Rachel Maddow: Get Your Skin Checked! Schedule An Appointment. It Very Well Might Save Your Life

[Rhiannon12866]

Rachel Maddow tells the story of how she became aware that a mole on her neck had changed shape and a quick trip to a dermatologist revealed skin cancer, which she promptly had removed with minor surgery. Get your skin checked now. It very well might save your life. Aired on 10/06/2021.

[SergeStorms]

1. Same thing with me last month.

I had my annual skin exam, they found two pre- cancerous areas on my forehead that they froze, then there was a small mole on my left shoulder that they biopsied, which proved to be cancerous.

Outpatient surgery was performed on September 7, where they removed an elipse of about 9 mm. long and 1.5 mm. deep. The core test proved that the margins were negative, so I'm good to go, at least until my next exam.

Everyone should have a full body exam at least once a year. It could save your life. People need to be reminded that their skin is an organ, and to neglect skin health is dangerous.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks for the reminder!

I need to make an appointment! Glad to hear you got it taken care of, same as Rachel!

[SergeStorms]

7. Yeah, like Rachel....

I never gave it a thought until my GP suggested I get some spots on my forehead checked. After that I started getting examined yearly.

When I was younger I was an avid golfer, which meant beaucoup exposure to the sun. Golfers seldom use sunblock because it turns greasy in the sun (or at least the old types did) and slippery golf clubs aren't helpful to your game.

I don't play anymore due to spinal issues, but the damage was done years/decades ago. My tanned skin looked great when I was young, but there's a price to pay for everything.

If it wasn't for my general practioner I might have serious issues right now, or could even be dead. I'll never ignore it again, I'll tell you that. Take care, Rhiannon, and go get that skin exam.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. And I worked outside in an amusement park for several summers when I was in school

When it got especially hot, the boss would sent around one of the mechanics with "salt pills." Though I was fortunate, the last few summers I got to drive the purple train that went through the :jungle" (woods). But the first couple of summers I was Cinderella and had to stand outside in the sun in a long dress. And it's so much hotter now that I've wondered how those working there now can stand it.

And I have had moles removed years ago, the doctor did it as a precaution. But moles do run in my family, so I should get a checkup. I got a call from the doctor's office recently since I'm overdue. Glad to hear that you're okay!

[SergeStorms]

11. I'll be like Reagan.

Remember, they used to hack off pieces of him weekly, or so it seemed. It was kind of a running joke. He was very prone to skin cancer.

Cinderella, huh? Always in the spotlight, that's you. Still, that must have been a pretty cool summer job. I got to work in a factory summers between college. I would have switched with you in a heartbeat.

It'll take more than a little skin cancer to bring me down, but I must admit, there seem to be more things trying to kill you the older you get.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Actually, I do remember that about Reagan. At the time, wasn't he one of our eldest presidents?

And yes, I got hired as Cinderella, not my favorite job there. Though I wasn't always out in the sun, I used to ride around with young kids in a pumpkin coach - really! After a couple of summers of that, my boss took pity on me and gave me a permanent gig driving the train which I loved.

And I did become good friends with the girl who replaced me as Cinderella. She'd complain to the boss and ask him why I couldn't still be Cinderella sometimes. And he'd reply "She's done her time!"

And you're right, the older we get, the more maladies we're prone to. Thanks for the reminder, I think it's been a couple of years since I've had a checkup.

[callous taoboy]

2. I lost a friend to skin cancer recently-

More precisely, it started out as skin cancer on his shoulder, spread to his brain. 60 years old.

[Fritz Walter]

3. Living in Florida, I get checked every six months

At first, the suspicious-looking squamous cell and basel cell patches appeared on the left side of my face and neck.

The reason why? I drive.
Or used to, every day at rush hour. (Retired three years ago). That's when the sun would beat in, even with tinted-windows closed. It was daily exposure.

Whether the dermatologist's assistant would freeze them off, or carve them out, they were each a reality check.

Use sun block (SPF 30 or 50), or otherwise cover up! Get checked regularly.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. And I worked outside in an amusement park in the summers when I was in school.

Fortunately, though I'm pretty pale, I do tan - but in the beginning of the summer I'd get pretty burned - so I know what you mean. And it's much hotter now than it was back then.

And I did have a couple of moles removed back in the day (also frozen) as a precaution, the doctor I had back then was pretty proactive, but he's now retired, so I guess it's up to me to bring it up.

Glad to hear you got yours taken care of. Rachel did us all a favor for the reminder.

[Lonestarblue]

4. Yes, annual exams are important. Medicare covers it.

[Phoenix61]

5. This is true even if you have dark skin.

African Americans are more likely to die if they get skin cancer than lighter skinned people even though they have a much lower incidence rate.
“The average five-year melanoma survival rate for Blacks is only 67 percent. It's 92 percent in white people.”

[FakeNoose]

8. It's awesome that Rachel talks about this, something many Americans have to face

Some of us run to the doctor for every little thing, while others almost never go to the doctor for anything. I'm in the second category.

Hooray for Rachel!

[colsohlibgal]

13. Good For Her

13 or so years ago my Dermatologist found skin cancer on one side of my nose. They subsequently removed it, a few days later took some skin from under one of my ears and plugged the little hole.

So i’ve had to see her once a year since so she can check all over me for possible skin cancer.....for the first time since she found a suspicious spot on my right calf a week ago. Going back in a couple of weeks and they’ll check it out if it is we’ll do the same drill again.

So get checked it beats dying.

[central scrutinizer]

14. If you live alone

One way to monitor your back is to stand in front of a mirror and take a photo of the reflection once a month. My GP gave me that tip.