Women: How to Avoid Melanoma

This time of year women are anxious to get to the beach to get that perfect tan. Of course, tanning is not limited to summer since a lot of women go to tanning beds all year round to keep that perfect tan. Most people know tanning beds and too much sun is dangerous, yet they still do it. Of course everyone knows to use the right sunscreen but do they use enough? According to Glamour magazine, the answer is no and that is skin cancer waiting to happen.

A young woman wrote in to Glamour to warn other women how deadly skin cancer is if not found and treated early enough. This young woman was only 28 years old when she found a lesion on the top of her head. She went to the doctor and found out it was the deadliest type of skin cancer, Melanoma. I read her story in Glamour and instantly thought of my sister because she goes to a tanning bed all year round and, when she has the time, goes to the beach to lay out in the sun. Sure she uses sunscreen but I don't think she uses enough. It's a scary thing to think that lying out in the sun or using a tanning bed can kill you, but it's true.

The young woman who wrote to Glamour told her frightening story about everything she went through to get rid of melanoma. She went through many surgeries and immunotherapy for several months. The doctor removed the cancer but it was already at a stage four or five and he knew that her journey would be a long one before it was all over with. Her doctor knew that if melanoma is found and treated early, it is 80% to 90% curable but this young woman did not find it early enough. She asked her doctor, "Am I going to die?" He told her no and that he would do everything he could but in the end that didn't even matter because she did die. So please, read on to find out if you could have skin cancer, it could save your life.

After more than 20 surgeries, several rounds of immunotherapy, and seven weeks of radiation, this young woman died at the young age of 28 just because she did not know she had melanoma and did not get it found and treated early enough. Don't let this happen to you! Even those tiny moles and freckles you might have could turn into skin cancer if out in the sun or in a tanning bed too long without protecting yourself with sunscreen. You need to check those moles and freckles and see a doctor immediately if you think you might have skin cancer or even if there is a chance for it in the future. Better to be safe than sorry.

What You Need to Know about Sunscreen

You also need to know the rules of sunscreen before going to the beach or to that tanning bed. Make sure you have a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, to fight UVB rays. Also make sure your sunscreen contains ingredients like zinc, oxide, titanium dioxide, oxybenzone or abobenzone, or Mexoryl to block UVA rays. Make sure you use it everywhere such as your face, neck, the V of your chest, your legs, the backs of your hands, and any other area that is not covered. This should be as routine as brushing your teeth in the morning. This is serious stuff and if you do not listen you could pay with your life.

When it comes to using sunscreen there are lots of different options you can choose from. You can try the stick, wipes, or lotion and you should use a squirt about the same length as your thumb to cover your face, neck, chest and hands. For your entire body you need at least two tablespoons which is one ounce per application. Like I said it is better to be safe than sorry so please make sure to use enough sunscreen to avoid getting skin cancer.

You can go to this website and read this young woman's story she shared with Glamour before she died of this horrible disease. You can also take the two minute skin cancer test to avoid this deadly disease. Be careful in the sun and at the tanning beds. Just because the tanning bed isn't real sunlight, it can still cause cancer. Please send this article to a friend or relative who might be at risk, it could save their life!