Sun and skin

[bennevisplace]

I know we have plenty else to concern us just now. This is not a warning, just a researcher's insights into the interaction of sun and skin. And who knew about phototherapy in autoimmune disease?

theguardian.com/science/202...

[Graham2222]

I’m getting 400 Bad Request when I try to open this and other links. I’ve cleared my browser history. Do Admin have any advice please?

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to Graham2222]

I’m opening it no problem at all Graham. Sounds like your antivirus may be preventing the redirect but it isn’t something Admin can assist with I’m afraid.

Newdawn

[Shedman in reply to Graham2222]

You simply click the link?In which browser? On what platform (iOS / Android / Windows 7 or 10) ?

Always the first bet is trying a different browser.. Firefox is often a good bet.

[Graham2222 in reply to Shedman]

Thanks I’ll try that. Yes I’m just clicking the link, using Safari iOS at present - the latest.

[Shedman in reply to Graham2222]

Possibly the 400 error is more suggestive of connectivity issues. Restarting device is one bet (I do so too infrequently on my iPad)

Else restarting wireless router (internet connection) — these in spite of other aspects of connectivity working.. just easiest starting point: try it, and see if it resolves the issue.

[Graham2222 in reply to Shedman]

I switched device - from iPhone to iPad - and that worked. Thank you for your help.

[ironjohn]

I can’t get it either. But I’ve been thinking about the increase of skin cancer with Cll.

What I’ve been thinking is this. The average age people are diagnosed is 70 +/- at 70 you’ve been exposed to the sun and of course that age population is going to have far more skin cancer then a 40 year old. People with Cll walk around with it not knowing they have it for 10 -20 years , not protecting themselves because they don’t know they have Cll.

My specialist said go live your life as if you don’t have SLL , went onto say anyone in this room could have it and not know it , so go on as if you don’t have it. Those of you that know me know who my specialist is and he’s very well known.

My issue is we are told we need colonoscopy every 3 years , blood work every 3-6 months , dermatologist at least once a year and on and on. I know I’m on a rant but when your world class specialist says leave here and live as if you have nothing. I’ll also point out my specialist has never said John see a dermatologist or any other specialist.

I don’t wanna bury my head in the sand but I’m living my days scheduling Dr appointments like crazy and constant surveillance. Is this all really necessary or is it part of making money. I know if your in need of treatment of course the check ups are a must.

Be easy on me it’s just been on my mind for 3 years and thinking what my Specialist said. I asked the specialist what is my life expectancy ( this was my first appointment and just found out I have SLL) his reply, what do you do for a living ? I said I’m in the Roofing business. He said you can fall off a roof tomorrow so you life expectancy could be one day ! And went onto say just go live life your going to be fine.

Again sorry for the long and questionable post.

John

[bennevisplace in reply to ironjohn]

John, my guess is that some articles in the Guardian are not accessible outside the UK.

You make a good point: don't live in fear, sure, but with CLL one can't afford to be complacent. All of the susceptibilities that increase as we pass through middle age are amplified, and we need to get checked for secondary cancers in particular. My doctors have been very lackadaisical in giving advice and monitoring. No dermatologist appointment unless I push, even though I have had n x BCCs and 1 x melanoma. No colonoscopy for 5 years even though I have a family history of CRC, polyps on two previous investigations, and have asked several times. This is the UK and insurers of private treatment still require a referral from your general practitioner. With Covid the waiting time for "non essential" treatment has stretched out way beyond a year for many. There are projected to be 13 million people - nearly one fifth of the population - on NHS hospital waiting lists by the end of this year.

BTW, the melanoma appeared on my back, 4 years after CLL diagnosis. Had my partner not spotted it, it might well have got me. Vigilance should not be an obsession, it should be a habit.

[ironjohn in reply to bennevisplace]

Thank you for your reply. I hope you get that colonoscopy as you said it that cancer runs in your family. Covid has put the medical community in a tail spin for sure.

Thank you

John.

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to ironjohn]

John, you’re a younger person and I know you suffer great concern about your condition. Your very skilled specialist will know that too and I’m sure his advice was intended to encourage you not to dwell over pessimistically on your health. However, advice to live your life as if you’ll never experience any symptoms or side effects is rather strong and I’d be amazed if that’s what he meant. We all need to be vigilant in a measured way. Even people without blood cancers in good health need to do that.

My haematologist never mentioned the possibility of skin cancer and I’ve never been urged to have regular screening. The NHS don’t offer routine dermatological monitoring anyway. However, had I just walked away and assumed that a specialist’s word could be taken at total face value, I doubt I’d be here today to tell the tale. I developed a malignant melanoma clearly as a result of my immune dysfunction and thankfully had maintained a watchful approach to catch it early.

My advice would be to live without fear but don’t live in total denial. Just take the necessary precautions and that includes watching for changes on your skin.

Newdawn

[LeoPa]

That's a very good article.In sync with what I know. Sunburn is bad, Sun exposure good. Get half an hour full body exposure when your shadow is as long as your height. Objective: maximum benefit coupled with minimal suntan. I get 1 hour of exposure daily this way. My winter complexion is milky white. Now I have a mild tan. Very mild, like almost none.