Living in the country with high UV index when you have melanoma

[Dan55]

Hi,

My name is Daniel. Actually I am not Australian and I don't live in Australia, I am blond hair guy with white skin from Europe, but 8 years I lived in Thailand. In 2018 first time I was diagnosed that I have melanoma. I had 2 surgeries to cut the cancer sign (big black point on the chest)  and a few sentinel lymph nodes. For 4 years I have a rest from melanoma, I stayed in Thailand, however I was very careful about  sun (I used SPF 30 and 50, I didn't have any sun bath, I swam only in t-shirt, I avoid walking iunder sun between 10 am-4pm, diet etc.). 4 years was ok. Unfortunately 6-8 months ago cancer came back- I had horrible pain of my back, tumours on the head and other parts of the body, black and deep blue points. Now I have targeted therapy in cancer which gives great effects- tumours and pain in back disappeared, I feel much better. I am sure after a few months I will be fine.

I am writing in your comunity forum because I heard in Australia melanoma cancer is often case and there is hot climate, high UV (just like in Thailand) almost all year. So I would like   to ask Australian people who have or had in the past melanoma cancer:

- how do you manage yourself in the hot weather, when UV is 10 or more? I mean how can you work, live, exist in the hot weather, sunny days if you have or had melanoma cancer ?

- how do you protect yourself from skin cancer in Australia ?

- what could you reccomand me, advise me from your experience?

I don't hide your answers can help me very much. I am sure if there are people with melanoma who have normal life in country with the high UV index and hot climate, and they can exist there, I can use the same paterns. Because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in some cool country, far from Thailand and happy life what I had there.

Thank you for your replies,

Best regards,

Daniel

[sch]

Hi Daniel,

I'm sorry to hear about your problems with melanoma.

Different individuals will take a different approach to managing the risk of UV and skin cancer.

Personally I try to avoid being directly out in the sun while at full strength (sun directly over head).

If I am, I wear long sleeve tops, hat and sun screen.

Historically in Australia sunburn was normal and a part of summer. But that is slowly changing.

It's starting to become normal to wear long top clothing while swimming and outside and regular application of sunscreen

Wishing you a long and healthy life!

[Susana_CCNSW]

Hi Dan55,

Thank you very much for reaching out and trying to find out more information about sun protection and melanoma in Australia.

I am sharing the following link with you about skin cancer facts and statistics, I hope you find some answers there.

https://www.sunsmart.com.au/skin-cancer/skin-cancer-facts-stats

https://wiki.cancer.org.au/skincancerstats/Main_Page

Kind regards

Susana 

Cancer Council

Online Community

Moderator

[Antan]

Sorry to hear about your skin cancer, it is a horrible thing. I do these things: sun protection from UV protective clothes (fabric 50spf UV protective), very wide hat, vitamin D3 everyday, niacinamide vitamin B3 everyday, blood group diet, stay out of sun 10 to 4 and also wear mask over lower face. I also am blonde and fair and skin cancer all appearing in my 50s. Grew up in sun. Stay positive and make the most of life, blondes also have fun!