As a teenager basking in the sun of Southern California, I spent countless hours by the beach, innocently soaking up the rays. I brought along a radio and baby oil as my trusty companion. I was blissfully unaware of the potential harm lurking in those golden beams. My main concern was avoiding a painful sunburn – a discomfort I knew all too well. Back in the early 1970s, sunscreen options were scarce, with a limited SPF 15 and its usage not common practice. Oh, how times have changed since those carefree days under the sizzling California sun.
Years later, in a moment of realization, I knew it was time to make my health a priority and schedule a skin check. As the doctor examined my upper left arm, the room seemed to fill with tension as he muttered a concerned “Hmm.” This simple utterance filled me with a sense of foreboding.
The doctor wasted no time and swiftly sent a sample of my mole to the lab for further analysis. The waiting period felt like an eternity until, finally, a nurse called to deliver the news that would change my life: “Your labs came back with melanoma, Stage 1.”
I had no choice but to brave a minor surgical procedure to ensure the complete eradication of any cancer cells present. With local anesthesia numbing the area, the doctor carefully excised the mole and surrounding skin before delicately stitching everything back together. A subsequent sample was sent off for testing to confirm that the malignancy had been successfully removed, leaving behind a 4-inch scar that serves as a constant reminder of my ordeal; the scar has since faded into a distant memory.
Gratitude washed over me, knowing that the cancer had been caught at an early stage. Moving forward, I committed to annual skin check-ups and pledged to protect myself from “Mr. Sun” and to cherish each day as a precious gift of life.
Then it happened again. Recently, my attention turned to a seemingly innocuous mole on my upper right arm. It was just one among a multitude of freckles and moles on my skin. However, this one bore a tiny dot of black at its center, subtle. Despite my initial lack of alarm, the lab results returned a familiar diagnosis: melanoma (again).
Thankfully, this time, it was Stage 0, offering reassurance that the cancer had not ventured beyond its initial place of origin, sparing me from further complications. Though relieved at the early detection, another surgical intervention loomed ahead, requiring a repeat performance of stitches and healing. Now, with matching scars adorning both arms, badges of survival and reminders of the fragility of life’s delicate balance of health or severe illness.
Melanoma is a ruthless adversary, the most insidious form of skin cancer. Born in the glow of UV light from sunbeams or artificial tanning beds, melanoma swiftly sets its course, plunging deep into the body and spreading its malignant roots through the network of vessels beneath the skin. A sinister highway for cancer cells, these vessels guide the disease to vital lymph nodes and organs, where it can ravage the lungs, liver, brain, bones, and heart with devastating speed. Without timely intervention, melanoma delivers a grim prognosis, a death sentence.
Though those with fair skin and blue or green eyes face an increased risk of melanoma, this unrelenting cancer does not discriminate based on skin tone. An example is the tragic tale of reggae icon Bob Marley, whose journey with melanoma began innocuously with a dark spot beneath a toenail. Tragically, Marley neglected to seek medical attention for this subtle warning sign, allowing the disease to claim his life.
Melanoma touched other members of my family. When my daughter was a teen, she frequented a tanning salon; they told customers that UV light was safe. Years later in life, an unusual mole appeared on her back, revealing the harsh truth of Stage 2 melanoma.
Tanning is a sign that your skin has been injured. Whether you’re exposed to the sun’s UV rays or visit an indoor tanning salon, every time you tan, your skin is damaged. As this damage builds, you speed up your skin’s aging and increase your risk for all types of skin cancer, including the deadliest, melanoma.
Did you know that indoor tanning is responsible for close to 400,000 skin cancers each year in the U.S., with teens facing the most risk? Using tanning beds before age 35 boosts melanoma risk by 59%. Learn about legislation to ban indoor tanning.
Melanoma cast its shadow on my family once more, claiming the lives of Aunt Kay and Uncle Russell. Aunt Kay’s unseen battle on her back proved fatal, leaving the family stunned. Uncle Russell’s melanoma spread quickly; his journey was intertwined with his Alzheimer’s struggle, the disease stealing him away swiftly and mercilessly. I, as well as others in my family, had other forms of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma; although not deadly as melanoma.
One day my husband showed me his forearm. “Does this lump look unusual to you?” “Yes, it does; you better get it checked out,” I said. It was just a lump; no mole or freckle was there, just a large lump. It turned out to be melanoma, Stage 1b. Fortunately, there were no signs of cancer that had spread to his nearby lymph nodes.
The story of Randy Phillips, a believer and a beloved friend of my daughter and son-in-law. Randy’s battle with Stage 4 melanoma was a swift and relentless one, starting from a small spot and spreading rapidly throughout his body. The tumors on his lungs and liver, coupled with seizures and brain inflammation, all served as grim reminders of the harsh reality he faced.
Before long, he was unable to speak, but people say Randy’s eyes reflected a deep sense of peace and unwavering faith in God. His legacy of sharing the truth of God’s Word with untold people shone brightly throughout his life, impacting the lives of so many. His passing in 2013 left a void in the lives of his 13 children, as well as his grandchildren, but his memory continues to inspire and uplift all who knew him.
Randy Phillips may have left this world, but his impact on the students at Mississippi State College and beyond will endure for generations to come. His life is a testament to the transformative power of God’s love and the enduring legacy of a life lived selflessly in service to others. Randy’s thoughts, meditations, and prayers are still on the web: https://psalm10218.com.
What can you do to prevent skin cancer?
- Avoid the sun as much as possible. The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
- Wear sunscreen at least 30 sun protection factor (SPF)—throughout the entire year. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating.
- Wear sun-protective clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+, which blocks 98% of the sun’s rays. Hats with wide brims and clothing that cover your arms and legs are also helpful in protecting your skin from harmful UV damage. Sunscreen doesn’t block all UV rays, which cause skin cancer. My husband wears long-sleeved shirts with UF protection.
- Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand. These reflect the damaging rays of the sun, increasing your chance of sunburn.
- Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds operate with UV lights, damaging your skin and potentially leading to cancer.
- If you must tan, consider using a self-tanning product instead.
- Self-check your skin. If you notice something growing, bleeding, or changing in any way on your skin, make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist and get it checked. Catch it early. Many insurance plans cover seeing a dermatologist.
- Over 5 million cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.
- In 2023, it’s estimated that 7,990 people will die of melanoma.
- May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
- For more information about melanoma from the American Cancer Society, click here Stages of Melanoma.
God wants us to take care of our health, recognizing that our bodies are sacred dwellings for His Holy Spirit. As believers in Christ, we are called to honor God by caring for our physical well-being. By maintaining our health, we can better serve God and fulfill His purpose for our lives on earth. Let us strive to prioritize our health as a means of glorifying God and living out His purpose for us.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19