slo’s TUESDAY 9/5 poll - Full Body Skin Exam

[slo]

For those that are new….sometimes I do a poll to help us discuss a medical topic, and today it’s skin cancer detection. So today’s poll is not a fun topic, but a topic that is good to discuss.

So I ask…..

Have you had a full body skin exam from a dermatologist?
If yes…..was something found?
Did you have it treated or removed?
When was your last exam?
(multiple choice)

*Are you struggling with an ongoing to skin cancer problem?
If yes….please share your story if you’re comfortable.
Knowledge is power for us - thank you.


For Me…..,I’m going this morning for my exam and it’s the first one since before COVID (I think it was late 2019). I’m way overdue, which I’m kicking myself for. After the last exam they did find an area and I had them cut it out (close to my left armpit). When DD20 was 16yrs old, an area was found and cut out of her back (bra line area). She never wore a bikini, so this area wasn’t exposed to the sun, but the doctor said that skin cancer can show up anywhere. My poor DH and FIL have an ongoing issue with their head and face. Both have had numerous areas treated first and when that didn’t work, they were removed.

I’m very very good about wearing sunscreen now and have been for the last ten years, but before that I wasn’t. When I was in my 20s I used baby oil when I laid out. When we went to WDW I wore a lot of sunscreen and not one burn. When I use the pool, I bathe in it and then wait a half hour before going in the water and I don’t burn. I do reapply since I’m out there a long time. I have found that lotion is best and is my first choice. Neutrogena has a new one that’s not greasy and that’s what I used at WDW - the stuff was great! A little more expensive, but worth it when you don’t want greasy sunscreen getting on your clothes. On my face I use the Neutrogena that doesn’t make you have acne - that works great too.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’ve had areas looked at quick glance is pretty much all I got I would like to have a full body scan done because when I was younger I had several really severe sunburns so I’m concerned they have a new doctor in the practice that I go to so I am considering booking an appointment with them to get a full body look at Since the doctor I was going to was kind of old and didn’t care - he just retired which I think he needed to just saying - it was like pulling teeth just to get him to look at a few areas and he barely glanced at those found it very frustrating here I’m trying to be proactive and he acted like I was you know bothering him

Good for you SLO - everyone loves these polls and you of course It’s a great way to spread the word on these topics and get people to think about it and maybe do something
Thank you for letting us know about the sunscreen I was looking for a good sunscreen that isn’t greasy!! Neutrogena makes great products! Can’t put a price on your skin the only one you got
I hope your visit goes very well today!!

 

[DisneyHardin]

I have one every year. I've had a few things frozen off and a couple places that had to be cut out. Nothing has ever come back cancerous after the biopsy so far.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I haven't had one but would like to.

 

[mamamary]

I check a lot off the above list. A few years ago I noticed something out of the ordinary. Both my parents had skin cancer at some point along with my sister. To date I’ve had a few things removed before they were to be cancerous. I’ve had a few things surgically removed- my upper thigh and the back of my neck are two areas that come to mind right away. I’ve had Mohs done also- can’t quite remember which body part had that done. So needless to say I actually go twice a year. My dr. Recommend that since I’ve had a few basal skin cancers.

I got my husband to start going also. A few months ago something right behind his ear caught my attention. It turned out to be skin cancer and he had it removed by mohs surgery.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

I've had them every year for at least the last 10 years, probably longer than that. I've had maybe 3-4 things removed & biopsied in that time but nothing has ever been cancerous. I'm fair skinned, sunburns when younger, and family history.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I currently get a full body scan once a year. I've had basal cell carcinoma, one squamous cell carcinoma and plenty of actinic keratosis, which can be pre-cancerous. I've had freezing, Mohrs surgery and phototherapy on my face. I have skin that mostly burns and freckles. Some of my skin cancers have been found in areas that never see the sun. I am now diligent about sunscreen on my face since surgery there is very annoying. Luckily, constant monitoring has caught most of the problem areas before they get serious. I think I was in my forties when the first cancer showed up.

 

[snowwite]

For those that are new….sometimes I do a poll to help us discuss a medical topic, and today it’s skin cancer detection. So today’s poll is not a fun topic, but a topic that is good to discuss.

So I ask…..

Have you had a full body skin exam from a dermatologist?
If yes…..was something found?
Did you have it treated or removed?
When was your last exam?
(multiple choice)

*Are you struggling with an ongoing to skin cancer problem?
If yes….please share your story if you’re comfortable.
Knowledge is power for us - thank you.


For Me…..,I’m going this morning for my exam and it’s the first one since before COVID (I think it was late 2019). I’m way overdue, which I’m kicking myself for. After the last exam they did find an area and I had them cut it out (close to my left armpit). When DD20 was 16yrs old, an area was found and cut out of her back (bra line area). She never wore a bikini, so this area wasn’t exposed to the sun, but the doctor said that skin cancer can show up anywhere. My poor DH and FIL have an ongoing issue with their head and face. Both have had numerous areas treated first and when that didn’t work, they were removed.

I’m very very good about wearing sunscreen now and have been for the last ten years, but before that I wasn’t. When I was in my 20s I used baby oil when I laid out. When we went to WDW I wore a lot of sunscreen and not one burn. When I use the pool, I bathe in it and then wait a half hour before going in the water and I don’t burn. I do reapply since I’m out there a long time. I have found that lotion is best and is my first choice. Neutrogena has a new one that’s not greasy and that’s what I used at WDW - the stuff was great! A little more expensive, but worth it when you don’t want greasy sunscreen getting on your clothes. On my face I use the Neutrogena that doesn’t make you have acne - that works great too.

View attachment 791326

I’ve had two skin cancer lesions removed. It’s worth getting checked. If you see a change in a mole, it’s bigger than the size of a pencil eraser or bleeding see a dermatologist. Last time I went I had quite the experience. While waiting in my paper gown, a man comes in with wire cutters to remove a lock so the doctor who was mid procedure next room could get sutures. awkward.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I go 2 or 3 times a year. Dermatologist always finds a few things, mostly frozen with his nitrous gun. A few cut out. Usually pre-csncerous. Lots of unprotected sun as a kid.

Thanks, Sandy. Best wishes with your exam today.

 

[Makezizz]

I found a strange spot on the side of my face, and had checked when I was in my 30s. It was Basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer). They removed it, but I had another one on my neck, which was also removed, a couple of years later. The doctor at the time said that having 2 before I was forty meant I was likely to get it again.

I've had yearly exams since then and slather on the sunscreen when I go out in the sun. A couple decades later, and I haven't had another occurrence.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I'm a FL girl so go yearly. Thankfully, nothing this year!

 

[Kitty 34]

Never had a full body skin exam.

 

[easyas123]

I go to the dermatologist yearly for a check up and get them then. Have been going for 10+ years? now I think.

 

[ronandannette]

I’ve had several as part of my regular physicals. It requires a referral to a dermatologist who takes approximately 5 seconds to look at my naked carcas and give the all-clear. I wondered at the time how may a day he does - seems like a fairly cushy gig.

 

[disneychrista]

I haven’t had one before but plan to do so this year. I have my annual physical with my PC this week and plan to ask for a recommendation.

 

[CynBeth]

I have never had one.

 

[tvguy]

I had my first "annual;" exam in March 2020, an area was found. Basal cell. Had Mohs surgery to remove it. There was a 3 month wait for the surgery. Dermatologists are way way backed up here, and of course, this was the beginning of the pandemic, so that added to the chaos I'm sure.
So, because I had a basal cell removed, I now have to go in every six months.

 

[slo]

I go 2 or 3 times a year. Dermatologist always finds a few things, mostly frozen with his nitrous gun. A few cut out. Usually pre-csncerous. Lots of unprotected sun as a kid.

Thanks, Sandy. Best wishes with your exam today.

Thanks Dan - I got the all clear, which made me ecstatic since I really was expecting the doctor to find something. With Katie’s softball, and the pool, I‘m in the sun a lot.

 

[The Mayor]

I go every June for a full body scan. I’ve had a couple spots frozen that didn’t come back and I had two very, vert small spots removed that came back negative.

I too lather up the sun screen as I like to float in the pool a lot.

 

[GAN]

I'm 60 and haven't had a dermatologist provide me with an exam. I've had a couple spots that I was curious about and my primary took a look and said they were nothing. That being said, my father had melanoma and had lymph node surgery a few years back ...still fine at 92. Eventually, I'll get a check up but I don't feel the need right now -but probably should.