Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Second Opinion day
Tomorrow morning I am visiting a new dermatology practice in Charlotte that has a specialist in skin cancer. I am going for several reasons but primarily to get a 2nd opinion on the DSAP diagnosis on my legs. I am going to take in my original pathology reports and ask lots of questions. There will be a really good post tomorrow!!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
May is melanoma Awareness Month...
It is interesting that May is melanoma awareness month. Why is it interesting....well you see...no one wants to raise awareness of the non-melanoma cancers...at least from what I can find on the web. Granted there are some really awesome web sites dedicated to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma but they are not as widely read as sites dealing with melanoma. I get it...melanoma is one of the most deadliest forms of cancer around and I must admit that I was relieved when my doctor told me that I had non-melanoma skin cancer but when nearly 2,000,000 people a year (and those numbers are truly best guesses according to the most recent American Cancer Society statistics) are diagnosed with bcc or scc shouldn't we be doing more to raise awareness of these two cancers as well. You see, the numbers are a best guess because no one (not even the ACS) requires reporting of bcc/scc cases annually. Some dermatologist do report their cases but there are not any official statistics anywhere.
I am certain that I have people throwing things at their monitors right about now because it would seem that I am casually tossing aside the seriousness of melanoma.....that COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! I was a cancer warrior long before my diagnosis with bcc and will continue to be a cancer warrior for anyone who has any type of cancer. As noted in an earlier post, I lost my Mother to breast cancer in 2003 just when she should be enjoying life with watching her grandsons mature in to awesome young men....she missed a baseball state championship, she missed a high school graduation, she missed the first full year of high school marching band (and how she loved marching bands).....and so on. I get it and I will do everything I can to help fight cancer. I just think there should be more awareness out there for the non-melanoma cancers.
So, instead of complaining about it I am going to use this blog to raise awareness starting today. Did you know that once you have a diagnosis of bcc or scc you are at an increased risk of developing melanoma? The National Cancer Institute has an interesting page on melanoma at this LINK. The page was last updated in 2008 but a lot of the information still seems relevant. I am going to be even more diligent about checking and tracking any moles on my body now that I have had bcc.
Tune in here for more current and up to date information on basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. If I have to become a one man campaign to raise awareness I certainly will!!
If you would like to help me fight cancer, please donate to my ride by visiting my fundraising page: Terry's Fundraising Page
I am certain that I have people throwing things at their monitors right about now because it would seem that I am casually tossing aside the seriousness of melanoma.....that COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! I was a cancer warrior long before my diagnosis with bcc and will continue to be a cancer warrior for anyone who has any type of cancer. As noted in an earlier post, I lost my Mother to breast cancer in 2003 just when she should be enjoying life with watching her grandsons mature in to awesome young men....she missed a baseball state championship, she missed a high school graduation, she missed the first full year of high school marching band (and how she loved marching bands).....and so on. I get it and I will do everything I can to help fight cancer. I just think there should be more awareness out there for the non-melanoma cancers.
So, instead of complaining about it I am going to use this blog to raise awareness starting today. Did you know that once you have a diagnosis of bcc or scc you are at an increased risk of developing melanoma? The National Cancer Institute has an interesting page on melanoma at this LINK. The page was last updated in 2008 but a lot of the information still seems relevant. I am going to be even more diligent about checking and tracking any moles on my body now that I have had bcc.
Tune in here for more current and up to date information on basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. If I have to become a one man campaign to raise awareness I certainly will!!
If you would like to help me fight cancer, please donate to my ride by visiting my fundraising page: Terry's Fundraising Page
Jeans & Jewels Charlotte
If you are looking for something to do on this wet and rainy Saturday....you should buy a ticket and come to a fantastic fundraising gala for 24 Hours of Booty....Jeans and Jewels "Bling Your Booty". This is a combination fashion show and semi formal affair with all proceeds benefiting 24 Hours of Booty. I am very excited to be going tonight and will also be one of the models for the evening...yes my large oversize body will be strutting the runway in some Giordana Cycling Gear!! This should be fun....maybe!
Jeans and Jewels
If you can't make it out tonight but still would like to help me fight cancer, you can always visit my fundraising page and make a donation!! Thanks. Terry's Fundraising Page
Jeans and Jewels
If you can't make it out tonight but still would like to help me fight cancer, you can always visit my fundraising page and make a donation!! Thanks. Terry's Fundraising Page
Monday, May 2, 2011
What the heck is DSAP?????
I have now had a couple of days to digest my most recent visit to the dermatologist for the c&d procedure and getting the information on disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) on my legs. I am still not sure what DSAP really is....but here is what I've been able to find on my own...
DSAP is a very rare skin disease that is both hereditary and brought out by sun exposure and exacerbated tanning beds. It is such a rare disorder that most doctors and dermatologist have never even seen it. It primarily effects women but is diagnosed in men....me included...! It is most often misdiagnosed as regular actinic keratosis. It shows up as reddish brown spots (little circles really) and then as it progresses the outer circle becomes hard and dark while the center atrophies a bit. The spots can sometimes develop worrisome changes such as scaling and scaling and should be biopsied. As rare as DSAP is it is even more rare for it to progress to cancer; however, there have been documented cases of DSAP becoming full on skin cancer.
Treatment options are limited, based on what I have read so far, to medicated creams/gels. So far, no one other than the pharmacuetical companies think the medicated gels work. I have already had a negative experience with one of them: Solaraze and I am still waiting to hear back from the dermatologist to get back with me for a 2nd option.
So, at this point I have many more questions and will be continue to do my own research. I am currently looking for another dermatologist just to get a 2nd opinion and explore my options.
By the way, for those of you who don't know...I ride in the annual 24 Hours of Booty event in Charlotte, NC and am trying to raise money to fight cancer! Please support me in my ride!!
24 Hours of Booty
DSAP is a very rare skin disease that is both hereditary and brought out by sun exposure and exacerbated tanning beds. It is such a rare disorder that most doctors and dermatologist have never even seen it. It primarily effects women but is diagnosed in men....me included...! It is most often misdiagnosed as regular actinic keratosis. It shows up as reddish brown spots (little circles really) and then as it progresses the outer circle becomes hard and dark while the center atrophies a bit. The spots can sometimes develop worrisome changes such as scaling and scaling and should be biopsied. As rare as DSAP is it is even more rare for it to progress to cancer; however, there have been documented cases of DSAP becoming full on skin cancer.
Treatment options are limited, based on what I have read so far, to medicated creams/gels. So far, no one other than the pharmacuetical companies think the medicated gels work. I have already had a negative experience with one of them: Solaraze and I am still waiting to hear back from the dermatologist to get back with me for a 2nd option.
So, at this point I have many more questions and will be continue to do my own research. I am currently looking for another dermatologist just to get a 2nd opinion and explore my options.
By the way, for those of you who don't know...I ride in the annual 24 Hours of Booty event in Charlotte, NC and am trying to raise money to fight cancer! Please support me in my ride!!
24 Hours of Booty
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