A General's Melanoma Battle
- A retired general thought a spot on his head was a pimple but it turned out to be melanoma. He treated it with surgeries.
- Melanoma is an aggressive and serious form of skin cancer.
- Wear sunscreen daily and avoid the sun at peak hours in order to lower your skin cancer risk.
The Madison, Alabama, native bravely detailed his melanoma journey for the TODAY show.
Read MoreThe General’s Skin Cancer Battle
Last October, Boles noticed a pimple on his scalp a few inches above his left eyebrow. TODAY reports how Boles would “routinely get dry, scaly patches and acne on his head so he didn't think much of it.”However, the pimple changed color from red to dark brown and grew enlarged. It was bumpy and misshapen. Boles often appears on TV as a military expert, and during an appearance, he noticed how the makeup artists needed to use more product to conceal “this thing,” he says.
"That's when I began saying something is not right here,” he recalls, speaking with TODAY. “It's not getting any better. It's not responding to any kind of an anti-acne treatment.”
"It kept growing and I couldn't mask it anymore,” says Boles.
In December, a sample was taken from his spot and sent to a lab, which led to a diagnosis of melanoma. Melanoma is an aggressive and serious form of skin cancer.
To treat his cancer, we underwent two surgeries. The general will also have to undergo follow-up radiation therapy. He will receive immunotherapy treatments until the spring of 2023.
Removing Stage Two and Three Melanomas
Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer
The retired general Boles says he used sunscreen and also wore hats to protect himself from sun exposure. However, he says that his efforts were “obviously not enough.” It’s so important to take proactive steps like Boles did in order to protect your skin.
Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman 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.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
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