Annie’s Mailbox: Get checked regularly for skin cancer

Dear Annie: I have just been diagnosed with melanoma. Fortunately, the preliminary test results look favorable.

I have many moles and tend to be vigilant about them. My melanoma is on my back – not a place that gets much sunlight and not easily seen. I made a trip to my family physician to have a small pink area on my face checked. The physician’s assistant did not seem well versed in skin issues and thought it was a bug bite. She said I could see a dermatologist for a follow-up, and I’m so glad I did. The little pink area was pre-cancerous, and as part of the exam, the doctor looked over my body and discovered the melanoma on my back.

Please remind your readers of the ABCDE symptoms of skin cancer: Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter, Evolving. I also suggest checking with one’s doctor early. – Always Be Concerned

Dear Always: Thank you for the warning. Skin cancer is on the rise and can be deadly. It is easily aggravated by overexposure to sunlight or tanning beds. We hope our readers will pay close attention to changes in color, size or shape of moles anywhere on their bodies. And wear sunscreen. We’d like to keep you around.

Dear Annie: Your response to “Need Your Opinion” was fine, but this woman, who says the “love of her life” is a drug addict who mooches off of his mother and yells at her when he drinks, needs therapy to help her understand why she is drawn to abusive men and how to break the cycle. The lesson she is teaching her daughter about adult relationships is harmful and potentially dangerous. And it wouldn’t hurt her to get tested for STDs. – Retired Therapist