› Forums › General Melanoma Community › vacationing in Mexico, should I get some color before I go?
- This topic has 39 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 11 months ago by Bob B..
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- April 25, 2012 at 1:23 pm
We will be vacationing in Mexico, a beach vacation, for 14 days. We are spending two days on a boat so will be very exposed to sun. Would it be a good idea to get 10 minutes of sun a day before I go, so that my skin has a little natural protection? I won't burn in 10 minutes, I will simply develop some protective color. I had melanoma years ago, earliest stage. I tried to find information on google but everything was conflicting.
We will be vacationing in Mexico, a beach vacation, for 14 days. We are spending two days on a boat so will be very exposed to sun. Would it be a good idea to get 10 minutes of sun a day before I go, so that my skin has a little natural protection? I won't burn in 10 minutes, I will simply develop some protective color. I had melanoma years ago, earliest stage. I tried to find information on google but everything was conflicting.
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- April 25, 2012 at 4:12 pm
A "base tan" is sun damage. No other words for it. The goal is to avoid color and a base tan defies that. I think it would be better just to cover up and/or reapply sunscreen OFTEN (every two hours at the minimum or more often if in the water). Most people don't apply enough sunblock or reapply often enough. Using blocks with a physical barrier (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are best for preventing UVA damage. You basically don't see UVA damage on the skin and it is the damage most implicated with melanoma.
You're asking this on a BB with people actively fighting melanoma so the tolerance for a "tan" is probably less than you might find elsewhere.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- April 26, 2012 at 1:20 am
UVB rays are the rays that cause "color". UVB causes the other forms of skin cancer. UVA is thought mostly responsible for melanoma. Certainly, bad burns increase your risk of melanoma, but any color raises your risks for skin cancer. Having had a melanoma already, you are also at higher risk for the other skin cancers as well as another melanoma. You get to make your own choices about sun exposure, but I'd do a little more research on a "safe tan" if I was you. Have a good trip!
Best wishes,
Janner
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- April 26, 2012 at 1:20 am
UVB rays are the rays that cause "color". UVB causes the other forms of skin cancer. UVA is thought mostly responsible for melanoma. Certainly, bad burns increase your risk of melanoma, but any color raises your risks for skin cancer. Having had a melanoma already, you are also at higher risk for the other skin cancers as well as another melanoma. You get to make your own choices about sun exposure, but I'd do a little more research on a "safe tan" if I was you. Have a good trip!
Best wishes,
Janner
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- April 26, 2012 at 1:20 am
UVB rays are the rays that cause "color". UVB causes the other forms of skin cancer. UVA is thought mostly responsible for melanoma. Certainly, bad burns increase your risk of melanoma, but any color raises your risks for skin cancer. Having had a melanoma already, you are also at higher risk for the other skin cancers as well as another melanoma. You get to make your own choices about sun exposure, but I'd do a little more research on a "safe tan" if I was you. Have a good trip!
Best wishes,
Janner
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- May 4, 2012 at 6:28 am
Strictly from personal experience growing up on the beach in Southern California, living most of my life in the tropics (Brazil, Costa Rica), ozone hole/high melanoma areas like SW Australia- you already know what I think. As I've confessed, I know next to nothing about melanoma. That is, other than two primaries the last two years and the recent biopsies revealing malignancies of one kind or another. For this reason and because I've been 'burned' in a quite different way for doing so, I'm reluctant to venture an opinion. Strictly from my own experience again, I continue to feel concern about regular, moderate sun exposure is nonsense. Sorry. If it helps assuage anger at the tyro Stage 1 with the temerity to speak out, it's just my opinion. Take it or leave it.
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- May 4, 2012 at 6:28 am
Strictly from personal experience growing up on the beach in Southern California, living most of my life in the tropics (Brazil, Costa Rica), ozone hole/high melanoma areas like SW Australia- you already know what I think. As I've confessed, I know next to nothing about melanoma. That is, other than two primaries the last two years and the recent biopsies revealing malignancies of one kind or another. For this reason and because I've been 'burned' in a quite different way for doing so, I'm reluctant to venture an opinion. Strictly from my own experience again, I continue to feel concern about regular, moderate sun exposure is nonsense. Sorry. If it helps assuage anger at the tyro Stage 1 with the temerity to speak out, it's just my opinion. Take it or leave it.
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- May 4, 2012 at 6:28 am
Strictly from personal experience growing up on the beach in Southern California, living most of my life in the tropics (Brazil, Costa Rica), ozone hole/high melanoma areas like SW Australia- you already know what I think. As I've confessed, I know next to nothing about melanoma. That is, other than two primaries the last two years and the recent biopsies revealing malignancies of one kind or another. For this reason and because I've been 'burned' in a quite different way for doing so, I'm reluctant to venture an opinion. Strictly from my own experience again, I continue to feel concern about regular, moderate sun exposure is nonsense. Sorry. If it helps assuage anger at the tyro Stage 1 with the temerity to speak out, it's just my opinion. Take it or leave it.
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- April 25, 2012 at 4:12 pm
A "base tan" is sun damage. No other words for it. The goal is to avoid color and a base tan defies that. I think it would be better just to cover up and/or reapply sunscreen OFTEN (every two hours at the minimum or more often if in the water). Most people don't apply enough sunblock or reapply often enough. Using blocks with a physical barrier (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are best for preventing UVA damage. You basically don't see UVA damage on the skin and it is the damage most implicated with melanoma.
You're asking this on a BB with people actively fighting melanoma so the tolerance for a "tan" is probably less than you might find elsewhere.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- April 25, 2012 at 4:12 pm
A "base tan" is sun damage. No other words for it. The goal is to avoid color and a base tan defies that. I think it would be better just to cover up and/or reapply sunscreen OFTEN (every two hours at the minimum or more often if in the water). Most people don't apply enough sunblock or reapply often enough. Using blocks with a physical barrier (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are best for preventing UVA damage. You basically don't see UVA damage on the skin and it is the damage most implicated with melanoma.
You're asking this on a BB with people actively fighting melanoma so the tolerance for a "tan" is probably less than you might find elsewhere.
Best wishes,
Janner
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- April 25, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Hi!
I am thinking about summer vacations as well. My husnabds#'s parents live in Cyprus ,and it is very hot and sunny in where.
I do know about all protection I need,but I am so scared ,I even think do not go at all. Is it best option do not go to sunny countries ?
Natasha
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- April 25, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Hi!
I am thinking about summer vacations as well. My husnabds#'s parents live in Cyprus ,and it is very hot and sunny in where.
I do know about all protection I need,but I am so scared ,I even think do not go at all. Is it best option do not go to sunny countries ?
Natasha
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- April 25, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Hi!
I am thinking about summer vacations as well. My husnabds#'s parents live in Cyprus ,and it is very hot and sunny in where.
I do know about all protection I need,but I am so scared ,I even think do not go at all. Is it best option do not go to sunny countries ?
Natasha
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- April 26, 2012 at 1:24 am
I don't agree. If you change your plans because of melanoma, then it has already won! I do what I want in life, then try to do it smarter. If I go to somewhere sunny, I just make sure I have sun clothing and sun block. Then I go have fun! I give melanoma the respect it deserves and then I do what I want.
Janner
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- April 26, 2012 at 1:24 am
I don't agree. If you change your plans because of melanoma, then it has already won! I do what I want in life, then try to do it smarter. If I go to somewhere sunny, I just make sure I have sun clothing and sun block. Then I go have fun! I give melanoma the respect it deserves and then I do what I want.
Janner
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- April 26, 2012 at 1:24 am
I don't agree. If you change your plans because of melanoma, then it has already won! I do what I want in life, then try to do it smarter. If I go to somewhere sunny, I just make sure I have sun clothing and sun block. Then I go have fun! I give melanoma the respect it deserves and then I do what I want.
Janner
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- April 26, 2012 at 9:32 am
Thank you , Janner!
You said in previuos posts ,melanoma increase risk of another cancers.
It is interesting question for me . My melanoma was on the breast ,so I spoke with my Doc about breast or another cancers possibility ,and he says it is no correlation between one cancer and another,
Sometimes it seems to me my Doctor just very kind and polite and sometimes he says what I want to hear.Or am I wrong ?
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- April 26, 2012 at 12:53 pm
There are studies that suggest some correlation between melanoma and breast cancer but it's been a long time since I've looked at the data. People who have a genetic defect for melanoma are at higher risk for other cancers, too. But the cancers I was referring to in my posts were Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). These are the other common skin cancers. Once you've had melanoma, your risk for both these other skin cancers increases. And while they may not seem like a big deal to most, they can cause a lot of tissue destruction and removal can be disfiguring. BCC lacks the ability to metastasize, but SCC can. I know people whose scars for removal of these types of cancer are larger than their WLE's for melanoma.
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- April 26, 2012 at 12:53 pm
There are studies that suggest some correlation between melanoma and breast cancer but it's been a long time since I've looked at the data. People who have a genetic defect for melanoma are at higher risk for other cancers, too. But the cancers I was referring to in my posts were Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). These are the other common skin cancers. Once you've had melanoma, your risk for both these other skin cancers increases. And while they may not seem like a big deal to most, they can cause a lot of tissue destruction and removal can be disfiguring. BCC lacks the ability to metastasize, but SCC can. I know people whose scars for removal of these types of cancer are larger than their WLE's for melanoma.
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- April 26, 2012 at 12:53 pm
There are studies that suggest some correlation between melanoma and breast cancer but it's been a long time since I've looked at the data. People who have a genetic defect for melanoma are at higher risk for other cancers, too. But the cancers I was referring to in my posts were Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). These are the other common skin cancers. Once you've had melanoma, your risk for both these other skin cancers increases. And while they may not seem like a big deal to most, they can cause a lot of tissue destruction and removal can be disfiguring. BCC lacks the ability to metastasize, but SCC can. I know people whose scars for removal of these types of cancer are larger than their WLE's for melanoma.
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- April 26, 2012 at 9:32 am
Thank you , Janner!
You said in previuos posts ,melanoma increase risk of another cancers.
It is interesting question for me . My melanoma was on the breast ,so I spoke with my Doc about breast or another cancers possibility ,and he says it is no correlation between one cancer and another,
Sometimes it seems to me my Doctor just very kind and polite and sometimes he says what I want to hear.Or am I wrong ?
-
- April 26, 2012 at 9:32 am
Thank you , Janner!
You said in previuos posts ,melanoma increase risk of another cancers.
It is interesting question for me . My melanoma was on the breast ,so I spoke with my Doc about breast or another cancers possibility ,and he says it is no correlation between one cancer and another,
Sometimes it seems to me my Doctor just very kind and polite and sometimes he says what I want to hear.Or am I wrong ?
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- April 26, 2012 at 11:21 am
I agree with Janner. Don't let melanoma run your life. If you want to go someplace sunny on vacation, then go. We went to Jamaica last November and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We did go to the beach, which had ample shade that we took advantage of. Our beach time generally was from 10:30 – noon-ish and/or 3:00-4:30. Basically we tried to avoid the beach when the sun was at its peak. Even with all the shade we had, I still wore sunblock. I went swimming, I snorkeled — no way was I not going to enjoy myself. I went home as lily-white as when I arrived…LOL.
If you go someplace sunny on vacation, you need to be smart about it: bring sun block, wear a hat, wear sun clothing, stay in the shade when possible, and above all, have a good time!
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- April 26, 2012 at 11:21 am
I agree with Janner. Don't let melanoma run your life. If you want to go someplace sunny on vacation, then go. We went to Jamaica last November and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We did go to the beach, which had ample shade that we took advantage of. Our beach time generally was from 10:30 – noon-ish and/or 3:00-4:30. Basically we tried to avoid the beach when the sun was at its peak. Even with all the shade we had, I still wore sunblock. I went swimming, I snorkeled — no way was I not going to enjoy myself. I went home as lily-white as when I arrived…LOL.
If you go someplace sunny on vacation, you need to be smart about it: bring sun block, wear a hat, wear sun clothing, stay in the shade when possible, and above all, have a good time!
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- April 26, 2012 at 11:21 am
I agree with Janner. Don't let melanoma run your life. If you want to go someplace sunny on vacation, then go. We went to Jamaica last November and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We did go to the beach, which had ample shade that we took advantage of. Our beach time generally was from 10:30 – noon-ish and/or 3:00-4:30. Basically we tried to avoid the beach when the sun was at its peak. Even with all the shade we had, I still wore sunblock. I went swimming, I snorkeled — no way was I not going to enjoy myself. I went home as lily-white as when I arrived…LOL.
If you go someplace sunny on vacation, you need to be smart about it: bring sun block, wear a hat, wear sun clothing, stay in the shade when possible, and above all, have a good time!
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