by Lexi Lewis as told to LemondropAs a teenager growing up in Aberdeen, S.D., I cared about having fun and looking good. I hardly worried about my health. I started tanning at 14 because everyone else did. I never thought of the consequences. I just knew it made me look thinner, prettier, and feel more confident.
I continued tanning until my senior year in high school. I tanned a ton for my senior pictures and for my junior prom. I'd tan at least four times a week for about 20 minutes a session.
I remember adults telling me that some day I'd regret tanning as much as I did, but I didn't care because I just wanted to look good at the time and do what my friends were doing.
A Dangerous Mole
One day, in the fall of my senior year, I noticed a mole on the back of my right arm. It was much darker than my other moles but other than that, it didn't stand out. Like my other moles, it was perfectly round and it wasn't raised above my skin. My friend's mom worked at a dermatologist's office and she thought I should get it checked out but I was scared and wanted to pretend it didn't exist.
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The doctor removed my mole and told me it would be sent in to a lab to be checked. He also said that all visits to the tanning salon must stop. Well, I thought, I better tan just one more time. After I had the mole removed, I went tanning. I know it sounds stupid now, but at the time I wanted to keep my tan.I went on with my life as normal and a few days later my mom and I were at home when the phone rang. I saw that it was the dermatologist's number and I had a bad feeling. I didn't know why they would be calling after 5 p.m. so I had my mom answer.
I'll never forget the look on my mom's face or the sound of her voice when she answered the phone and heard my doctor's voice on the other end tell her that I had malignant melanoma -- skin cancer. She just looked so shocked and scared.
The "C" Word
The word "cancer" terrified me. I felt so angry. I couldn't believe I did this to myself. I didn't think it was fair. I was only 18. How could it be that it was completely legal to do this to myself considering that I had been a minor most of the time I was tanning?
Once I learned it was malignant melanoma, I never tanned again. A few days after the surgery, my doctor checked my body from head to toe for more moles. Several spots were removed but fortunately nothing else came back cancerous. I should have been happy that the surgery removed all the cancer. I should have let out a sigh of relief but I was terrified and felt that there was cancer all over me and there was nothing I could do about it.
I lived in constant fear that the cancer would come back. I used to wake up in the middle of the night and search my entire body for moles. What is so scary about melanoma is that there are no signs or symptoms of it until it spreads so you need to be looking for it at all times. It's not like you can take a blood test or a get a scan to find out if you have melanoma.
These days, I make sure that I check myself frequently and thoroughly. I also go to the doctor every six months to get checked out for new or changing moles. I've realized that I can't live in fear.
Making a ChangeI'm committed to making sure that other minors don't tan. In February 2007, I went with my dermatologist to the South Dakota State Senate to try to pass a law against tanning beds. We were one vote short. I've gone with him to the Capitol several times to tell my story and share why I think it's so important that tanning beds are monitored for those under 18.
At 22, I'm trying to create change so people can live healthier lives, but it's frustrating being an activist. Unfortunately, people are not educated enough about the dangers of tanning, and therefore, lawmakers do not feel regulating tanning beds is something important enough to spend time and money on.
My health scare motivated me to go into the medical field. I'm in nursing school and I work at a hospital as a nursing assistant.
One would think that people would be all for improving the health of children. My dermatologist and I are working on a bill to regulate and possibly even ban tanning for minors. I feel that this is so important because as a minor, it is hard to think of the long term consequences of your actions. Fortunately, I caught my skin cancer early on. Melanoma is deadly, and I don't feel that teenagers take it seriously. I didn't.
More great reads from around the web:
Men and Breast Cancer (AskMen)
The 5 Most Over-Hyped Health Scares (Cracked)
'Godfather" Action Figures!? (StreetLevel)
Surprising Stats on Grandma and Grandpa's Drinking Habits (Glam)
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Saturday 29 August
By mike
Take your spam and put it in the toilet where you and the others like you live out your pathetic lives until flushed.
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Friday 28 August
By Debra
I can surely understand the concern that this girl has for teens and tanning beds...HOWEVER, who the hell took her and paid for these sessions? A PARENT! That's where the problem is to me. Why does there have to be a law passed for this when all you need to be is a responsible parent? Seems like to me there is a lot of time waisted trying to pass laws that should be common sense to us. When did getting older become an excuse for stupidity? Parents these days try too hard to please their kids so they'll fit in or be popular...so look where it got her!
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Friday 28 August
By Johanna
I never tanned as a teen but in my early 20s I was diagnosed with malinoma. I got the phone call too. It was horrible. I am now 33 and cancer free but my husbands first wife was not so lucky. Like me, she never tanned in a bed. When she was pregnant they found a mole on her leg. They took the baby and then the mole. Unfortunately it was too late and she went through hell until she passed away. I truely believe that everyone should be away of their bodies and their actions. Tanning beds and even too much sun can be a bad thing. Be more aware and if your a minor than your parents should be aware too. You only have the one life, live it well and who cares if your tan!
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Friday 28 August
By Tamarra
I agree with you there, I have never tanned in my life but at age 12 I was diganosed with malignant Melanoma... It was very scary... I have had so many moles removed i feel like one big poc mark and twice they had to remove lymphnodes to prevent metastasis... I now have children of my own and I am so meticulous about their sun exposure.... I remember slip slap slop from elementary slip on a shirt slap on a had and slop on the sunscreen... and NEVER do i let my kids out between 11 and 4 scary but genetically they are predisposed after they are out of my care I have no choice but it is imparative to protect our children....... I am known as the hat and suncreen lady I always carry around extra hats and spend small fortunes on suncreen for the children in the neighborhood.... I myself very rarely venture outside on a sunny day.....
Tuesday 01 September
By Rhonda Smith from S.C,
At age 23, I was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma on the front of my ankle. What I always thought was a beauty mark had begun to change. I had always laid out in the sun as a child without knowing it's hazardous affects. The months before my diagnosis I had also laid in tanning beds every day until I was in nursing school and we were reviewing skin cancer and I asked my teacher about my mole and was advised to see a doctor. I went to my doctor and had the mole removed even though he did not feel it was of any concern at the time. The next day I receieved a phone call stating it was Melanoma and had a large area removed and they thought it was in the early stages. The very next summer, 16 months later, while shaving my bikini area, I noticed a hard, non-moveable, nontender golf ball size knot . The tumor literally appeared overnight. I knew immediately what it was, because of intense studying after my diagnosis. After 1 month on antibiotics and 3 months later, with no decrease in size, I had it removed under general anesthesia. It was a cluster of lymph nodes that the melanoma had metastasized to. I went to MUSC in S.C. and had a left iliac and left inguinal lymph node dissection. I then underwent 4 months of chemotherapy of Cisplatnin and high dose Tamoxifen. I am now 12 years cancer free. I am not without health problems however. I have a condition called lymphedema as a result of having 1 or more lymph nodes removed so the cancer wouldn't spread as easily. I have anywhere from 15 to 25 extra pounds of lymph fluid in my left leg and abdomen and arm at any given time. The PICC line, a long-term IV placed in my arm in addition to the chemo I received, destroyed the veins in my left arm caused Lymphedema in my arm as well, causing my arm to swell like my leg. I have constant pain in my leg and foot from the swelling and recurrent cellulitis (an infection of the tissues), requiring hospitalization at times. I have undergone several physical therapy sessions, and I have to wear special uncomfortable and embarrasing stockings to decrease the amount of swelling. I underwent many years of xrays, CT and bone scans, lab work and years of recurrent Oncology visits not to mention the depression and the decrease in self esteem, self worth and people staring and laughing at my swollen leg and foot. I have to buy two different size shoes and I don't wear shorts or cute little shoes anymore. I am a nurse and I am the "unofficial " spokesperson for Melanoma Awareness encouraging friends and family to get checked and to stay out of tanning beds and use sunblock, hats, etc... if they must be out in the sun. Since my struggle with Melanoma I have known it to affect people that are close to me, some have not been so lucky. I pinch myself everyday and wonder why I was spared when it had already metastisized. This is what keeps me going everyday and why I try to live life to the fullest and spread the word about this deadly disease. I hope that people who read this, realize that tans can be beautiful, but in my opinion unless ,they come from a bottle or spray, anything that changes the pigmentation of your skin can be deadly. Young or old, light or dark-skinned, Melanoma is indiscriment and could affect you. Melanoma is very curable in it's earliest stages, but once it Metastisises throughout the body, it is almost always eventually fatal. See your dermatologist and do skin checks often. For more information, Google Malignant Melanoma or the Melanoma Research Foundation. Don't be another statistic like me. Beauty is more than skin deep!
Monday 31 August
By patricia
when you said they took the baby and then the mole do mean the baby died?
Friday 28 August
By ann
Instead of a law ....how about REQUIRED education (labels, pamphlets, signed forms) which state "use of a tanning bed may cause cancer. That way WE make the educated decision - NOT dictated by a government!
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Friday 28 August
By Shanin
Any tanning place you go they are required by law to have you fill out a pamphlet. MOST states require parental consent if you are under 16 years old. The entire country needs federal regulation on this, but every state does have specific guidelines. WAKE UP PARENTS!!!!
Friday 28 August
By rsroger5121
i agree... like everything else,... RESPECTED.. moderation. many people abuse a good thing... and there are consequences. i am 53 and have been tanning seasonally for the last 25 yrs... BUT not in excess...and Thank G-d no problems at all. I personnally know many ppl that tan that never had problems...but then again it was not abused. there is always a form that ask questions and to sign of the reponsibility. personally i thought under 18 was not allowed to use a tanning machine... sooo someone is not upholding the guidelines given for use. i say keep the government OUT.. and BE Responsible
Friday 28 August
By Katie
Because stupid people will not read them. Tanning beds need to be banned.
Friday 28 August
By Cyndi
very well said
Friday 28 August
By merrilee
you already sign that...they minimize the threat at the salons.
Friday 28 August
By jeanne
Because, teenagers aren't capable of making that type of decision. They all think they're invincable and "it will never happen to me"
Friday 28 August
By pg
children often don't make intelligent decisions regardging things that may be harmful to them. Just like the warning on cigarette cartons - they probably wouldn't head the warning. i don't think it's inappropriate to restrict minors from doing something potentially harmful until they are ready, as adults, to make qualified decisions about what they will and won't risk. the same holds true for drinking alcohol, or engaging in any other kind of adult behavior.
Friday 28 August
By George W Bush
ann, you said=====Instead of a law ....how about REQUIRED education (labels, pamphlets, signed forms) which state "use of a tanning bed may cause cancer. That way WE make the educated decision - NOT dictated by a government!=====Do you realize that you just contradicted yourself? REQUIRED how? By "LAW"??? I thought (silly me) that LAWS came from that evil evil evil U S Government?
Sunday 30 August
By Luna
instead of a law ....how about REQUIRED education (labels, pamphlets, signed forms) which state "use of a tanning bed may cause cancer. That way WE make the educated decision - NOT dictated by a government!
just because is it required education (taught in schools i presume) does not mean anyone will listen. they talk about not having sex and staying protected, yet so many teens get pregnant and contract STDs.
Monday 31 August
By Beth
Well, not all teenagers obviously make the right decisions. That is saying we should allow them to take their risks. That is why there are laws and age restrictions on things. I wish it was illegal for me to tan when I was a teenager. It could have possibly prevented me from getting melanoma as well.
Sunday 30 August
By lyn
Ann? Apparently you don't know the state of the economy. When schools don't even have enough books per child, do you think they are going to teach this? If they did, they would have to teach every part of one's body. The person who can best take care of themselves and people like you, is YOU!!! Your body belongs to YOU, use it wisely and take care of it. Don't add to it, things that obviously can cause cancer. lyn~
Sunday 30 August
By Steve
Unfortunately I dont have the stats in front of me but over 60% of all teenagers suffer from VITAMIN D deficency. this leads to other problems latter in life.Our bodies need sunlight in controlled limited doses so that our bodies can produce the VITAMIN D we need. Tanning beds help people out who suffer from arthritis,acne,sorriesis,and lack of VITAMIN D. Ive read many research studies on this issue and the key words are "controlled moderation" when it comes to tanning. Also most dont know that melanoma starts at a very young age inside your body from being burnt in the sun most likely as an infant.
Friday 28 August
By doc
Melanoma plays the game with no rules. You are never sure you are malignancy free with melanoma. Recurrences sometimes take fifteen to twenty years or more to appear. That is why it is so dangerous. Tanning is dangerous, and this unfortunate young lady's story is proof of that. There is little one can do once one has had a melanoma, except to deal with life long check ups, and to hope that you are able to stay malignancy free.
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