Raising Awareness

We're all painfully aware of breast cancer - me, because I have it; my friends, because I have it; the world, because pink has taken it over. Even before I was diagnosed the pinkness bothered me. Where is the awareness for other things? I will do my part to try to spread some.


MELANOMA


It has really started to bother me when I hear people talking about tanning. I admit to being a sun worshiper when I was younger. I had dark olive skin back then, which is hard to believe now. My skin has changed and I am more fair. Back then, I would take a long time to get a burn. It would be red and painful for the evening and turn to tan by the next day. It was pretty painless for me so I really never wore sunscreen. In fact, the "thing" to use back then was a product by Hawaiian Tropic - the dark bottle of oil that had NO sun protection at all! Man, did that stuff smell awesome. It's what the cool beach bunnies wore! If I didn't have enough money for the oil, I would use plain baby oil. Hard to believe now! Can you even still buy that no-SPF oil?? OMG, you can! I would think there would at least be a warning on the page, but there isn't!

When my kids were little they were just coming out with things like SPF swim shirts. I would watch the kids in those and scoff in my head. Now I'm not so sure. I would always put on a plain T-shirt if I was getting too much sun, and it seemed to help. Sun shirts are really out of my financial reach, especially since it sounds like they have to be replaced often. Here is an article on the topic.

And now, here is a video made by real people (not actors) to increase awareness of melanoma. It's what they wish they had known at 16...realistically, I can't imagine listening to something like this at age 16. Heeding it, I mean. Aren't we all above this stuff? But that's why it's so important to spread the message. Now that it's spring, I can't tell you how many people my age - 48 - are posting about going tanning, whether at the beach or the tanning bed. Tanning beds are NOT safer than the sun. If anyone says anything, they do what I would have done - scoff. Cancer? That's what happens to OTHER people. Please watch this video, and consider sharing it on your own Facebook page. It is a powerful video and a powerful message, made by the very people who thought it would only happen to somebody else.



Now the obvious answer seems to be - SUNSCREEN. But not so fast - there are issues with that, too. Read this article and see. There is a place on that link where you can type in your own sunscreen and see how it rates.

I have a friend who buys special sunscreen for $65 a gallon, but it isn't perfect, either. it needs to be re-applied often and stays white on the skin. Not too likely a teenager will be willing to do either of those.

I think the better answer - as with anything - is balance. Find a sunscreen on that list that is lower risk, and USE IT whenever you are in the sun.

One thing I noted for myself is the danger of sprays (when inhaled). We usually buy spray because it at least seems easier (even though it really isn't). I will now stop buying sprays. Lotion is easier, and it also won't bother anyone sitting nearby.

We can not avoid all dangers. Life itself is the only risk factor that is common in all death and disease! But we can continue to do the things we love, and be smarter doing them.