Early this spring, I lost my brother to Malignant Melanoma skin Cancer, because he didn't pay attention to a small cut that would not heal.  

We all have heard the medical news, and seen all the pictures of moles that change in size or color, and we all have started to look at our moles, but any sore or cut or even a blister that does not heal is just as important.

His cut didn't hurt, he said it was a thin looking cut, about 1-1/2 inches long on his thigh,, almost like a paper cut, that formed a thick looking scab that would come off and start again.  With no pain, no redness, so he didn't think much of it.

It was only when his jeans kept irritating it, that he decided to find out more about it.  At the doctor's office, the doctor took a sample of the scab, and within 2 days, my brother was having this area removed, but it was stage 4 malignant melanoma, and it had spread to vital organs. 

So, keeping this in mind, don't let ANY cut that doesn't heal properly go for longer than a week, even if it doesn't hurt, it is worth the visit to make sure, it could be a simple infection that can be treated, or something else.  He never once formed a mole, or had any moles on his body, just this cut, that he can't even remember getting.  He just noticed it in the shower once, but made the fatal mistake of ignoring it for months. He was busy, working double shifts, and just didn't think it was that important to take time off of work to get checked out. He was 48 years old.

So, of course the rest of his family, me and two more siblings, are getting our skin "mapped" which means a visit to a dermatologist, where you strip down and they look over every inch of your body and make a map, then a year or so later they do it again, to see if there are any changes.  This may seem like overkill, but when it has hit your family, your chances are higher.

But there are also other skin cancers to watch for that are not fatal, but can be disfiguring, so it doesn't hurt to get your skin mapped by a professional and then take care of your skin by using sunscreen and wearing a hat, and staying out of the hottest and sunniest part of the day between 10 - 2.  

If you were raised in the era I was, where sun protection was basically "tropical tanning lotion" or baby oil, then you really have to watch your skin, but it is never too late.  I shudder when I think about my teen years, where we would all get that "first burn" in order to tan the rest of the summer.

Take care of your skin, and an added bonus, is a lot less wrinkles when you are older!