Adapting Healthier Sun Habits After Skin Cancer
- Captain Jason Chambers, 52, who stars on the reality series Below Deck Down Under filmed on luxury yachts at sea around Australia, is speaking out about the dangers of sun exposure after his skin cancer diagnosis, thinking it could never happen to him despite decades of sailing in the sun.
- After a friend shared about their own skin cancer diagnosis, Chambers decided it was time to get in to the doctor. He hadn’t had his skin checked in around five years. Thankfully, he got in just in time. The tiny brown spot over his left upper rib cage wound up being stage 2 melanoma.
- Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. But with melanoma, the cells change in a way that makes them able to spread to other organs. Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma. Staying ahead of a potential diagnosis with regular skin checks is the key to survival with this aggressive disease.
- Applying SPF 30 or higher sunscreen consistently while out in the sun, avoiding the sun all together or limiting exposure during peak hours, covering up with long sleeves, hats and sunglasses, are all ways to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. “Slip, slop, slap we call it in Australia,” Chambers says of now adopting some healthier habits. “We slip on a hat, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a shirt.”
Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, the Australia native said he has “been on the water for three decades now and I thought… that’s never going to be a problem. But it is a problem,” he said, admitting he had a certain “naivete” about ever having to face melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. He just didn’t think it would happen to him.
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Additionally, Chambers, who is the youngest captain in the Below Deck franchise and has experience sailing around Indonesia, the Philippines, along with his native Australia, said he had some “intuition” about his health. “It just felt different in my body.”
He had a tiny brown spot over his left upper rib cage. After getting it removed, he found out it was a stage 2 melanoma.
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At that point, the father said he “started researching and [questioned] how was I so naïve? How did I not just see a dermatologist every year prior?”
“That process was just so upsetting,” he added. Thankfully, after removal, his doctor was able to clear margins, and though he has a scar as long as his pinky finger for a reminder, he is going to be okay, as stage 2 means the cancer is still considered “local” and hasn’t spread, according to the American Cancer Society, and typically does not involve chemotherapy.
RELATED: You’ve Been Diagnosed with Melanoma, Now What’s Your Stage?
Chambers said he has another follow-up in a few weeks and has committed to regular skin checks from now on. Plus, he pledged to make better decisions about further sun exposure.
“I’m staying out of the sun,” said Chambers, who enjoys unwinding between sails with yoga sessions to clear his head. “Slip, slop, slap we call it in Australia — we slip on a hat, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a shirt.”
Chambers urged people that skin cancer “is going to happen to you if you are overexposed [in the sun]. So minimize [time in the sun], protect yourself, put some sunglasses on every time you go out.”
“There’s one thing we know, putting on a long sleeve shirt, putting on a hat and putting some sunglasses on is only going to do you well.”
“Still go about your life, but look after yourself,” he added.
Melanoma & Early Sun Exposure
Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. But with melanoma, the cells change in a way that makes them able to spread to other organs.
Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma. Though overall, it’s unlikely that these marks are cancer, you’ll want to keep an eye on them and let your doctor know about any changes you do notice. Staying ahead of a potential diagnosis with regular skin checks is key.
RELATED: A Biopsy of Your Mole Doesn’t Mean You Have Melanoma
Ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. That means you’re at risk if you spent excessive amounts of time in the sun, even as a child. If you ever got scalding sunburns or were a fan of tanning salons, it’s important to regularly get your skin checked out.
“Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body,” explains Dr. Anna Pavlick, an oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, in a previous interview with SurvivorNet.
Melanoma can develop from an existing mole or it can appear as a dark or pink growth on the skin. That said, they aren’t limited to sun-exposed areas. According to Dr. Pavlick, you can also develop melanomas in places like your sinuses, rectal area, back of the eye, and other areas that aren’t exposed to the sun.
The Sun is Not Your Friend: Most Melanomas are Caused by Sun Exposure
Rarely, melanoma develops from an inherited syndrome called melanoma-pancreatic cancer syndrome, which also increases the risk for pancreatic cancer. Mutations in the CDKN2A gene, which helps regulate cell growth, cause this syndrome. If you have a family history of melanoma, it’s important to get screened regularly.
Bottom line: The sun can be a deadly force, but there are ways to protect yourself. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and cover up with protective clothing and a hat. If you notice any suspicious growths on your skin, see a dermatologist right away.
Modifying Risk of Melanoma By Using Sunscreen
While you might not be able to take back your sun exposure from childhood, you can modify your risk going forward by limiting your time in the sun and by using sunscreen.
The Skin Cancer Foundation states that by wearing sunscreen daily over a 10-year period, the risk of melanoma is reduced by 50 percent. A 2018 Australian study published in JAMA Dermatology notes that those under 40 years of age who regularly used sunscreen throughout their childhood had a reduced incidence of melanoma, by up to 40%.
Wearing Sunscreen Can Reduce Risk of Melanoma
The lesson here is that sun safety should be a lifelong habit. Apply a generous amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours and wear sun-protective clothing when possible, including hats and sunglasses.
Other Ways to Protect Your Skin From Cancer
Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon and associate at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, in a previous interview with SurvivorNet, shared simple steps you can follow to further protect yourself from skin cancer.
- Sun avoidance during peak hours: This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn’t mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you’re protected when you go outdoors.
- Cover your skin and eyes: Wearing a wide brim hat or sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher: Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Dr. Engelman recommends reapplying every few hours, or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Get an annual skin check: If you happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks (like the signs outlined in this article), schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
- No-go on tanning beds: Tanning beds can significantly increase your risk of developing melanoma. If you feel like you’re just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner.
When you check your skin, use the acronym ABCDE as your guide:
- Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?
- Borders: Is the mole irregular or jagged?
- Colors: Are there multiple distinct colors in the mole?
- Diameter: Is the mole larger than 6 millimeters (mm), about the size of a pencil head eraser?
- Evolution: Has the mole’s color, shape, or size changed over time?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, our experts say it’s time to see your dermatologist for a skin check.
Other red flags to watch for are:
- A sore that doesn’t heal
- Color that spreads from the border of a spot to the skin around it
- Redness or swelling that goes beyond the area of a mole
- Itchiness, tenderness, or pain
- A change in the way the surface of a mole looks
- Scaliness, oozing, or blood
Don’t delay scheduling a skin check with your dermatologist today, and be sure to protect your skin this summer!
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