Jimmy Buffett’s legacy needs to include sun safety

When you think of Jimmy Buffett’s legacy, obviously you'll start with his music. He wrote and sang many memorable songs, including “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, “Come Monday” and of course, “Margaritaville.”

Next comes his business acumen which led Margaritaville restaurants and so much sold merchandise that it bordered on being too much.

Then, there's the Buffett/Parothead lifestyle. Living in t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops. It also includes having fun spending time in the sun and the water. Buffett lived in Key West, Florida. For those living in that area, being outside year-round was one of the attractions of living there. Sailing was more than only a hobby for Jimmy Buffett, it was a huge part of his life.

So, it shouldn’t have been a big surprise to anyone when TMZ broke the story that Buffett had skin cancer four years ago. It developed into lymphoma that caused his death on Friday night.

Once again, sadly it’s a reminder that too much exposure to the sun is dangerous. You need to take preventative measures to keep yourself safe from skin cancer/Melanoma. I have no idea if Jimmy Buffett practiced any of these things, but you can. It’s actually pretty simple to do:

Use sunscreen. Wear sun-protective clothing such as hats and long sleeves. Limit your exposure to the sun during its peak hours. Stay out of tanning beds. Check your body for new moles on a regular basis-at least monthly. Learn which moles may mean you have skin cancer. And, see your dermatologist regularly…at least once a year.

The reason I continually preach this is because eight years ago I was diagnosed with Melanoma. I was lucky enough to find it and get it treated early. I also have a couple of friends who weren’t as lucky as me. I don’t want anyone to go through the horrible ordeal they did. Doing the things in the bold type in the last paragraph may save you from that. It’s worth the effort.

Rest easy, Jimmy. Thanks for the songs and lifestyle. You’ll be changing your latitude but never your attitude.