Solar Separation
The sun rises and I embrace the warmth. I tan evenly over the course of the summer, but mindful of the power of those rays on my fair skin I limit my exposure and use sunscreen. Meanwhile, I spend my days making pickups and deliveries for a trucking company. Half of those hours are spent behind the wheel, often with the sun shining into my cab. I give little thought to that sun exposure. After all, there’s no sunburn. In fact, there’s no irritation, at all.
In my fifties, I learn the error in that assumption. I have some precancerous cells on the left side of my face frozen for removal. Two separate times, I have cancerous growths removed from my upper chest and shoulder. They can appear anywhere, even areas that get less exposure. The left side of my body seems to be the most affected, that which would have received the most sun exposure through the driver’s side window.
Dry patches on my face, primarily on the left side, are misdiagnosed by a dermatologist as a form of psoriasis, but they are correctly diagnosed as precancerous when I visit a cancer center for skin screening after moving to Missouri. Daily application of Efudex cream over several weeks gives me a face fit for a Star Trek alien when all of the precancerous areas are exposed, until the dead skin sloughs off and my face returns to normal.
That was six years ago, and there has been no recurrence. Summer has arrived, but my days in the sun are a thing of the past.
sun high overhead
shortest shadows of the year
days now grow shorter
This haibun is my response to Haibun Monday 6-21-21: Solstice I,
the prompt from Frank Tassone at dVerse ~ Poets Pub.
mid-treatment for precancerous skin damage
Terrifying. Warning. Sign.
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Indeed.
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Yes, too much sun can be a dangerous thing. My dear friend in Perth, Australia, an avid gardener, developed skin cancer on her scalp, and was virtually scalped surgically and left with a scarred and grafted area that she covered by wearing turbans. It’s good you’re being cautious.
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Thank you, Beverly.
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I’m glad you got it properly diagnosed and treated. Scary stuff.
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It can be. I know it depends on the individual, but my outcome was not positive, so I learned my lesson. Thank you.
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Wow, Ken. Really scary. I’m glad you’re okay.
❤
David
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Thank you, David.
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💖
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A good reminder regarding our sun safety and the haiku could be read as ominous had your outcome gone another way. Good one!
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Thank you. 🙂 My latest experience was an outbreak of spots on my upper torso when I received my COVID vaccine four months ago. They’ve “faded” to pink spots, but I have to wonder if my past experience played any part of the occurrence. I kept in contact with my clinic, and I’ll see them for my annual skin check in September.
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That really is terrifying and I’m so glad you’re okay now. It really makes us think twice (especially for us pale folks) about sun exposure and being cautious in its rays.
A very powerful story to share.
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Thanks, Lucy. I burn easily without sunscreen (even did back in the days when I had a tan), so I make sure to use a high SPF and a wide-brimmed hat when I’m kayaking.
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“Behold, I am shiva, the creator and the destroyer!”
-Sol
A cautionary tale for all of us pale folk!
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That’s right, Frank. We have no power over the sun. Thank you.
And thanks for the prompt.
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A haibun/PSA and very effective. But oof! Be well
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Doing my best. 😀 Thank you.
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As an actor, visiting Australia for 3 months in 1977, I got a terrible sunburn; peeled for a week. 40 years later a mole on my back turned cancerous. The sun is not our friend. My Italian heritage allows me to tan darkly, but it is a seduction. I’me a real paleface now.
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Better safe than sorry.
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Glad you’re ok. And, you do a good Star Trek alien look!
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lol
Thank you. 🙂
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Days now grow shorter indeed! No matter where on the age timeline, each year leaves a shorter run ahead …
Would younger we have heeded had we been warned?
And what current assumptions warrant our scrutiny?
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Life is full of cautionary tales. Recognizing them is the trick.
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My goodness! That’s a scary tale of misdiagnoses. I’ve taken to walking with a sun umbrella lately, no matter how weird it looks over my straw hat.
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The dry patches on my face were primarily on my left temple, and they would come and go, randomly. What I found interesting about the Efudex cream was that it showed that even though it was predominant on the left side, the damage was all over my face. Prior to this, I had already started wearing a wide brimmed hat while kayaking. And sunscreen, of course.
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Efudex cream sounds like a good thing to have gotten hold of. Good luck with the fight. If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.
Pa
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It was going to cost me a few hundred dollars, until my doctor showed the insurance company a medical necessity.
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That’s the other side of this. The cost. The insurance company just want you to pay their premiums religiously and always fight against paying out. The drug maker is the other monster… greed, all the way round.
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I have been thinking a lot about sun protection for this reason and other reasons. I’m also very pale. Sometimes, I have skipped it when I am just outside for a short time. I was thinking about that today when I was out. Should I be wearing sunscreen? Thanks for the warning, and I hope you will stay well.
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These days, I hate applying sunscreen, so I limit my exposure. One exception is kayaking, and I always use a high SPF. Thank you.
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It can be messy … and a nuisance, I guess. I have a bunch of tubes that are just partially full, and it’s hard to squeeze what’s left out.
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A reminder to be mindful of the power of the sun. While it has benefits it also can be dangerous. I am glad you are doing well.
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Thank you. Yes, sometimes it’s the things that we take for granted. I was always aware of possible complications. I have a friend who has had a few bouts with melanoma (fortunately mine was “just” squamous cell), but I’d only thought about wrinkles or having a heavily lined face. This was a wake-up call.
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Scary! I did not know about pre-cancerous growths. Wishing you good health…
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Thank you. 🙂
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A stark warning, Ken! You’ve made me think twice about how long I spend on the sun terrace. I am pleased they found the cells in their pre-cancerous state.
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It certainly pays to be careful. Thank you, Ingrid.
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greetings, alien. the MIB will be here shortly to confirm your residency ~
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lol
Bring ’em on!
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I’m glad that all is okay now.
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Thank you, Ron.
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How little we knew. I’ve known others who spend time driving in the sun who had the same result. I’m glad it seems to be gone! (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe. Back then, I never gave it a thought.
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Take care Ken. Glad to know all is good with no recurrence.
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Thank you, Di. Fingers crossed.
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A shocking reminder that the sun is to be revered and feared. Thank you from your pale blogger friend.
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🙂 Be well. 🙂
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I have just recently completed a similar treatment, and also no more sun where possible. I did enjoy those days though. This connected for me.
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Thanks, Paul. I’m glad it worked out for you.
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Yes, well, mostly I have another knife job on the forehead in July because the application wouldn’t touch it it seems, sigh.
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Ah. Take care and be well.
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You too Ken, at least we’ve learned a little 🙂
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The sun is powerful, and we’ve removed a lot of the natural barrier to the harmful rays. I hope your problem stays gone!
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Fingers crossed!
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I’m glad you got to the right health professional. Who knows where it would have led otherwise. I am reminded of Frost’s, “knowing how way leads on to way” and how your move to MO made it happen.
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Thank you, Lisa. I like that observation.
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You’re welcome, Ken.
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I was warned already as I child that as a redhead my – no tan except freckles – very fair skin would make me prone to get skin cancer. So I’ve always used sunscreen and thin blouses with full sleeves, and avoid the sun completely around lunch.
Also goes for checkups every year.
So far so good. I’m praying it stays that way.
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This is good to know. Too often people wait until it’s too late.
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Sun can be vicious at this time of the year… still it’s wonderful and I miss it so much when I sit indoors by my computer screen looking out.
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For all the power it has over us, it’s still missed on a cloudy, rainy day.
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Oh, Ken! I’m glad you’re on the mend. I’ve not had skin cancer (my hubby has had melanoma and carcinoma) however, sun exposure on my fair skin has taken its toll. The last few years, if I bump by arm, I don’t bruise—instead, I bleed under my skin. It’s called “senile” purpura! As we age (I hate that word) our skin gets thin. I’m not that old, but I am super fair-skinned. Feel better soon. ❤
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Glad you are well. I’ve had cancer removed from my wrist, of all places. My Dad was a sun nut,
and he paid for it with growths all over his nose. Stay safe, and away from tanning salons!
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Any time is scary. Thank you, Sara.
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we all seem to have a cancer story … so glad you are on top of it!
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Thank you, Kate.
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welcome Ken
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