Raising Awareness for Skin Cancer
- Highly popular Denver weather woman Kathy Sabine, 57, recently had cancer removed from her nose and has been sharing her recovery journey as she advocates for the disease.
- Now day 17 into her healing process, Kathy’s loyal fan base have been cheering her along on the way and praising her for boldly posting her progress.
- Skin cancers more commonly occur on parts of the body that tend to get more sun like the face, head, neck and arms, but they can develop anywhere else on the body. Getting regular skin checks and protecting yourself in the sun can help avoid a future diagnosis.
Now day 17 into her healing process, Kathy’s loyal fan base have been cheering her along on the way and praising her for boldly posting her progress.
Read MoreOn the mend… It's been 17 days…😊ðŸ‘ðŸ»â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/k9ZosPMhSe
Kathy Sabine (@KathySabine9) July 27, 2022
“So brave of you to share this process with us! Thanks! Your beauty is more than skin deep,” another fan added with even more heartfelt words. “This just another reason that I am a fan. Be well and remember: scars fade with time. True beauty comes from the inside and It never fades.”
A third fan conveyed the sentiment more simply. “Beautiful inside and out as usual.”
Earlier this month, the Emmy award-winning chief meteorologist playfully compared herself to the feisty heiress in TV mega-hit Yellowstone, saying she was fortunately doing "better every day.”
Better every day! 😀Channeling my inner Beth Dutton 👊ðŸ¼#Yellowstone 🤠skin cancer in #Colorado is no joke and PS thank you for your overwhelming love and support😩 I am so humbled! See you soon!â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/axKjT3EEN2
Kathy Sabine (@KathySabine9) July 18, 2022
Mohs surgery is a microscopically-controlled surgery where thin layers of skin cancer tissue are removed until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.
"You're able to remove a very conservative margin around the cancer and study it in essentially real-time," explains Dr. Sumaira Aasi, Professor of Dermatology and Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Stanford. If, when the surgeon examines the tissue under the microscope, cancer is found, the surgeon goes back and removes some more tissue.
The idea is that by making the tiniest cuts and evaluating them microscopically, the surgeon knows for certain that all the cancer is out when the last piece of tissue proves to be clear. It is often done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic.
Kathy's Skin Cancer Journey
Kathy has acknowledged that the photos she shares of her wounds are graphic, but she feels that it's important to expose people to the possibilities of what could happen to them.
Like many others, she never thought it would happen to her. She's an avid sunscreen wearer and considers herself to be a relatively cautious person when it comes to sun exposure.
Kathy was scheduled for two operations: one was a Mohs procedure to remove the problem area, followed by plastic surgery that reconstructed her nose using her ear cartilage. There was an additional problem area discovered in her face while undergoing all of this that added complications to an already challenging battle.
Mohs surgery is a microscopically-controlled surgery where thin layers of skin cancer tissue are removed until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.
Mohs Surgery Removes Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty
"You're able to remove a very conservative margin around the cancer and study it in essentially real-time," explains Dr. Sumaira Aasi, Professor of Dermatology and Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Stanford. If, when the surgeon examines the tissue under the microscope, cancer is found, the surgeon goes back and removes some more tissue.
The idea is that by making the tiniest cuts and evaluating them microscopically, the surgeon knows for certain that all the cancer is out when the last piece of tissue proves to be clear. It is often done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic.
Understanding Skin Cancer
The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that over 5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year, making it the most common cancer in the United States.
Skin cancers more commonly occur on parts of the body that tend to get more sun like the face, head, neck and arms, but they can develop anywhere on the body including places like the bottoms of your feet, your genitals and inside your mouth.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Sun
Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, previously spoke with SurvivorNet about how to best reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Here are her top five ways to try to avoid the disease:
- Avoid sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the tops of our heads, the tops of our ears and the delicate area around the eye.
- Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Have yearly skin checks (with a professional) because it's difficult to evaluate areas all over the body
- Avoid tanning beds. There are no "good" tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.
And though the upcoming summer months may require extra skin protection, it's important to remember that you are, in fact, at risk of developing skin cancer all year round.
"My patients ask me all the time, 'Do I really need sunscreen every day, all year round?' The answer is yes," Dr. Engelman previously told SurvivorNet. "People think they only need sun protection when they're in the bright, warm sunshine. But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, even in the cold, wintry months. Think about when you go skiing. That's a very high risk. Even though it's cold, our skin should be protected."
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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