Please don't open if you have a weak stomach.

I grew up on an Australian beach in a time when skin cancer didn't really exist. We would bake on the beach in baby oil to get that all over lobster look and if you did want maximum protection from the sun, you could use a factor +2 coconut oil ( but that was only for pasty wimps ). Skin cancer numbers grew over the years and ad campaigns were introduced to try to make people aware of the dangers of sun damage. My daughter is now 21 and although I have lectured her time and time again, she still comes back from the beach with red skin and a new excuse. "I ran out of sun cream, the wind was blowing and it wasn't hot, I put on heaps it on but it washed off" etc ,etc. I didn't think anything would get through to her until the last night when I saw the look on her face when my bandage came off for the first time. She was gutted which in some way, turned this into a positive, if that makes sense somehow.



I can't recall any photos of us AI-ers on the forum without hats on so I know that I'm preaching to the converted, but if you have kids that don't seem to be getting the message, please feel free to show them this and hopefully the penny will drop that perhaps what Dad says does have some credibility.

Thank God with me, I'm one of the lucky ones, all is good, they got it all. The face never did look that crash hot to start with so the scars are the least of my problems. But to go from what was hardly noticeable to this in a couple of hours is still a bit of a shock. I'd really like to thank ChrisJ for putting me on the right track in helping me get it all sorted out.

Hats on fellas.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Crikey mate - you look like you had a run-in with a great white!

I recall in my much younger years getting so much sun that my skin would peel off in great sheets. Perhaps the only thing that saved me was my olive complexion... or pure bloody luck.

Now, I'm a lot more conscientious, and nag my kids constantly!

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Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

I too am a skin cancer survivor....
I had a Stage 3 melanoma and underwent a left ancillary dissection and all the required after treatment.

It's been nearly 15 years now and I am a religious wearer of sunscreen and own ALOT of Columbia sun gear and the single best product for beating the sun I have ever bought is an Australian product... My beloved Frillneck!

I still occasionally get out for too long unprotected, but not very often, especially when products like this,

Are available for under $10.

I do not know about you but when I was a kid these sun blocks were not available at all.... But they are now so cover up!

Glad you're on the mind.

Just made my appointment with derm yesterday. He removed two non-malignant cancers a few years ago and I am about a year late on a routine check. My sailing uniform is nylon long pants, wicking long sleeve shirts, wide brim hats and sun screen. I will occasionally take off the shirt when under the bimini on the mono or to take a swim. I'm guessing most of the damage has already been done.

So, do you plan to stay inside or just cover up as best you can? I've been outside my whole life and just can't see moving inside.

Ted

Slaughter, also meant to add, that ya got balls... not being terribly photogenic myself, I tend to avoid self-pics, so I admire your courage to show what you've been through.

Lake Mac is not that far from Port Mac... once I get my TI, I'd like to catch up with you sometime!

Cheers, Max

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Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

Pretty sure i will end up with some similar war wounds as in my younger days i would come home with skin falling off regularly. Hope your on the mend slaughter!

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Thanks fellas. It's interesting to note that this execution of my forehead is just from removing a BCC ( basel cell carcinoma ) which are about the safest cancer you can get. So god know how much cutting there is for something more serious. ( I can see some " That's not a cancer.....this is a cancer " type photos coming up ).
Anakritis, you mentioned your Frillneck ? I'm guessing it's a hat with flaps down on 3 sides am I right ? It funny but we don't call them that down here I don't think, in fact I don't know what we call them ! With a face like mine now, I'll be look'n around for Stringy's 'elephant man' hat with flaps on 4 sides.
Thanks also for the support Ted and Dave.
Max - anytime. How could I possibly pass up a ride on a TI. In fact I can see another Port Stephens trip coming up. Stringy now has his TI as well and I know Chris is keen to get back there. They are both on the Central Coast and Port Stephens would be about 1/2 way wouldn't it ?

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Well Slaughter, my first reaction to your title "Please don't open if you have a weak stomach", was, 'Hah! Those Australian guys are at it again!' When I opened the post, and saw the photo, I was thinking 'Geez, did a motor boat collide with his AI?' Then reading the post, realizing it was serious. Dang! Well I'm so glad they got it all Slaughter. You hear through the media, Australian sunshine is probably the worst for the skin. I'll be passing your post on to my daughter who frequents a tanning salon in the Winter. No doubt it will change her thoughts on tanning.

Growing up in N. Wisconsin, (yeeears ago) after the snow melted in May, my sisters and I would also pour on the baby oil and bake in the heat, and it was so cool to have a really dark tan. I've been lucky so far. Knowing I've damaged my skin in my younger years, when I'm out in the sun and at the beach that sunscreen goes on and so does the Coolibar shirts and hat. Here in the Pacific N.W. sunshine is limited in the Winter months and then it can really get you in the summer.

Heal quickly Slaughter. I have a feeling, in years to come, your grand kids are going to hear some really great, far fetched stories on what happened to Grampa's forehead.

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Fly'n C Lion

They certainly made sure they got it all.
Hope you recover quickly and get back on the water soon.
Look at the positives. You'll be a walk up start for a role as Frankenstein.
I'll lend you my 'elephant man' hat.
Maybe you should wear it during your recovery so you don't scare little children.

It's my weight reduction program. I go once a year and they cut or freeze something off.

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I'm right 98% of the time. The other 3% I don't worry about.

Mate, bandanas look really cool

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I was waiting for flowers, Get Well cards and slabs of beer to arrive to help me in my recovery. But all I get is jokes about Frankenstein, weight loss and Bandannas. I spose I'll just have to accept the Aussie way of dealing with the grief of a mate in pain. (wouldn't have it any other way).

Fly'n C Lion - Try somehow to convince the girls to give up the tanning salons. There are so many bad reports on them in this country that I think their days are numbered. And as far as stories for the grandkids, I'm was leaning towards the 'Great White attack whilst crossing Bass Strait' but I think I'll go for the 'fight with a croc whilst rescuing a couple of panicking AI sailors who joked at me once when I was in pain'.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Slaughter...
Removing a carcinoma is allot like simply cutting out the "orneriness"! I am glad you are doing well!

The Frillneck hats I am speaking of can be found here...http://www.frillneck.com.au/catalog/ind ... Path=25_37

This is the first model I purchased for Kayaking... Safety orange, I want to be seen on the water... LOL!

I will be purchasing a third hat in a few weeks. The folks there are polite and helpful and shipping is lightening fast and their prices are reasonable.
These hats are so versatile that I can scarcely imagine doing yard work without mine... Awesome product! (shameless advertising plug)

Thanks for that Anakritis. All is going good so far. The photo was taken on the first day before the swelling and bruising kicked in. The biggest enemy at the moment is infection so I'm a bit of a recluse at the moment.
I thought that's what you were talking about with the Frillneck. Some of the schools here even have a modified version as part of their school uniform. I use a broad brim hat instead but I think I may now get one as a back up. I couldn't find them in the shops so I'll certainly check out the web site. Thanks again.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Slaughter
My first reaction was shock!!
Looks like you've been slaughtered
I'm sitting in the lounge room using the Home Theatre PC to write this. My wife has just come home and sat down for lunch - reckoned it didn't go down too well with it.
You could be a walking advert for what not to do - but hey - we all did it
Glad to hear that it was only a BCC. My dad grew up in Tonga and spent his entire childhood on the beach. In later life he had countless operations at RPA - particularly on his face. Almost lost an eye and half his face but was saved from this fate by the skill of the professor.
Unfortunately our Hobies expose us to this risk and we all need to be extremely aware of the possible consequences of over exposure etc. Your post should go some way towards getting the message through.
Thanks for posting
BTW We look like coming up your way next March 21st to the 27th for Ulysses AGM. I'm not really that keen on m/cycles and thought we might bring up our "houseboat" and AI (or maybe TI if we decide to order one). It would be a great opportunity to take a look around your neck of the woods. I keep having flashbacks to Broughton Is

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008