Throwback Thursday: “Anatomy of a Skin Cancer Scar”

“Scars….can be a little ugly on the outside, but scars show that you’re a survivor, that you made it through something, and not only did you make it through, but now you’re stronger and wiser and more educated because of that tough time that you went through.” ~Kyle Carpenter

Unprotected sunbathing was a common indiscretion for many teenagers when I was growing up. Going for the burn, we’d spend endless summer days on the beach, usually slathered in baby oil. It rarely occurred to us that we’d pay a high price someday. We didn’t realize that sun damage is cumulative, appearing much later in the form of sagging skin, wrinkles or, worse yet, cancerous lesions.

Summer officially starts next week, bringing longer days to savor in the sun. And I want all of us to enjoy this season — without risking the health of our skin. With that in mind, I’m reposting an earlier column about surviving an especially difficult experience I had with skin cancer. To read the column online in The Oakland Press, please click here.