We are so excited here in Tennessee because it looks like warm weather is here to stay. I love being outside when it’s warm. I love to garden, go to the pool, take the kids to the park and oh how I love the beach. I miss my Carolina beaches but never fear the Gulf Coast is just a short-ish drive away.
As much as I love the sun, the beach and the pool my husband on the other hand isn’t a big pool/beach/sun guy. He pretty much avoids it. In 33 years he has really not been exposed to the sun that much.. at all. He does however have a lot of moles. (people with moles are sometimes more susceptible to skin cancer)
Even though he is not much of a sun worshiper like me he decided that we would go to the beach. It was a real… relaxing, (no agenda) hang out on the beach all day kind of trip.We had a great time but one of the days we were there he got a really bad sunburn. He did not re-apply his sunscreen, he didn’t wear a hat… and that was that.
We didn’t think much of it at all.
Flash forward about 8 months…..
One random Sunday morning, I had just gotten up from my side of the bed (which is on the right side). Jude snuck in and stole my spot. So I decided to climb in on the left side of the bed where my husband was and make him scoot over. I NEVER DO THIS…
Just A Random action that lead to discovering a really serious situation. (God works in mysterious ways)
Because we had just woken up.. bed head and all… my husbands hair was pushed up in just a way that I saw a spot on his scalp.
A spot I have never seen before and it was pretty large and strange looking.
What I discovered that day was skin cancer. This is what skin cancer looks like. (it can look other ways too but always always always go to your dermatologist to get a spot checked)
The doctor actually told us if it had been a few more weeks it possibly would have been a melanoma diagnoses.
He had a procedure to remove the area and it went pretty deep, in fact in went as deep as his skull.
They stitched him up under the surface and on the wound itself. Unfortunately, my husband’s body doesn’t like stitches. It rejected them all. This has really prolonged the healing process for him.
Thankfully all the cancer was removed !
With all that being said… he is feeling great and ready to head outdoors and yes even to the beach. But this year we will all be sporting hats.
Oh and one last thing. Check your spouses scalp, back and any areas they can’t see themselves. Have them do this for you as well. It could save your life! Also your hair dresser can check for you as well.
Check out Some super cute hats and make sure you protect yourself and your family this summer.
Keep in mind many hats don’t cover your neck or ears so make sure to apply and re-apply sunscreen to those areas.
- Under Armour Men’s UA Blitzing Stretch Fit Cap Combo Medium & Large Graphite
- Under Armour Men’s WWP Stretch Fit Cap Combo Medium & Large Black
- Embroidered Emblem JCrew
- Kid’s Color block Hat JCrew
- White Eyelet Hat JCrew
- White American Eagle Hat
- adidas Men’s Adizero Cap, White/Black/Sharp Grey, One Size Fits All
- Liberty Nina Taylor Floral baseball hat
- Gap G hat
- Embroidered Emblem JCrew
- The North Face Horizon Hat (S/M, Azalea Pink)
- Gap
- American Flag for child
- Skater Boy
- Pink Plaid
- Pin k Flower Fedora
- Plaid Band Fedora
- Premium Flower Print Fedora Straw Hat with Matching Band
- Straw Fedora for a baby
- Metallic Banded Straw Fedora
- Classic Natural Fedora Straw Hat, Pink Band
- Whale Fedora
- Plaid Fedora
- Metallic Banded Straw Fedora Silver
- Peter Grimm – Drifters Tea Stained ROUNDUP Style Hat One Size
- Straw Cowboy Hat for Baby
- Ribbon Straw Cowgirl Hat
-
Baby Navy Sun Hat
- Baby Navy Bow and Brown Stripe Hat
- Geo Band Straw Sunhat
- Border Stripe Straw Hat
- Striped Floppy Straw Hat
- H and M Straw Hat
My husband just wasn’t a hat person. He wore one for many years in the military but really hasn’t cared for them until now. My sweet, no hat wearing “hunby” is now a hat wearing man. (find out what’s up with the Hunby pet name here..it’s a hot topic in blogland today!0
NO NO NO Ball caps protect only the top of the head. Also need a brimmed hat to cover the ears. My husband has had half his ear removed in several surgeries for recurring skin cancer. He also has them on his arms (raised on a farm). I have had 10 large ones removed from my face and more from my arms (raised near the beach) It took him a long time to agree to a brimmed hat but now he loves it and gets compliments all the time. People want to know where we get them..
You are right I should have mentioned that as well. We are aware they aren’t full coverage so we put tons of sunscreen on any areas that are exposed. For now at the very least I’m happy he is wearing some kind of hat because that is a huge step for him.
p.s. Those turned up cowboy straws are not good either for the same reason
I had 3 areas on my back biopsied, one was cancerous, squamous cells, and was removed. Last week I underwent a blue light treatment for precancerous areas all over my face and forearms. I grew up in the sun and still prefer to be outside all day long. A doctor told me that bullfrog sunscreen is good and not oily or greasy. It is sold at Walmart that I know of.
oh good to know thanks Michael. I also think that he is overexposed to the sun on his left side. He drives a lot. I think maybe some UV tint on his driver’s side might help as well.
Yes, I know what (MELANOMA) is totally 100%. My husband was diagnosed in June 28,2012. From a mole on his back, the doctor removed the head of it. On the very same day my last Uncle died. But, for my husband was sent to ST.JOSEPH HOSPITAL in ST.JOHN. NEW BRUNSWICK where the surgeon was there and once he seen it we where taken to the surgery room and he froze his back,he cut out a big piece from his back he said it was 7mm long and it was in the bloodsteam. To, make this short cause of trips chemo and scans where all done he ended up on oxygen at home and lost about 100 pounds less than a year. On June 21,2013 I had called for an ambulance, he was in bad shape when I got to the hospital he had no blood pressure and they had left his (DNR) at home. Both of us decided to leave him then there with no blood pressure and everything else was going to. We took and early call Sunday morning. The minister came in and gave him his last rights. Early June 24th,2013 the cancer had taken my husband fully.He passed away with his 3 children (ADULTS) and 1 granddaughter and myself of coarse. My husband went into recurrance on June 10th, he had 3 new ones, and 1 was coming back up the first hole. SO, if anyone wants to know more and how we are survising after his death. We are about to go though the first year of his death soon.
Lori, First and foremost I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how your husband’s absence has affected your entire family. Secondly, thank you for sharing your story and spreading the word on how serious skin cancer can be. Blessings to you and your family and please keep us updated. Thanks again for sharing. Lesley
I’m so happy you did this post & to see people are talking about this. I lost my mom in December to Squamous Cell Skin Cancer. They told us that people just don’t die from that type of skin cancer. Guess they were wrong – so I am being extra diligent. Since December – I have been in to get checked probably 4-5 times. My derm keeps worrying about melanoma – even she is under the assumption that melanoma is the only thing we need to worry about. It’s scary. I grew up in So Cal – people there are very aware of sun damage. We then lived in NV – people there slightly less worried about the sun but recognize the dangers. Now we live in North Idaho & it’s like living in a time wharp. Tanning salons everywhere & everyone worshiping the sun every time it makes an appearance. It’s really hard to see. It’s so important to cover up & spot check all the time. It can save your life. Thank you for this post.
Gina, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. It is definitely important to get the conversation started. I can tell a difference in awareness in the different areas I have visited and lived. We love to be outside but finding cancer at age 33 is not worth the risk. We are taking serious precautions now for the entire family. Thanks again for adding your story to the conversation.
I have been dealing with skin cancer for 12 years now, my last was in my right lung, when they went in to remove the tumor they found cancer all over my lung & pericardium, it is inoperable so I am on a targeted medication for almost 2 years now. I think I know what the final outcome will be I just don’t know when. We did not grow up knowing about skin cancer, people now a days should know better, the info is out there they just need to take it seriously!
Thanks so much for your story and yes I agree I really think many of us including my husband never thought it would happen to him. I am so sorry for what you are going through. Many blessings and I hope for as little pain for you as possible through your treatment!
I WEAR MY SUN PROTECTION WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. SUN EXPOSURE DOES ADD UP OVER TIME AND SO IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO GET INTO A GOOD HABIT OF USING HATS AND SUCH.
I have the same spot for quite long maybe 5 years ….So was it melanoma or another type of skin canser ?I’m so scared now!Our dermatologyst are not well qualified to recognize this type of melanoma(((
It was not melanoma but they said it was very close to turning in to melanoma but we caught it in time. I would say just make sure you get it checked out and biopsied. Typically if there has been no change to the shape or texture then it is not cancer. But to be safe I would get it checked.
Found the exact same spot on my scalp over a month ago, can’t get in with the dermatologist until January 6th. I immediately thought… is that skin cancer.. it looks identical to the picture you shared. Did they say what type of skin cancer it was called?
Carisa, I can’t recall that they gave us a name for what it was. They just said it was the stage before melanoma. It took us about a month to get in and once we did the biopsy then removal was very fast and not too painful