Melanoma Girl Buys THE SHIRT
Having had one bout with melanoma, and hoping to avoid another, I have suddenly become avidly interested in the whole issue of protecting my skin from the sun. The carelessness of my 20s and 30s is long gone.
(It may be too late, but, hey, that’s how we learn, right? From experience. I have no illusions that my story will influence younger people to cover up in the sun—they’re still in that “nothing bad can happen to me” stage.)
This summer I ordered a UV-protective Soltex Big Shirt from the Sahalie catalogue. The $39.50 shirt promises to deflect 95.8 percent (do you ever wonder how they get such precise measurements?) of all UVA and UVB rays. One feature I like: the collar flips up in stages to give more coverage on the back of the neck. Since my hair is very short right now, I need this feature.
Even though I bought the shirt, and I plan to wear it, I’m not convinced that I really need a special garment designed to protect me against the sun.
The fact is, I have never gotten sunburn or sun exposure through my clothing. If I had, I would have freckles in those areas, which I don’t. So I think, despite the hoopla over these protective garments, that wearing my plain white cotton shirt as I always have in the past would be good enough. (Although news reports say denim would be better.)
When I am in Hawaii I also wrap myself in a lava lava once my legs have had enough sun. Plus a hat and sunglasses, of course.
When I’m home in Seattle I don’t need this level of coverage unless I am on the beach, or on the water (sadly, I’m not dragon boating this year), or out for a long hike.
I do think, however, that covering up when I’m going to be outside for any period of time is a safer alternative to sunscreen. The fact is, I need to read this list and then go shopping for the best sunscreen I can find, one that actually does protect against the UVA rays that cause skin cancer. (Most brands do not.)
So, here’s my skin safe plan for the summer:
1.) Find a good sunscreen. Apply sunscreen on days when I’m going to be outside for more than a few minutes. Apply it when I’m getting dressed, to allow it time to work, and apply LIBERALLY, even though I hate that gooey feeling.
2.) More importantly, wear protective clothing—my big shirt, hat, sunglasses, and light cotton pants.
3.) Much as I love baking in the heat, I’ll moderate my sun exposure, even when wearing all of the above. I don’t want to find another one of those “suspicious lesions” on my body.
4.) But I won’t obsess about all of this, after all, we all need some sun exposure in order to make vitamin D.
Sun protective clothing:
Yet again, the research for this post was done by my favorite librarian, The Cheeky Librarian, who always covers up in the sun.
@ Jeanne Sather 2007.
Well, I took THE SHIRT out for a trial run (walk, really) today at the dog park with GB, who has not been getting enough exercise lately now that his owner, Younger Son, is in California for the summer.
Our off-leash area is great, but it is really open and hot, so I wore my shirt and it kept me cool and also kept off the rays.
I was very conscious of all the folks walking their dogs midday in the heat in tank tops or less ...
Posted by: Jeanne | June 30, 2007 at 08:54 PM
We all know that wearing sunscreen is a must to keep skin looking young and prevent skin cancer, but if you don't know your sunscreen and understand the difference between UVB and UVA rays, you may not be getting enough protection.
Always wear a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. A great option is available at www.sunessencesunscreen.com
Another great option is sun protective clothing, which can be found at www.shadysun.com
Stay safe in the hot sun
Posted by: Janet | July 01, 2007 at 06:08 AM
I was not impressed at all with that website.
Pretty suspicious that they sell bikini style tops and tout them as sun protective and then sell sunscreen too!
I buy my sun protective clothing at www.alexandme.com
they have clothing for the whole family.
Posted by: susan | July 31, 2007 at 01:59 AM
Have a long history of basal and squamus cells and this Nov a Melanoma Stage 2. Clark 1V - removed sentry node and that came back fine. So now on follow up - find 2 more squamus cells - they recommended Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) - acid type chemical put on skin followed by intense light - to penetrate top layers and get rid of pre-cancer cells. The other option was a lotion over my entire body twice a day for one to 2 months - can't recall the name. I am starting the PDT but was curious if anyone is familar with either and experience with them? I just have had so much cut since my early 30's - now in my late 40's with a 6 year old child so major fear of having had now a melanoma - Have had same experience as others where the latest that were squamus must have been looked at over the past month by 3 different dermatologists and an oncologist at 2 different excellent hospitals and they said they looked "fine". With the map of moles, etc on my fair Irish skin that burned big time as a child with wonderful Sea & Ski and Coopertone ..I fear like I have time bombs unless I am agressive with something like these treatments. Any input would be very helpful. Thank you.
Posted by: moira | January 10, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Hi Moira--I don't know, despite having had melanoma myself, but I forwarded your comment on to Carver, who is also a cancer blogger and has melanoma. She may know more than I do.
Love that Coppertone! I did it too, and I have pale, freckled skin as well. Lived four years in Hawaii in my 20s.
Jeanne
Posted by: jeanne | January 10, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Hi Moira,
I am a stage III melanoma patients. I wasn't familiar with PDT but I looked to see what I could find. The NCI has a fact sheet http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/photodynamic
which gives quite a bit of information. From what I could see there was some work in the 1990s in conjunction with melanoma but nothing recent and what I gather is that it's used for non melanoma skin cancer patients. As long as the doctors suggesting PDT know about your melanoma history, I would guess it's fine. However, if it were me, I'd want to make sure the oncologist I saw for melanoma knows you're doing the therapy. Since you mention you saw an oncologist at an excellent hospital, perhaps you could put a call in and let them know you are doing PDT. Best wishes, Carver
Posted by: Carver | January 11, 2008 at 05:21 AM
Carver--thanks for taking the time to check on this. I knew you'd know where to look.
Posted by: jeanne | January 11, 2008 at 08:44 AM