Are you worried about skin cancer?

[robertson468]

Used to go out and water the garden for about 30 minutes or so nearly every day without a shirt on and then a couple of years ago I noticed some moles on my shoulders and upper back, that I didn't like the look of, neither did my Doctor, but because I am on waferin he sent me to have them lazered off, which seems to have done the job, except I now have a coupld of growths on my head, which I am off to have lazered off as well.  I now always wear a hat when out running/gardening and slap on the good old sunscreen, then apply Aloa Vera after a shower.  I am now 73, but do not have leathery skin, in fact look younger than my years (so I am told) which I put down to my fitness regime, but the main concern is I am fair skinned and have (or had) ginger hair thanks to my Scottish Heritage.  If you have acquired any moles or hard skin growth in the recent past, please get them seen to.  It is not an expensive proceedure to have them lazered off and is quite painless.

[lvr181]

2 minutes ago, Mario666 said:

11 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

 

Wow!......Sorry to see your plight, but thanks for sharing....I will show her your pic and hope that does the trick.

No need to be sorry (I appreciate your thought though), entirely my 'parents' fault. But it is what it is and nothing I can do about it now. 

[lvr181]

2 hours ago, Old York said:

first appear I apply the topical medication 'Aldara' and after a period of redness and itching the lesion usually disappears.

I have had to use same many times after recommendation from my skin cancer specialist.

[Mario666]

2 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

I have had to use same many times after recommendation from my skin cancer specialist.

Good luck going forwards.....I wish you well my friend!

[SE23inPhuket]

17 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

I have had to use same many times after recommendation from my skin cancer specialist.

My (British) GP here in Thailand recommended Aldara 3% cream, but said it was unavailable at that strength in Thailand.

Can I ask whether you got your Aldara in Thailand and, if you did, where you bought it?

[khunPer]

I've been living at Samui for more than a decade now. Stayed quite a bit in the sun on the beaches when I first arrived as tourist almost 17-years ago – that's what we pale Nordic folks normally does, when experiencing real Sun – but after I settled here, more than a decade ago, I never sunbath, and normally don't mind staying in shadow; I reached a point when Sun is not that amazing anymore.

 

I'm not afraid of skin cancer, but I'm aware of it, so no need to jump into it by stupidity.

 

However, I did try to get too much Sun here; like falling asleep on Koh Nangyouan beach, well protected by an umbrella, but forgot that the Sun moves, so my pale, and for Thais loving white, legs got baked to a degree of similarity to an over-cooked lobster. Or when playing song kran all day, and getting soaking wet in utterly cold water, not feeling the Sun in the neck – you know, "real men" don't use sun-screen, and has two open top buttons in the shirt – but for sure I felt something at evening, when it's way too late; even for an Aloe Vera cure...

[maxcorrigan]

On 3/2/2018 at 2:32 PM, Mario666 said:

Good for you mate....Look at the advice and stay out of the sun....Met loads of Farangs with skin issues from Thai sun.

Yes agreed as a person "of no colour" as the PC label goes these days (alright with a hefty dose of salmon pink) , i try to avoid the sun as much as possible, as i think i would be a likely candidate for skin cancer, so in reply to your opener i am worried!

[eppic]

I go to  a Dermatologist at the St.Louis Hospital every 6 months to have any precancerous spots removed. She uses liquid nitrogen and was educated and trained in the UK. Many years in the sun and the damage is already done. Long sleeve coveralls and hat when l am working in my yard. Impossible to avoid sun completely but doing the best l can.

May I ask the name of your doctor? I've been seeing a doctor at Bumrungrad but can't say I am happy about the skin checks, which don't seem very thorough.

FWIW, you can also count me among the melanoma (and BCC and Bowens) crowd. By far the worst part is the mental aspect, as every time I feel a little lump or notice a new lesion I have to face the prospect of possible death - really screws with your head and you never feel safe. Don't really want my toddler to grow up without a father.

Problem with melanoma is it's mostly all or nothing...if it recurs, be which can happen even 20 years later, odds are very much against you and most treatments (such as chemo) are useless. The new targeted treatments can help a small percentage, and maybe more in the future, but for now metastatic melanoma is almost always a death sentence - so stay out of the sun, and get checked regularly if it's too late for that (note, I also had a Thai doc misdiagnosed a mole I asked him about that turned out to be melanoma - could end up killing me yet).

Melanoma is one of the most preventable cancers so no excuse to expose yourself given what we know these days.

Sent from my BTV-DL09 using Tapatalk

[lvr181]

3 hours ago, SE23inPhuket said:

My (British) GP here in Thailand recommended Aldara 3% cream, but said it was unavailable at that strength in Thailand.

Can I ask whether you got your Aldara in Thailand and, if you did, where you bought it?

Aldara source from outside Thailand.

[sead]

Since i wakeup at 4pm and go home at 6am i usually dont have that problem.

But i would like to know where in Pattaya i can get them removed or checked. Anyone knows?

Edited March 3, 2018 by sead

[scubascuba3]

Interesting posts. I don't sunbathe but i walk about, play golf, cycle and use the motorbike in the sun so i am exposed. I only use suntan lotion for golf, but I've been slack with that lately. But i use a hat, sunglasses and an umbrella often. Cycling is usually very early so low risk there. I'll get back into the habit of applying for golf, face, neck, ears.

Using sunglasses are important too. Eyes get damaged.

I know aussies who seem to get bits regularly cut out

[SS1]

Sunbathing is for crazy people who want to get cancer. Got some friends who got melanoma and died mid-aged, after sunburning a lot when they were younger.. 

 

I never leave the house without being covered in SPF50 sunscreen  

[LawrenceN]

I never thought of myself as fair-skinned, either. Saw a dermatologist ten days ago to have a look at a crusty, reddish purple spot on my forearm. Dr. says it's actinic keratosis, possibly a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma. He recommended sunblocks, and I'm now wearing sleeves for biking and golf. The good news is the spot has now cleared up on its own.

[QPRFC]

On 3/3/2018 at 11:37 AM, idman said:

I now see a Dermatologist here in Chiang Mai three times a year for a full skin inspection and twice a year when I am back in San Francisco.

Hi idman, can I ask you where in CM do you go, if you recommend them? 

I have a worrying patch of red rough skin on my forehead and another on the side of my eye, both sore to touch.

I lived for 19 years in Australia and got accidentally caught out and severely burnt a few times during that period. 

Thanks

[ubonr1971]

On 3/3/2018 at 10:59 AM, ryane66 said:

I go to  a Dermatologist at the St.Louis Hospital every 6 months to have any precancerous spots removed. She uses liquid nitrogen and was educated and trained in the UK. Many years in the sun and the damage is already done. Long sleeve coveralls and hat when l am working in my yard. Impossible to avoid sun completely but doing the best l can.

can you please share the name of that dr you recommend?

[idman]

I see the lovely Dr.Vachiraporn Sujaritwanichpong, now that's a mouthful, at Chiang Mai Ram Skin Center.  She is well trained as she did her internship and residency in Dermatology at Boston University and she speaks perfect English.  I have nothing but great things to say about her and recommend her.  She is there with the exception of Wednesday and Saturday.  Just walk in and make an appointment, you never have to wait more than a few days if your schedule is flexible.  She also told me to use Aldara and where to buy it OTC here in Chiang Mai, head to your nearest Pharma Choice Pharmacy and ask for it, if they are out they will contact another shop and get it for you or tell you which branch has it and where it is located.

[idman]

Sorry, I forgot to mention this.  She likes to be called Dr.Amy by Farangs as that is the name the staff at Boston University gave her as her Thai name is a bit of a struggle.

[JG27]

As an Aussie, the thought of getting a melanoma is the best way to ensure I always wear a hat and don't stay out in the midday sun without cover... Protection is a big deal here and I apply the same rules to myself in Thailand. Bit of a no brainer really.

[Stevemercer]

'Scuba' is correct in saying you should always wear sunglasses when out in the sun in Thailand. I used to cycle without sunglasses (I didn't have prescription ones at the time) and would often end up with headaches and 'tired eyes'. Wearing sunglasses fixed the problem.

[scubascuba3]

'Scuba' is correct in saying you should always wear sunglasses when out in the sun in Thailand. I used to cycle without sunglasses (I didn't have prescription ones at the time) and would often end up with headaches and 'tired eyes'. Wearing sunglasses fixed the problem.

My optician noticed very slight damage to the Sclera (white of the eye) which is common if you're in the sun. It doesn't effect eyesight but it indicates that sunglasses are needed which i now wear when playing golf. We know that sun causes cataracts so another reason to wear sunglasses

 

[vincent13]

4 hours ago, idman said:

I see the lovely Dr.Vachiraporn Sujaritwanichpong, now that's a mouthful, at Chiang Mai Ram Skin Center.  She is well trained as she did her internship and residency in Dermatology at Boston University and she speaks perfect English.  I have nothing but great things to say about her and recommend her.  She is there with the exception of Wednesday and Saturday.  Just walk in and make an appointment, you never have to wait more than a few days if your schedule is flexible.  She also told me to use Aldara and where to buy it OTC here in Chiang Mai, head to your nearest Pharma Choice Pharmacy and ask for it, if they are out they will contact another shop and get it for you or tell you which branch has it and where it is located.

I can endorse Idman's comments about Dr Vachiraporn. I have a long history of skin cancers and had been searching unsuccessfully for a dermatologist in Thailand in whom I had full confidence. Visited Dr Vacjraporn in January and was most impressed with her competence and professionalism.

[murraynz]

for the ginger haired person with very white skin and those with fair skin from countries that has very little sun- you need to be VERY  careful not to get too much sun exposure.

for those of us from ozz and nz, we already have the highest rates for skin cancer in the world, so we should know to cover up,not too much sun...even though thai sun is not as strong as in ozz or nz...it can still be damaging if over expesed.