Skin Cancer

[nacktman]

Thanks to lamont for the idea of a thread on skin cancer.
Skin cancer is nothing to be fooling around with and some information from others could help another treat, prevent, or know what to look for.

[usmc1]

quote:

Originally posted by nacktman:
Thanks to lamont for the idea of a thread on skin cancer.
Skin cancer is nothing to be fooling around with and some information from others could help another treat, prevent, or know what to look for.

For me it is like any other health issue. Caution, awareness and periodic check ups. I build a tan slowly, and do not over expose. Twice a year I have my doc check out all disclorations, sking tags, keratoses and etc for their potential.

I did read an article a few years ago in which a couple of English researchers put forth the theory that the increase in skin cancers came from the increased worldwide air poluution rather than the cause most often put forth.

Informed caution, don't overdo it and sun screen or block, depending on skin type, if you're facing prolonged exposure and periodic check ups would sum it up for me.

[Big-Thinker]

Yes, we all need to know what to look for. I need to learn more myself. We should be looked over by a partner or nudist friend every few months for anything unusual.

On a related note, I've read of some recent studies that show that sunlight exposure actually decreases the incidence of several internal (non-skin) cancers (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3). Now I read an article on Scientific American describing how researchers are identifying the mechanisms taking place in the body. It seems that, although sunlight might age the skin and increase the chance for skin cancer, the mechanisms triggered by sunlight might keep the internal body younger (the protein produced in response repairs DNA damage, which, in turn, slows some aspects of aging and reduces the likelihood of cancer developing). Just had to throw that in there. It's good news for nudists!

[Big-Thinker]

Probably someone can dig up some better links and images on skin cancer, but I thought I'd throw something up here:

http://whyfiles.org/173skin_cancer/2.html




Twenty images of skin lesions. Images 1--6, 7--13, and 14--20 show atypical, benign, and malignant lesions, respectively:

[Tampanude]

Thanks for the pictures. Although difficult to see some of them.
This awareness is essential for everyone, nudist or otherwise, to encourage vigilance and attention.
As is the urgency for all self screening; breast, colon, prostate, etc.