Skin Cancer Awareness
- Former star of The Bachelorette, Ali Fedotowsky, 36, is encouraging others to check their skin for spots.
- The former sun-worshipper and tanning bed-user fought her own battle with Basal cell carcinoma.
- There are steps you can take to protect yourself from skin cancer, including using SPF of at least 30, avoiding sun during peak hours, and covering up you body when out.
In a recent interview, Fedotowsky talked about how getting her skin checked when she was younger just wasn’t a priority, and that she was more concerned about getting a good tan. She spent time in tanning beds and laying out in the sun to get a golden glow.
Read MoreThe reality TV star wrote on her Instagram, “Most of us have been affected by cancer in some way – whether it's personally or through loved ones – and during a year of uncertainty the importance of continued research and care is more important than ever…”
Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer
There are some proactive ways to protect yourself from skin cancer. Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman tells SurvivorNet that one of those ways is to avoid the sun during peak hours, which is 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.”
Dr. Engleman goes on to include tips such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, saying, “because we want to protect the tops of our head, and the tops of our ears, and then the delicate area around the eye.” She also stresses the importance of wearing SPF of 30 or above, and to reapply every two hours.
She also encourages yearly skin checks to evaluate your body, and to avoid tanning beds “at all costs.” Dr. Engleman reminds us, “There is absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed, and it can really significantly increase your risk of melanoma.”
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
Beating Skin Cancer
For Fedotowsky, she was able to fight and win against her cancer. She joins the ranks of other skin cancer survivors who have done the same. One woman, Sue Manber, beat an extremely rare kind of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, and it’s in large part thanks to Manber’s 13-year-old daughter who spotted something on her mom’s skin, which led her to see a doctor.
“It was just after Hurricane Sandy,” Manber told SurvivorNet, “and Serena ended up with her head in my lap, and looked up at me and said, ‘Hey, Mom, what’s that on your nose?’ I thought, you know: that is an odd place for a pimple on the rim of my nostril. So I made an appointment. The dermatologist said, ‘It’s tiny. Even if it’s a basal cell, it’s no problem. We’ll call you next week.'”
But it was more serious than Manber or her doctor expected. Manber says, “On New Year’s Eve day they called back, and he said, ‘You have Merkel cell carcinoma and you need to get to a doctor right away.'”
Catching skin cancer early is crucial for treating the disease.
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