Although I’m usually quite humorous when I write (if I do say so myself) today’s topic is really not funny.  I’ll cut to the chase: when was the last time you saw your doctor about your skin?

If you can’t remember, that’s a problem.

Just this morning, I was in the dermatologist’s office yet again to have spots cut off and checked for skin cancer. I go EVERY year. And every year I dread it – I don’t really love needles and having things cuts off my body.

So is it REALLY necessary? Well . . .do you get your mammogram every year? Because statistically, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than ALL OTHER CANCERS COMBINED. So guess what? If you’re faithful about your mammogram but ignore your skin, you could be in big trouble.

Consider these stats (from the Skin Cancer Foundation):

• Each year in the U.S. over 5.4 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are treated in more than 3.3 million people.

• Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
  

• Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined.
  

• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.

The funny thing about skin cancer is that if it’s caught early it is typically very treatable. And if it’s melanoma? Well . . .

One person dies every hour in this country from Melanoma.

Dies.

And most of you know a famous runner that was diagnosed with Melanoma. Deena Kastor was diagnosed back in 2003 and thankfully was able to have it surgically removed. And while there’s no evidence that runners are at higher risk, our time in the sun definitely DOES increase the chance, so sunscreen and hats are VITAL.

Now, it is Halloween and I’m really not trying to scare you but that funny mole on your back that your significant other keeps mentioning? GET IT CHECKED.

That itchy, flakey patch that doesn’t quite seem to heal and has been there for weeks? GET IT CHECKED.

That mole you’ve had your hole life that suddenly turned a different color seemingly overnight? GET IT CHECKED TODAY.

Skin cancer is nothing to mess around with, Friends. Do I enjoy my yearly visits? No. I hate it. I don’t like being numbed up with shots and having things sliced of my body. Not in any way.

But you know what I do like? LIVING.

Once you’ve made your appointment with your doctor, come back here and comment and tell me. And then go tell your friends to make THEIR appointments. Because you are far too important to leave us early. Thanks for listening. And please share this with those you love. Because this post may have been kind of boring but you know what? It could also save a life. #worthit

Update 11/8/2016 – got the call from my derm today, and one of my  moles was benign. The other, however, was “atypical” but since they got it all, no reason to do anything other than watch it to make sure it doesn’t grow back. But I  have been upgraded to the “every 6 months” category for skin checks, as this type of mole puts me at much higher risk for Melanoma. So glad I went and didn’t put it off! Make your appointment TODAY!