank you for sharing your story with us. I think that being a worrier comes with the territory of being a mother. I don't think that my mom has let up with her worrying about her children at all. She only wants the best for us, just as you do for your children. But, my father always tells me that stress won't solve anything, which I think is pretty true and smart. So, I try to turn my energy around from feeling anxiety ridden and stressed to action items....what can I do to take care of the things that are stressing me out and causing so much anxiety.
And, this group here has been such a huge blessing, because this is definitely a format where I can share my inner most thoughts and feelings without judgement. It helps alleviate so much of my stress and anxiety.