I got sunburned for Melanoma Awareness Month
Welcome to May. I don't want to jinx anything but it looks like winter might be over. Fingers, toes and everything you can think of crossed.
Spring means being outside. It means warm weather baseball, walks along the lakefront, dining al fresco, short sleeves & skirts and....
SUNSCREEN!!!!!
May also means it's the start of Melanoma Awareness Month. Thirty-One days to preach about the most dangerous of skin cancers.
I've written sixty blog posts about Melanoma/skin cancer since February 14, 2015. That was the day I found the mole on my back that turned out to be Stage One Melanoma. In most of them, I've ranted about the importance of using sunscreen.
Well, guess what kids..I'm a hypocrite about this. Yep, I'm outing myself.
For the first year after my Melanoma surgery, I was obsessive about sunscreen. I'd carry a tube everywhere. Even at night. Told you I was obsessed.
The next two years weren't as good. I went from going overboard about sunscreen to not using it at all. I just tried to stay out of the sun...and it wasn't working.
You'd think the low point would be seeing your Dermatologist, for a full body check, with a sunburn. Trust me, you don't want to see Dr. Emily like that. She can guilt you like your parents did after bringing home a bad report card.
That was more than a year ago but it took until last week to realize how stupid I've been about this.
I went to a White Sox day game. We can save the Cubs dude at a Sox game for another day. All I'll say is Dollar Hot Dog Day!
Anyway, it was a cold, sunny day so I bundled up in layers. Did I wear a cap to keep the sun off my face? NO! Did I use sunscreen? NO!
I left the game with a sunburned face. Those damn White Sox.
The good news is I didn't get depressed or beat myself up over this. Phew! The better news is I made myself a vow to change this dangerous behavior.
I've set up a personal challenge. For Melanoma Awareness Month...for the next thirty-one days, I'm not leaving the house without wearing sunscreen or having a tube of it with me. THIRTY-ONE DAYS! OY!
So on day one, how's it going? It's kind of a mixed start. I left the house without it... BUZZ...but I had to double back home for something else and did load up...BING!!! Small steps.
One day down, thirty to go. Sigh! I see Dr. Emily at the end of the month. The goal is for her to not act like my mother. That would be good for both of us.
Related Post: What do you wear for Melanoma Monday?
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