Sun Safety is serious business!

Column by Amy Rogan, Pulse Adviser, and Assistant Professor of Teaching in Media and Communication

My kids are grown and I am now officially a grandma…of three! But way back when my kids were little, I noticed a scab on the top of my right ear and it would not go away. Eventually I went to the doctor and she sent me to a dermatologist who quickly biopsied the site and diagnosed basal cell skin cancer.

When I first heard “cancer” I took a step back—I caught my breath but then told myself it was no big deal.

Little did I know, that first cut on my ear would lead to a lifetime of slicing and dicing.

Basal cell skin cancer is the “tamest” of the skin cancers. Almost all of my cancer sites have been basal cell. I’ve only had two squamous cell cancers over the years, which is kind of the middle of the road. But I’ve never had melanoma. I pray I never do.

When I was growing up we were blessed enough to have a pool in the backyard and as a cheerleader, back in the day, local tanning salons would let cheerleaders tan for free or at a discount in order to promote their services. And I took full advantage. To this day I LOVE to sit out in the sun. But now, I have to be far more cautious.

Because in the last two decades I have had to see my dermatologist every six months. And more times than not, he performed biopsies. Lots of them. As much as seven at one time! My legs, my arms, my stomach, my back—I have visible scars, everywhere.

In more recent years, my face has been the hotspot of activity. I’ve had no less than eight Mohs procedures on my face—anywhere from five to ten stitches at a time. My nose has been a particular favorite for the doctors. First 18 stitches and recently seven stitches on my nose. But the most extensive procedure was two years ago and left me with 25 stitches and a skin graft on my nose,which also lead to restricting my airway.

And THAT led to a much more extensive surgery with an ENT this summer.

Why am I sharing my story? It’s pretty simple: it’s a warning. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States according to skincancer.org. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 and more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Skincancer.org also states that more than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.

It’s as easy to prevent as grabbing your sun screen or a hat.

I have been extremely blessed with a wonderful face surgeon, Dr. Sharon Thorton, at the Columbus Skin Surgery Center and a talented ENT, Dr. David Powel at Ohio ENT have done their part to help me look as normal as possible.

But please, take precautions. Before you hop on a hammock or lounge on the big orange chairs dotting the campus, put on that sunscreen. Set a timer. Grab a hat. And be aware. That little scab that doesn’t go away can be a sign of much bigger things to come. Early detection and a concerted effort towards prevention can keep you around long enough to enjoy being a grandparent and take you well into your REAL golden years.