| Do you love to lay for long periods in the sun, | | | | cautioning others to take it easy in the sun. When |
| allowing its warmth to gently turn your white skin | | | | they first started having their beach days, sun block |
| into a golden tan? Are swimming, playing at the | | | | was barely even heard of. Now we have lots of |
| beach, and staying out all day at the top of your | | | | great choices. A favorite is waterproof sun block |
| summer fun list? John and Maggie certainly felt that | | | | which lasts longer than water resistant sun block. It |
| way 40 years ago! But 20 years ago, they got a | | | | needs to be applied liberally and often, as it does |
| serious wake-up call. That's when they both were | | | | wear off in water. The general rule of thumb is to |
| diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. | | | | reapply at least every 80 minutes you are in the |
| The least dangerous of the three types of skin | | | | water. |
| cancer (melanoma being the worst), they didn't think | | | | When you and your kids aren't swimming, put on a |
| much of it at first. But after the first session of | | | | hat, shorts, and cute T-Shirt to help protect your |
| freezing the growths off, they changed their minds in | | | | skin. This is especially true for the toddlers and babies |
| a hurry! Freezing may sound cold, but it feels hot, like | | | | in the family as their skin is more tender. This is just |
| you are being burned and it hurts! | | | | as true on cloudy days, too. You might not see the |
| John was "lucky." His twice-yearly skin cancer | | | | sun, but its rays are definitely impacting your skin! |
| treatment stayed simple - just the freezing. Poor | | | | If you decide you absolutely have to have a tan, |
| Maggie had to have the same skin cancer treatment | | | | how about sunless tanning lotion? It can actually look |
| but she also had to have minor surgery a few times | | | | nice now. If not, time yourself when laying out. It's |
| to remove growths from the in-between type, | | | | too easy to fall asleep and lay there for hours, |
| squamous cell carcinoma. That particular skin cancer | | | | literally. Then you wake up and spend the next three |
| treatment hurt worse because more was required. It | | | | days miserable and the following three days shedding |
| was more invasive, it required more scary and | | | | skin like a snake! NOT a pretty picture. |
| sometimes painful doctor visits, and a couple of times | | | | It may seem like a hassle to mess with sun block, |
| she even had to have stitches. She hated the skin | | | | extra clothes, and timers. There are certainly no |
| cancer treatment on her nose the most, because of | | | | guarantees in this life for much of anything. But I |
| how it looked! | | | | suspect your skin will thank you as you go through |
| John has passed away, but Maggie and her senior | | | | the years and I know you'll be thrilled if you never |
| home care giver daughter spend plenty of time | | | | have to endure a skin cancer treatment! |