Best of luck Jerry you are in my prayers!

It is a good idea to see your Dermatologist every year. I am 5 years out from having surgery on my back and chest. I still spend a ton of time on the water fishing. Just use alot of sun screen and re-apply several times a day.

My doctor said alot of times the damage was done years ago when we were kids.

Got some real good news from the doc. The place of most concern on my shoulder, melanoma, came back from the lab as benign !! So all that's left to do is some knife work!
Everyone, thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

That's awesome news Jerry. Praise God for that.

I'm sure that turned out to be a big sigh of relief for you.

Merry Christmas,

Jim

Great News Jerry. Glad to hear you dodged the bullet on this one so to speak, now just a little knife work.

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.

Be Blessed
Mark Howard

Prayers sent. Glad you caught it early. Thats good news.

I go to the dermo twice a year and swith dermo's after a year , all is well

I am blue eyed. 52 now. When I was 16 to 18 I would spend almost every weekend at the beach fishing and never even knew sun block existed. I got burnt so bad that blisters would pop up on my shoulders and back.
So 5 years ago, I had a quarter size black mole came up on my back. My doc cut it out and biopsy and was benign. Last year on top of my head I had 2 dime size black moles and went to derm and she said they look normal and she froze both off.I have some brown spots now and she said it is just age spots
Since I was about 30 I have religously put 40 to 50spf on twice a day while fishing, or golfing, or 6 Flagging.
My fishing buddy(Martin)who died from Lung cancer last year (he never smoked)had skin cancer and every year he was being cut on, mostly on the face, arms and head. He was definately not out in the sun as much as I was.
I dont understand why some people are immune and some are not. Years ago when those blue eyed people had to do their own farming like my dad and grandpa. They never had any kind of cancer and never wore sunblock. Maybe their diet had something to do with it.And they never got sick, so maybe their immune system had something to do with it.

I had a rogue skin cancer on my lower lip that almost got me 12 years ago. Took radiation and 3 surgeries to save my life and then 7 surgeries for reconstruction. I get checked every six months and go in early if I have a suspicious spot. Trust us survivors on the sun screen, hats, etc�. but also go to the doctor!!! Don�t try to diagnose these yourself.
I had one of the surgeons tell me that cancers on the lips and ears were the most dangerous basil and squamous locations and of course melanomas are dangerous anywhere. Find yourself a dermatologist and visit often and don�t be shy about going to see them when you have anything suspicious. My cancer came up between 6 month visits and was out of control by the time of my next visit.

Glad they caught it early Jerry. I am the worst at not protecting my skin and am scared to death every time I hear about another angler getting skin cancer. I'll be praying for a quick recovery for you.

Just had my second basil cell removed off my shoulder. I've got a scar/stitches 3" long. Took out a quarter size spot. Boy is it tender. Burned real bad as a kid. Red hair and blue eyes. Don't forget to take care of your kids.

About 5 months ago I had 15 cells removed from my face. Doc wanted me to use a cream called Efudex. They say its like putting battery acid on your face. Process takes a couple of months. Your face gets bright red and if you look up on web sight there are many pictures that kind of scare the hack out of ya. After reviewing these stories I decided not to do it. Well went back to Doc and he said I can do nothing and he will be burning them off every six months and hopes none will be cancerious. So I started with the Efudex cream last night, not looking forward to it but in the long run this is the best way to go. It emiminates the effective area before it gets visable to the eye. The Doc said this will clean up the face than I must use sun screen which I don't do a vary good job of it. Check out this product on the web. Its not appealing but could take care of a lot of problems before they happen. Jerry good luck with your situation prayers are sent!

Just wanted to say thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Surgery went great yesterday. I was surprised that I felt no pain when I saw the incision the doctor had made. Got a few stitches. Again I would say protect yourself and get checked out if you notice something on your skin.

I went to Liberty Dermatology in Rowlett. I would recommend them highly.

Great news, glad everything went well for you. A wake up call for a lot of us older guys who have spent so much time outdoors and just never gave skin protection much thought.

my turn, my turn!! I have to go see one soon, wife's orders. I've been putting it off for a couple years. I hate needles
and knives!

made my appt. gonna go see em on Tues. told em you sent me, Jerry!

Well Wishes Jerry.