public service announcement

throughout my teenage years and into my early twenties, I would definitely say I was a sun worshipper! my mother is italian, so I have an olive complexion. I never really burned. however, I do remember a couple of time, I would say I looked 'red'! and one time, in my early teens, my skin actually bubbled. never burned, so I never understood why I got sun blisters. looking back and speaking with the dermatologist, I probably had sun poisoning from overexposure to the sun. I rarely used sunscreen and absolutely never gave skin cancer a second thought. not sure why, as my father and grandfather both has basal cell... but when I reached my mid-twenties, I started seeing a dermatologist for skin scans. I had a few moles removed, but nothing came back abnormal. then in december 2007, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with melanoma. first of all, I want to say right off the bat, she is doing really well. and is cancer free. thank the Lord! and we have learned from her experience how important it is to get check out every year. since her diagnosis, I switched doctors and in february 2008 during a routine skin scan, I had three moles removed. one came back abnormal (moderate to severely abnormal). this does not mean I have skin cancer, but I went back and they cut out more until the cells came back normal. then a few week's ago, I went in for my annual scan and again had a mole removed. this mole came back moderately abnormal. tomorrow I will make my follow up appointment to finish the job! during that appointment, they will numb the area and cut out more skin to ensure they remove all abnormal cells.

so here is where I jump on a soapbox! if you go out into the sun, limit your exposure! do not sit out during the suns highest points! wear sunscreen! cover up! get annual skin scans! and make sure you see a doctor that checks you head to toe. and I mean head to toe -- separates your hair and checks in between your toes!!!

to learn more about the different skin cancers, prevention, and treatments -- visit the skin cancer foundation >>