My name is Des McCammon.
I am male, 79 years old, retired.
I discovered I had a serious skin cancer problem in 2009. My attitude towards sun cancer is to take extreme care especially if you have fair skin. The smallest spot can herald a melanoma. Complete cover is the only real protection.
To the young I say be aware of your individual risk factors i.e. fair skin. The subtle nature of melanoma is frightening. I am a regular golfer but use the cover of extremities at all times. I pay particular attention to driving my car with arm and hand protection.
Exposure needs only to be for a few minutes before serious damage can occur. I have had too many basal cell carcinomas burned to count. I have had three melanoma removed, one required a skin graft. Melanoma removal is an operation far beyond what the "spot" may suggest.
Thank you Des for helping raise awareness for skin cancer, melanoma and skin conditions, and sharing your story with us and our Solbari Community.
The Solbari Team
Your skin is your largest organ and has a long memory. Sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) damage is cumulative throughout your life. Research shows that sun damage contributes to more than 90% of wrinkles, brown spots, premature skin ageing as well as precancerous and cancerous skin lesions.
It is very difficult to the untrained eye to identify melanomas and skin cancers because they can come in many different shapes and sizes.
As Associate Professor Rosemary Nixon from the Skin & Cancer Foundation Inc. says, "the earlier a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better the chance of avoiding surgery, or in the case of a serious melanoma or skin cancer, potential disfigurement or even death."