May
is National Melanoma and Skin Cancer awareness month, with May 4 being Melanoma
Monday. Right now, that might not mean
anything to you. Up until 4 months ago, it did not mean anything to me either.
Last December, I noticed a very dark mole, about the size of a sesame seed on
my right thigh.
It was not bleeding, it was not an odd shape, it was just
really dark. I decided to see my
favorite dermatologist and had it removed. About 3 weeks later, I received a
call from my doctor. That small mole, that itty bitty mole, was malignant
melanoma. Never in my wildest dreams did I think skin cancer, let along
malignant melanoma, would happen to me. This is just not any kind of skin
cancer; malignant melanoma is the type of skin cancer that can travel to many
other parts of your body and cause other types of cancer.
According to the National Skin Cancer Foundation
http://www.skincancer.org/ , Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal skin cells. It occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often
caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers
mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and
form malignant tumors.”
Did you know skin cancer is the most common form of cancer
in the United States with more two million people are diagnosed annually? That translates to 1 in 5 Americans will
develop skin cancer in their life. Each year, there are more new cases of skin
cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and
colon. Melanoma is one of the most
aggressive and deadliest forms of skin cancer, resulting in over 75% of all
skin cancer deaths.
During the summer, you probably stock up on sunscreen,
sunglasses, hats and cover-ups to protect your skin from the sun. But did you
know another way to battle the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can be found
right in the produce aisle of your supermarket?
As it turns out, watermelon as well as ruby red grapefruit
and cooked tomatoes are all rich in lycopene. This powerful antioxidant found
in reddish-colored fruits tends to act as a natural sunscreen of an SPF of 3 or
4 from the inside-out. It actually protects skin cells from the sun’s burning
rays which can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer, and lycopene replenishes
skin cells as well. In addition, lycopene helps your skin act as a natural
filter, allowing enough sunlight through for your body to produce vitamin D.
Besides helping to prevent sunburns, lycopene can also help
prevent wrinkles, by strengthening the elasticity of skin tissues while keeping
them from losing their tension.
To increase lycopene absorption from food, I always
recommend serving it with a bit of oil such as salad dressing or olive oil. My
other favorite picks for lycopene include cooked tomato products, such as
tomato soup, tomato juice, spaghetti sauce and canned tomato sauce. With any canned or jarred product, aim for 5%
of the daily value (DV) or less for sodium content per serving or choose a no-sodium-added
option.
As for me, I luckily found my malignant melanoma early
enough to be treated with surgery. This last picture is what my excision looks like now, 3 months after my surgery. Along
with skin checks every six months, I have promised myself to take better care
of my skin by wearing at least 30 SPF sunscreen at all times, staying out of
the tanning bed and increasing my consumption of lycopene-rich foods to help
keep my skin cells plump and happy. I hope you do too.
~Crazy
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