i went to my local GP about 3 months ago to look at a suss mole i had on my leg it started growing about the beginning of the year. he was a skin cancer "specialist" apparantly - no problem was his verdict come back in a year.
there's the old saying get a second opinion - so i did about 3 weeks ago. This time i went to the Australian skin cancer clinic, within 10 minutes of getting there the doctor was cutting the mole off my leg and inserting 10 stitches.
i thought it would end there but he rings a week leter to let me know {after a biopsy from the lab}that the mole was in fact a melanoma level 1 - this means it has penetrated my skin by more than 1mm but not more than 2mm.
he calls me back to his surgery {last week} for further removal of suspect area which has to be 1cm all around where the original surgery was. now i have 31 stitches in a "T" shaped scar to be. i am now anxiously awaiting the result of the 2nd biopsy report from the lab.
the mole itself wasn't huge or any unusal shape,though it did become a little itchy - the reason why i went to the cancer clinic in the end.
do yourself a favour and go every six months- ring 1300 136 600 as they are Australia wide ,it costs nothing, don't trust them? "Get A Second Opinion" or even a third you have a problem if all the doctors tell you the same thing. there is a million websites that have info on Melanoma, have you seen the advert on TV?
with the amount of time kiters can spend on the water, you have be to alert.the VERY WORST type you can get is in your eye!! buy sunnies obviously that's a start
anyone who rings 1300 136 600 and finds they have a melanoma and has it removed before it advances to levels 2,3 or 4 owes me a case of beer every year for life. if it has gone to level 4.....i shudder to think
dark black moles are what they are looking for mostly but they can be all colours. if you have one that is itchy pick up the phone.
i'll be kiting again in a month or so, look for me i'll be wearing a steamer in the middle of summer, sunnies and an inch of zinc on my face......
I'll second that Chronic.
After spending my childhood smothered in cooking oil and believing that if I hadn't "peeled" at least two or three times during school holidays I hadn't had a good time, I now have very frequent visits to the clinic for a "chop session"
Like you, I now always wear a wettie, sunnies and a helmet. Gets plenty of giggles but hey - life is good. Sure beats the alternative !!!! 
Fitzy - Gold Coast OZ
That Sux! Ive been meaning to do tha for ages! Might have to pull my finger out and get it done. Hope it all ends up all clear for you guys. Ive even heard of a guy who got melanoma on the sole of his foot! how the hell does that work!
Yep, Couldn't agree more Chronic. I had another Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) removed from the corner of my eye before the start of summer and I am due to go again for another checkup.
I hope it all works out OK for you. Go get checked people. 
Good winds,
Awesome post chronic... I really didnt like the guy that checked my mole, he was really stubborn and I literally I had to INSIST that he take a photo of a suspect mole (black whitespots and itchy wtf...). I have worked in the sun my whole life originally starting my career as a lifeguard both my parents have had melenomas and at 28 and spending majority of my life in the sun or burnt you have inspired me to go and get a second checkup. Any bad results ill take u up on that beer offer 
great post chronic ...have been putting off getting a lump on the scone checked, just made appointment for this avo. Thanks for the prompt.
I've been thinking about this for ages, what beer you like Chronic? as i made a booking today for next week. DD
Hurry up and get better we have some serious kiting to do down the coast over the Christmas break.
Green Island here we come, and if your not wearing your steamer Im going to kick your ass.
Had a nasty level 1 removed from my eye lid. Be safer than sorry.
Get em checked.
Good luck with the recovery
got the results of my second biopsy today ......negative !!!
a full on relief to myself and to my wife who has been "off chops" since the first op some three weeks ago.
Echo - the mole i had WAS itchy - best you go and get a second check up as it sounds like you may be shouting me a case or two! i'll be in Perth in Feb so i'm happy to come and pick it up i do hope that this is not the case.
to all of you reading this do yourself a favour and RING- 1300 136 600 Australia wide and get a free check up. keep it to yourself so as not to worry loved ones as its harder for them than yourself,as i have now learnt.
to the guys that promised themselves a check up i hope it went well and haven't had themselves carved up
danza and darkside...when is the green island to ulla downwinder happening give us a few weeks won't you
since no one has sent me a case yet i went and bought my own
Bad signs in a mole:
size > 6 mm = very high risk of melanotic change already
irregular "moth eaten edge"- sign of the spread radially outwards
bleeding, ulcerating = abnormal skin healing
dark irregular pigments
more than 1 colour - esp if white, white blue "veil" (= scarring) , black, browns
recent CHANGE
family history of melanoma= 4 x own risk of melanoma
Generally:
safe sun time in QLD (no sunscreen)= 11minutes- Tasmania=59 minutes.
Sunscreen with SPF of 30= 30 x11minutes safe time - reduced by water.
Always apply 1/2 hr before- best is hamiltons quadblock or sunsense- has reflective titanium
polarized sunglasses will prevent retinal melanoma, cataract and pterygium (.recent retinal melanoma reported in 35 y,o kiter-metastatic into liver lung bone on presentation)
significant is skin type, family history, and exposure to burns before 15 y.o- bad burns can double the risk of later melanoma (can take 20 years)
very very treatable by wide margin (>1 cm) excision, but only if caught EARLY, before deep extension
Examination guide:
If the Doctor doesn't look at it with either a dermatoscope (small lighted magnifyer which needs a drop of oil on skin to aid view of pigment layer of the skin) or a macro camera, generally he isn't getting enough info to judge the bad ones from the good.
Skin clinics are ok, dermatologists much better, but both can get it wrong- regular checks (6 to 12 monthly) reduces this risk.
Some melanomas are obvious to the naked eye- most early changes of melanoma (pigment distribution, network, veil etc etc ) aren't.
If in doubt push for excision- all excisions should be sent to the path lab for microscopic examination (essential), and usu takes 5 days for a result.
Good luck....
p.s. skin specialist= dermatologist= 5 yrs extra training in skin.
"skin clinics" are ex-gp's with an interest and variable extra training (usu only "on-the-job" training/experience)
if you don't need a referral they are not dermatologists and therefore not technically "skin specialists"
Only the good die young
Great news for all your loved ones
Got a 25km down windder in Wa if your up for it.
good one Joe awesome info you put down
seems a lot of people know absolutly nothing and only a few know the real consequences and symptoms.
"Always apply 1/2 hr before- best is hamiltons quadblock or sunsense- has reflective titanium"-------this bit so simple and obvious!
but whoever puts on sunscreen half an hour before. everyone pulls up,pumps up their kite,lays out lines and wack on sunscreen,2 mins later in the water.some put the sunscreen on then pump up etc and hit the water like 10mins later
have heard that zinc oxide {good old faithful zinc cream} is not so good- can anyone shed any light on this?
good on ya darkside planning just a short downwinder
It is also important to realise that a small percentage of melanomas occur on non sun exposed skin. They can occur underneath nails, between toes and other hidden places.
It is rare but it does happen.
Hi Chronic, zinc oxide is better than titanium at absorbing uv light. It does extra uv absorption than titanium- only problem is it is harder to get adequate coverage. It will work best on the worst sun affected areas, eg across the nose and cheeks.
water sunglasses (wiley x polarising sg-1 goggles are shotgun impact resistant, so perfect for kiteing), long sleeve rashies and hats (no exposure is safer than sunscreened exposure), and sunscreen up when loading the car with the kite gear.
I bought one of those stupid but effective chin strap hats, and will start wearing it when the urge to hit myself fades!
You would probably already know this, but you need 3 monthly skin checks for about 1-2 years now that you have had a melanoma .
Also encourage your brother/sister to have regular checks- they are at higher risk because of your melanoma.
Hi, Loud
Identifying and treating skin cancer , esp melanoma, requires extra training.
The training skin clinic Dr's have is variable, and less extensive, whereas dermatologists have a formalised training which is checked through examinations.
Skin cancer can be dealth with by either, but I prefer to trust the training that the dermo's have done. Skin clinics do provide an excellent immediate service in most cases though. (often dermo's can take months to see)
"skin clinics are ok " reflects the variability in diagnosis and treatment that is possible from the skin cancer clinics.
I work as a Dr on the Gold Coast, and my advice is based on first hand experience.
Hi Loud, we've got one of our guys here doing the masters from UQ, and I really like the idea of this subspecialty training. Skin cancer is a small subject, compared to dermatology and these courses should cover it easily.
I agree that skin cancer clinics can deal with skin cancer effectively in the majority. What I don't like is the cut for profit approach I have seen here on the Gold Coast. It is good to see accreditation regulating the skin cancer clinic proliferation, so that there is less of the profiteering at the less reputable end of the business.
I would be interested in seeing your blogsite, if you could send me a pm.
Hey All - Love the direction this post has gone - I have BCC's removed regularly - I love being a fair skinned person...
One thing I have noticed in the short time I have is that no-one uses shades on the beach - and heaps of us are still in short sleeves.
It doesn't take that much to throw up a shade - the shade hut doesn't even have poles - the Sun Shade I just got from Ray's Outdoor just opens when you frisbee it to the sand... you have to learn how to put it back into the bag though - I broke mine first time around - luckily they swapped it out for me...
Also there are heaps of long sleeved 50+ shirts that are not too hot to wear and look cool.... Rip Curl, Quicksilver, etc.....
Believe me $150 worth of shade and a long sleeved salt proof shirt is a small price to pay for avoiding the knife....
Top post to Joe Spencer - good work.
couple of ?'s...
1) sunnies ? Are high UV protection (say 95%) unpolarized as good as same level UV protection polarized ? I prefer unpolarised for kiting but not if it increases risk.
2) are you suggesting that choice of sunscreen should be limited to those with titanium in the list ? At least one brand I have used doesnt have titanium but is still 30+.
and BTW (may be just gossip?? - dont want to tread on any toes here; but) I have heard of two potentially disasterous scenarios from those streetside clinics that offer to check/scan moles. One may have been preventable had minor preventative action been taken before test results came back. The other either mixed up or lost the test results 
. Dermatologist sounds good to me. At least till the clinics are regulated.
Hi puppet,
called an optometrist friend for the question about the sunnies, and the apparently it only matters for eye cancer, cataract, macular degeneration if there is 100% uv block (=australian standard) Polarizing reduces glare, but doesn't improve prevention of the nasties. It does reduce pterygium incidence though (benign fleshy growths on the white sclera)
for the sunscreen you do get more protection from the addition of the titanium- it provides a reflective as well as absorptive barrier. microfine titanium is in sunsense (=skin doesn't appear white after application), and larger titanium molecules in hamilton's quadblock (skin appears white after application.)-sorry don't know if there is extra benefit from micro or macro titanium- will try to find out though.
Anecdotally i have seen enough skin clinic problems to prefer the dermos. The biggest problem is their recruiting, and I have worked with skin cancer clinic guys that are excellent, but also with guys who aren't up to standard. I think regulation will raise their bar significantly. For now I use dermos, or only skin clinic Dr's I know i can trust.
hope this helps
Melanomas can vary greatly in the way they look.
The first sign of a melanoma is usually a change in an existing freckle or mole or the appearance of a new spot.
The change may be in:
* Colour: blotchy with a wide variety of colours, such as brown, black, blue, red, white and/or light grey.
* Size: begins to, or keeps getting, larger.
* Shape: irregular edge (scalloped or notched). If a line was drawn through the middle of the melanoma, the two sides would not match up. It may increase in height or become scaly.
Changes are normally noticed over several weeks or months rather than days.
Went to the skin cancer "chopshop" near chatswood today. good news no problems
Thanks Chronic for inspiring me to go as i have been wondering.I'm back for yearly check ups so i can see my kids grow old. so you don't get a case every year for life from me, but i'm going to get you one anyway see my pm later.
Zinc oxide btw is banned is heaps of scandanvian countries from sale. google it and you'll see there is actually no real reason.Unless of course this is another tobacco conspirosy
And just what type of sunnies should i wear? I picked up a pair of Bolles on ebay will these do. I guess wearing anything is better than nothing
Avoid buying sunnies from Bali etc. They do not meet australian standards, and are often worse for your eyes.
They cause your pupil to dilate (get bigger) and allows more light in. But the lense only makes it darker, doesnt stop the uv rays etc. Your eyes will get more rooted due to more uv than normal getting through.
Not sure about polarised sunnies being different. But if you buy in austalia (even kmart etc) they have to by law pass the same standards. I got my kiting sunnies from bigw. Polarised for 30 bucks. Got a little rope thing to hold em on. If i lose the lot im down $45. No biggie. Id rather look like a tosser, than not be able to look at all.
got my 31 stiches taken out today,another two weeks healing and i can be back kiting. was going to put up a pic of the dotors work,but its a little grusome so i won't, just hit yourself twice with an axe in a T shape cut that's about the same result
i got two brothers, one managed to drag himself along to a doc.yep he had a few "bits" chopped from him as well.
its takes 10 minutes to get checked, to be sure, get two opinions. nothing worse if i had to say to you as your karking it of melanoma "i told ya to go" it won't kill you to go but not going might.....
just wondering if anyone has been to the doc since reading this,i'm sure the guys who posted have by now.
and thanks to Dicko who has made a promise of a case of beer!
On ya chronic.....had my check up 1 removal 1 biopsy all clear. Thanks for the wake up call.
Yea just got my eyes checked,all good after years of abuse
And made an appointment at the skin shop cause I wanna be around a lot longer
Great topic and posts. Mine is a little long winded but I think worth reading.
My background is years of "sun wreckless" surfing since I was a kid until I was about 25 and now 15 years of "sun responsible" surfing and kiting all with fair skin. This has resulted in 8 or so BCCs cut out, several smaller bccs treated sucessfully with Aldara and Effidux, two SCCs cut out, these are potentially fatal, and dozens of solar keratoses treated with liquid nitrogen.
Over the years, my first treatment was at 20, I have had some less than satisfactory treatment from both GPs and Dermos but after my years of experience as a patient I know my stuff well enough to get the treatment I want. I have never been to a mole/skin cancer clinic so can't comment on them.
My treatment I have now is a 6 monthly check up with a dermo by GP referral, or IMMEDIATELY if "something" appears, which includes checking soles of feet and my scalp. I am not bald but have highish peaks and have always been a little thinner on the crown but not one dermo ever checked my scalp until after getting my first SCC on my back a few years ago and learning of the potentially disatrous outcome of them on the scalp I now ask the dermos to check my scalp routinely.
Incidentally my first SCC was diagnosed as a cycst by a dermo who made an appoinment to come back in a few weeks to review it. It almost doubled in size over the next few days and became quite painful. I called the dermo office and was told there was no availability until my own appointment and to wait until then, I said I would be there in 1/2 an hour and would leave after I had seen someone, which I did. It was diagnosed properly then and they cut it out that day but the surgery was botched, which is another story, and I now have a scar on my back which is 3-4 times the size it should have been if treated properly when I first went in. And this is after an expensive revision by a plastic surgeon. I haven't been back to that dermo and I now get all my cutting done by a good plastic surgeon.
I also now do a two yearly 4 week effidux treatment under my dermos guidance on high risk areas like face, forearms, thighs and backs of calves(from years of surfing). So far I have done my face and forearms which revealed and killed off a huge amount of infant growths below skin level and I reckon it took a few years off my complexion as well which was a bonus. I'm now onto my calves and then I'll do my thighs and then I'll be ready to start again.
In terms of kite surfing I always wear good sunnies, a surf cap with protective covers OVER the ears and not straps around them, a helmet if its nuking, good sunscreen on my face and neck, fingerless gloves(kiters get a huge amount of direct sun on the backs of hands), and a long john with long sleeve rashie underneath or a steamer if its cold.
Yeah I'm def not the coolest guy on the beach but I've got kids now and will hopefully be around for a few years yet to teach em how to surf and kite when they're older, with all the sun safe gear of course!
Safe kiting!!!
