I had no idea what I was going to post today. Then I saw this in my Twitter feed.
…a new report found that the deadliest form of skin cancer has jumped 200 percent in the last four decades.
The acting U.S. surgeon general is asking Americans to give up their love of sunbathing and indoor tanning beds, given the alarming rise in melanoma cases diagnosed since 1973.
There are 63,000 new cases of melanoma in the United States every year and 9,000 people die from it. I don’t know why. Could be that we spend less time outside, could be the atmosphere has changed, making the ultraviolet rays from the sun stronger. Whatever the cause, that’s too many preventable deaths. I’ve watched someone die from melanoma, and it was an awful death. I don’t want to watch anyone else go through that.
Please, wear sunscreen if you’re going to be outside, and cover up whenever it’s practical to do so. Avoid tanning beds. And, if you see any changes in your skin, a new mole or one that’s changed color or shape, run, don’t walk, to the doctor and have it checked out. The chances of something getting out of hand are reduced the earlier you catch it.
Okay?
The Sound of One Hand Typing 