Shooting after skin cancer

[mousegunner]

So I'm in the initial stages of finding out I have squamous cell carcinoma according to the biopsy. Started as a patch of dry skin over the eyebrow that started to itch. Seeing a surgeon in a couple weeks.

Anyhoo, not looking for medical advice (don't want the thread locked) but if you had skin cancer, did it stop you from shooting? I can do indoor range for pistols, covered line for rifle but till I see the surgeon I'm wondering what's next for me.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Been there and I've got an appointment for another one now. I had to have some minor plastic surgery and skin graft for mine but it wasn't bad at all. It was on my arm though and not near my eye, but was pretty big and fast growing. The wife had a small one removed near her eye a couple of years back by Mohs(sp) procedure and never had any problem with it or since, thankfully. Catch it early and I doubt you'll have any lasting issues with it. Hope not anyway.

 

[durand mortenson]

I worked in the woods and spent many years exposed to the sun and had skin cancer show up twice. I see a dermatologist at least once a year since the first episode and it doesn't keep me indoors. I plaster on the sunscreen and wear a wear a loose wide brim hat that I can adjust. If you watch and catch it early there should be no problem.

Mort

 

[K22]

I had it on the side of my face near the left ear and it took about a week after they cut it out before I could wear earmuffs. I caught mine in the early stages, so the surgery was fairly minor.

I am sure the many years of varmint hunting in the summer sun had something to do with me getting it. Now I wear a wide rim hat, apply lots of sunscreen and will even use a towel to cover my head when direct sun in unavoidable while hunting ground hogs. You should see that - a real wild look for sure!

 

[Alguapo]

Big floppy brimmed hats are your friend. Long sleeve shirts. My favorites are from Sams Club fishing shirts. And yes I've had the skin cancer removed from my face, I'm in every 6 months to get looked at.

 

[M-61]

As of now 4 different types. All a result of Agent Orange exposure. Been since 1991 the first was discovered. Roughly 75 operations and procedures on my face. Over 175 on my forearms. Big numbers. I never stopped shooting. Nor did anyone tell me too.

 

[mousegunner]

I did a lot of walking and patrolling in west Texas in the sun but always wore a hat, no sunscreen to speak of but that was over 30 years ago. As i moved up to management I spent more time indoors on evening or midnight shifts so it wasn't like I was always in the sun.

If I know my wife she'll want me to live like a vampire with no going out in the sunlight. Too bad there's no night range out here.

 

[LHSmith]

I get checked every 3 months due to my history. Been seeing a dermatologist since the early 90's for AK. Doc retired and I did not go for 2 years. Developed Squamous in my forearm and required a rather large skin graft. came back in an adjacent area but quickly had it removed. Later had Squamous removed from back of neck. I get LIN treatments every visit and have to use that radiation in a tube stuff occasionally. Oldest son just had squamous removed from top of head. I shoot as much as ever, although I try to use sunscreen, wide brim hats, but in reality the damage has already been done. DON"T let a lesion go unaddressed.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

As of now 4 different types. All a result of Agent Orange exposure. Been since 1991 the first was discovered. Roughly 75 operations and procedures on my face. Over 175 on my forearms. Big numbers. I never stopped shooting. Nor did anyone tell me too.

Those welps look too familiar. I was taking a strong anti-biotic and got a bad sunburn while on them. Had no good choice. I got welps like that and the trauma they caused to the skin..well, those same spots are coming back to bite me big it appears. 3 for 3 cancerous so far.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

FWIW, Amazon and I'm sure other places, carries some inexpensive elastic like sleeves like you see some athletes wear. I thought they'd burn me up but they're actually for keeping you cool and they cover your skin. I suggest them to anyone prone to skin cancers.
And trust me, a bad sunburn on anti-biotics is not a minor thing. I wish I had known how serious a sunburn could become before that day(s).

 

[butchlambert]

I've fought it for many years, but have a good skin Doc. I've had several procedures, primarily on the face. I'm 81 yrs old and still shooting.

 

[M-61]

Those welps look too familiar. I was taking a strong anti-biotic and got a bad sunburn while on them. Had no good choice. I got welps like that and the trauma they caused to the skin..well, those same spots are coming back to bite me big it appears. 3 for 3 cancerous so far.

Unfortunately ( or fortunately) the picture doesn’t do it justice. Of all the biopsies one has been non cancerous. Of course with agent orange this is the least of my concerns.
I usually wear a long sleeve shirt. Not for protection but so I don’t have people staring at my arms. The up side is my face. Each surgery is like a face lift. Not a wrinkle on this face and as you might guess, being a Vietnam vet I actually not a kid. (Anymore!)
And I’ve only become a better shooter with age. Was a time it was all these old men beat me. Now I’m one of them.
(100 yards bench rest)

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Unfortunately ( or fortunately) the picture doesn’t do it justice. Of all the biopsies one has been non cancerous. Of course with agent orange this is the least of my concerns.
I usually wear a long sleeve shirt. Not for protection but so I don’t have people staring at my arms. The up side is my face. Each surgery is like a face lift. Not a wrinkle on this face and as you might guess, being a Vietnam vet I actually not a kid. (Anymore!)
And I’ve only become a better shooter with age. Was a time it was all these old men beat me. Now I’m one of them.
(100 yards bench rest)

Just take precautions anytime you're gonna be outside. I don't see why shooting should stop at all, other than maybe a few days to a week for surgery. I covered mine and shot. The last one...when it took off, it really took off growing. It got to be about the size of a silver dollar before surgery.

Maybe dumb but I am who I am. I do things outside. When I can't do those things, just shoot me.

 

[K22]

Just take precautions anytime you're gonna be outside. I don't see why shooting should stop at all, other than maybe a few days to a week for surgery. I covered mine and shot. The last one...when it took off, it really took off growing. It got to be about the size of a silver dollar before surgery.

Maybe dumb but I am who I am. I do things outside. When I can't do those things, just shoot me.

Be yourself, everyone else is taken.

I'll gladly join you on the opposite end of the firing line rather than go into a nursing home.

 

[M-61]

There are good times and then not so good.
That’s why the long sleeve shirt. It’s not contagious.

 

[birdog]

I had Mose surgery on nose and a melanoma or carcinoma on my back that my my dermatologist sent me to a general surgeon to remove bacause he said a compete layer (deep) of skin had to be removed. I have another Mose surgery scheduled this month for a spot under my ear. I have use the 5 F U, 5% Fluouracil cream to treat a one inch strip under my eye on cheek bone that had thickened up. It returned to normal. I have had numerous pre-cancer spots frozen
Not to worried about my skin cancers compared to my bladder cancer in 2013. Had to have bladder removed. Kinda inconvenience, but you learn to live without the bladder.

 

[cmysix]

fishing in the tropics, they make sun cloth for every part of the body, wide brim hats. long sleeve sun shirts, hand sleeves and the bandito wrap for the face just like people wore during covid, cooler then you think.

 

[Fclassfool]

Sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat continue shooting

 

[M-61]

I had Mose surgery on nose and a melanoma or carcinoma on my back that my my dermatologist sent me to a general surgeon to remove

MOHS surgery is done by a surgeon.
Humans have 3 layers of skin. Once the surgeon removes what is the tumor it is frozen and bisected to determine if he has cut back to clear tissue. Usually determined while you wait.
Caution with creams, to insure it is not cumulative.
I’m not an MD

 

[Dave M.]

FWIW, Amazon and I'm sure other places, carries some inexpensive elastic like sleeves like you see some athletes wear. I thought they'd burn me up but they're actually for keeping you cool and they cover your skin. I suggest them to anyone prone to skin cancers.
And trust me, a bad sunburn on anti-biotics is not a minor thing. I wish I had known how serious a sunburn could become before that day(s).

I wear the white arm bands for fishing and playing softball to keep the sun off my arms because I’ve had several cancerous spots removed from them. They work great.