MELANOMA:  Denial and the Cost

Ever want to pretend something isn’t there that is?  We all have – to some degree or another.  But in the case of melanoma, the person you’re most trying to fool is you, and it can cost you your life.

And what about the people around you … your wife or husband?  Your children?  Others who are close to you?  You don’t just take one life;  you take everybody with you, not in terms of life lost, maybe, but in terms of utter heartbreak.

How can you prevent melanoma?  Let us count the ways.

1. If you see a mole or something suspicious, get it checked out!  This is your best insurance that your chances of getting skin cancer will be reduced.
   
   
2. Check it out yourself.  Look at yourself, your spouse, your kids once a month in front of a long mirror and in good light.  Grab the dog and check him out too while you’re at it!  If you’ve got a light-haired dog, he can get skin cancer, too.  (Of course you’ll be taking him to a different doctor).
   
   
3. Exactly what is the cost?   Nobody can say exactly what it means to see a loved one suffer, or know, sooner or later you will lose that loved one.  Nobody can say exactly how extended family and friends will feel when they find out someone with whom they built a loving, trusting relationship held this back from them.  And no one can possibly say what heartbreak this will bring to the man or woman left behind.  Simply, it’s so much easier to protect yourself.  Isn’t it?
   
   
4. What else can I do to prevent this?  Use sunscreen, but don’t rely on it alone.  Use UV accessories such as UV Hats with a 3-4” brim (covers your neck, your ears, your eyes and your face).  UV Umbrellas cover even more of you. 
   
   
5. Where can I get more information?  The Skin Cancer Foundation and American Cancer Society
   are good places to start. 

It’s temping to avoid something about which we’re frightened.  It’s human.  But it you’ve done everything you can, you’ll never have to feel guilty or regretful – toward yourself, toward loved ones.  And that is a blessing in itself.
           
                  Contact Information:
Lynn Rose     Toll Free: 888-296-ROSE (7673)