Are you aware that one in five people will develop at least one skin cancer in their lifetime? Do you get regular skin cancer checks? Have you a dermatologist?
GG and I go to Australian Dr Steve Karagiannis (a.k.a The Skin Doctor) at SkinCheck in Bayside Medical Centre.
For some reason, we missed our yearly visit in 2023, so it was two years since we last saw him. I was concerned about marks on Graham’s face.
HILDA’S BASAL CELL CARCINOMAS
You may remember that I had 2 basal cell carcinomas removed a few years apart and I am now absolutely meticulous about sun protection. I have been for years, but the damage was done years ago when I lay in the sun to burn. Go on admit it; I imagine many of you did the same! I am not proud of it now, but we were sadly lacking in information about sun damage and skin cancers.
Now, I apply sunscreen to my face all year round. And I wear hats when out walking, even in winter.
GRAHAM’S SKIN CANCER
When we went for our check-up at the end of January, I knew Graham had some lesions that could be a problem. In fact, he had a number of pre-cancerous lesions spread across his forehead and down beside his ears. They were the result of decades of sailing without sun screen, but were only manifesting themselves now.
However, a rather innocuous looking pink spot on his left cheek – above and below – was a basal cell carcinoma.
While the rest of the scaly lesions on the face could be treated with Efudex (a chemotherapy cream), this would have to be surgically removed.
TREATMENT WITH EFUDEX
The scaly lesions eventually went crusty and fell off. Below, you can see what it looked like during the treatment.
REMOVAL OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA
Graham was referred to specialist to Richard Hanson in The Sports Surgery Clinic for the removal of the basal cell carcinoma. It was all very efficient and the procedure took less than half an hour. He had to go quite deep though! Below, you can see the scar a week after surgery. The stitches were self-dissolving (unlike mine) and the results of the biopsy (all clear) were then sent to his doctor.
Graham is using a cream for scars SOS Science of Skin and it is definitely helping in the healing. Already we can see a huge improvement. New to Ireland (Boots and selected pharmacies or you can order online). It is developed by a plastic surgeon and has received excellent reviews.
Below is a picture of Graham a few weeks after surgery.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT SKIN CANCER
Wear sun protection, even on cloudy days. Graham is now applying Factor 50 twice a day (and a cap, especially when playing sport) as he doesn’t want a repeat of any lesions going forward.
My favourite sunscreens are Ultraceuticals (an Australian brand), Ambre Solaire and La Roche Posay, which offer great protection. Really it is a matter of personal choice. Find one you like with good protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Just remember that if you are out in the sun that you need to apply every two hours. Wearing a hat is also a good idea.
And you can check out Irish Skin Foundation for the most up-to-date information. May is Skin Cancer Awareness month so you can find a lot of information on the site.
As always thank you for reading and please share this post as we all need to be aware of the need for sun protection. And if you are on Instagram or FB, I have a video on stories with Dr Steve.
Love Hilda x
As a lifelong sun avoider (burn, get too hot and irritated) imagine my surprise and dismay when I was diagnosed with Lentigo Maligna and needed immediate excision. Cue a lot of freaking out, and a resulting pirate like scar all the way down one cheek. Two years on, it’s hardly visible thanks to the SOS scar cream you share here. I never leave home without a hat and factor 50 white emulsion. I didn’t before, but now I officially bore on the topic. I have been known to hand bottles of sun block to random shirtless strangers. A post worth sharing – thank you.
Ginny thank you so much for commenting.I have not heard of Lentigo Maligna. So glad it was got early. And the Science of Skin (S0S) is new to us in Ireland. So great to hear that it worked for you. Graham being a man expects it to work instantly! I love the solution for bites too. Works instantly.
Learned my lesson about shoving sleeves up all the time a few years ago….but I still do it automatically, winter and summer. Cant work with the things!!! Had a chunk taken out of my forearm, fortunately before deep damage was done, so cream is now applied, sleeves or not! My skin lady, Prof Anne-Marie Tobin (Tallaght hosp) said that people will apply cream diligently, bu often do not rub it right into the hairline and hence she spends time dealing with the consequences. GG is right, wear a hat, but a wide rim is better than a baseball hat which does not protect the ears and back of neck. Yry telling that to a farmer!!!
I really believe that we are more susceptible to it in recent years. My dad never wore sun protection, but did wear a hat. He never had a problem and died last year aged 89. I have tried to get Graham to wear a wide brimmed hat…. no luck.
I am really happy that your husband‘s skin cancer was treated so successfully.
I wear sunscreen all year round, as I am Irish and I am very fair skinned.
Thanks Mia. I still need to remind him to use sun protection! Men!
I love La Roché-posey products!I find them to to be very good.Thank you for showing us what they look like as I have never seen photos before!
I have NO PROBLEM WEARING A HAT!!
Hope you had a wonderful trip to Italy!
Xxx
It is a particularly harsh but effective treatment, he is looking good now and the scar is healing nicely from the surgery. We had a wonderful time in Tuscany. Blog post soon. xxxx