Sunscreen?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

But look at this graph:

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/race.htm

If my child has 1/15 the risk that I do of contracting skin cancer, due to the amount of melanin in his skin, it makes sense that I evaluate the risks/benefits of skin cancer differently for him than I do for myself.

 

[Christine]

Makes you wonder, we are wearing more sunblock but as you say this woman died and didn't spend any time in the sun. I just don't believe all the sunscreen hype. I do wear it because I burn like crazy, but I didn't as a teenager and nothing has come up yet. My dad lived in the sun and they found a very small area on his ear at the rip old age of 78. They cut it out and he still lived in the sun, and not another spot ever popped up.

Like I said, I do wear it, but I think some people are going over board, We need the vitamin D from the sun and most people aren't getting it. This can cause real problems too.

I believe there is a strong genetic component to it. For instance, in my family we are all fair and burn easily. NO ONE in my entire family all the way through my grandparents (and they are long gone) exhibited any type of skin cancer prior to their deaths from other reasons. I am 46 now, have a history of moderate to severe burns as a child and have a tendency toward moles. Nothing yet but I do watch.

I know other people who have the same history, same type skin and melanoma and basal cell seem to hit everyone in the family.

I'm not saying that some people just won't get it but I do believe there is a genetic predisposition toward it and being in the sun too much doesn't help. Alternatively, some people can bake away and get nothing.

 

[Sorsha]

Here's how the Dis numbers line up with the national average, as predicted by their poll. 100 Dis'sers have taken our poll, as of the time of this post. 1000 people took the national poll, so 100 seems to be an appropriate smaller snapshot for our Dis Board members.

Use sunscreen everyday: National average 9% / Dis average 10%

Use sunscreen most of the time: National average 20% / Dis average 11%

Use sunscreen a few days a year: National average 30% / Dis average 66%

Use sunscreen never: National average 40% / Dis average 6%