Skin Cancer and how it can affect you.
Melanoma's are more likely to kill your average water-man or water-woman than the extreme sport they partake in, white pointers or taking that fatal wipeout.
Australians have a very high rate of skin cancer, something like 1 in 14 Males and 1 in 24 Females of the population will get a melanoma in their lifetime (to 85).
Melanoma's are deadly if not treated correctly. One of the worst things that can happen is late discovery where it simply becomes too late. They can be small and look almost benign to the average person. They can appear anywhere from the crack of your ass to the eye and everywhere in between. They have many shapes and sizes and not all are that obvious.
I urge all those that visit Seabreeze to read the following Seabreeze Kitesurf Article written by some who have had the shock of discovering melanoma.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/Skin-Cancer-Melanoma_4176560.aspxThen want more info have a browse through:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanomawww.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/skin-cancer/melanoma.htmlI have had a Melanoma and many other lesser skin cancers removed. My younger brother died from Melanoma this year after a life of surfing.
Watching him go through the cancers progression from melanoma to it spreading to his bones, lungs, liver and brain and finally causing his death.
It is a horrible disease and it certainly is not a nice way to die.
But it is very preventable and can be treated well if caught early.
Always cover up, wear sunscreen, hat and use sunglasses. Avoid the most severe UV part of the day.
Get a regular check from your GP and if there is ANYTHING at all suspicious get a referral to a dermatologist. These doctors usually have a waiting list of sometimes many months. If you suspect Melanoma time can be of the essence for your ultimate survival.
If you have spent years surfing, kiting, windsurfing, boating, fishing, baking unprotected in the sun or you have light caucasian skin you need to be very weary about this disease.
I just hope this message gets though particularly to some of the young crew out there first staring out kiting, surfing, sailing. This is the forgotten time in the sun that can later come back to haunt you, like it did me.
Only this year another guy I knew died from getting one on his retina, and he was a doctor. This disease does not discriminate.
Sunglasses are a must particularly while sailing into the sun every afternoon here in the West.
I continually read about the problems encountered with kite/sail boarders and sunglasses.
My solution to this is simple and CHEAP (but not all that fashionable). Go to the local hardware store, buy a pair of cheap UV resistant safety glasses (sunnies). Make sure they are one piece wrap around with fixed nose/lenses and rust resistant plastic hinge. Coat them with Rainex Windscreen treatment, (wipe off quickly before it wrecks plastic). Use silicon tubing on sides (hobby shop supply) so they don't slip off after a face plant.You should be able to do all this for $10. Keep a couple in your sail bag.Will give clear vision that beads the water spray off and saves your eyes from sunburn and salt spray. (Just keep the sunburn cream of them).
These things even work reasonably well even in the worst of surfing wipeouts, just tie them on to your wetsuit zip cord if you cant afford to loose them.
Hope this gets a few of you out there to check your skin and some of your friends as well. Its the spots that you can't see that can be the problem.
