02/11/2022
Four years ago today we sat in the ER as a family deciding what our next move was going to be. This was something that usually only happened to other people but tonight it was our turn. My father had always been extremely healthy and active. He lived a clean life and took very good care of himself yet after months of complaints of headaches and overall general malaise, we were finally faced with the toughest diagnosis of all. Cancer. In the brain and lungs. A biopsy the next day revealed that it was melanoma. He had had a malignant mole removed years earlier from his back and had his lymph nodes tested to reveal no signs of a spread, yet here we were now with some tough decisions to make. The day after the biopsy he underwent brain surgery to remove as much of the melanoma as possible and being as strong as he was, he bounced back quickly, even able to spend Valentines Day dinner with our mom in the intensive care unit. Unfortunately the cancer spread rapidly soon after and he was gone within 7 weeks.
Since then, we have taken sun exposure very seriously. We had grown up in the 70s and 80s and had not been concerned with such things as sunscreen in our youth. However, studies show that sunburns in childhood can contribute greatly to skin cancers later in life. And sunscreen, though proven effective in reducing the risk of sunburn, also tends to give a false sense of security from harmful UVA and UVB rays, making us actually more susceptible to sunburn and increased risk of skin cancer as it needs to be constantly reapplied to give maximum benefit. So is the answer to just avoid the sun altogether? Unfortunately that would not be a good option either, given that we need sunlight for other vital life sustaining purposes. The best bet, it seems, is to just be vigilant in taking precautions to avoid sunburn at all costs. This would include minimizing our sun exposure at its highest potency, generally between the hours of 10 and 4. Yes, this is a good chunk of the day and we can’t stay inside all the time, but if you must be outside, try and remember to wear protective clothing, hats, long sleeves, sunglasses, etc. If not practical, remember to apply sunscreen and reapply regularly, especially at higher altitudes as the rays are stronger here.
Although Colorado has an abundance of sunshine and incredible year round outdoor activities that we absolutely should be enjoying, let’s take some simple precautions to ensure we stay healthy and safe. Nobody should have to lose a loved one to skin cancer if we can take easy steps to prevent it. Stay safe out there!
Bold claims and conflicting advice about what goes into a good sunscreen make it easy to feel overwhelmed when buying sunscreen. At MRA, we believe that the best sunscreen is one that you will wear.
