40yrs of Outdoor Activities = Risk

I grew up like most mountain kids, playing outside sunup to sundown. I spent my youth in the quiet ski/golf resort town of Angel Fire, NM, nestled in the southern Rockies at 8500ft elevation. I skied every weekend in the winter with the rest of the year filled with riding bikes, playing golf, camping, hiking, and making forts.

As an athletic training college student, I spent countless hours on the sidelines during football practice, covered baseball doubleheaders and worked 8hr track meets. To offset the ankle sock tan lines, I worked as a lifeguard at the New Mexico State University Natatorium to balance the tan lines.

After 42yrs of sun exposure protected by sunscreen, I had a recent scare when a couple red spots on my forehead weren't getting better. At first glance, they looked like pimples. After they didn't heal, I asked my wife for her professional opinion. As a dentist she's trained to review facial and oral lesions and thought they looked abnormal. Her suggestion led to quickly scheduling a dermatologist appointment. Scheduling another appointment felt odd because I recently saw the dermatologist for my annual check-up. The dermatologist agreed they looked abnormal and took a biopsy. Within a week, the results?determined I had basal cell carcinoma.

I'm thankful I quickly received Mohs surgery to remove the cells. I'm lucky because I live an active lifestyle with exercise and outdoor activity and receiving a stitch-less surgery could have been much worse. I only have a couple weeks of keeping the wound moist to maximize healing before I can resume my outdoor activities...with more sunscreen!

I share this message due to the overwhelming support from my social media posts that it reminded many to get their annual dermatologist check-up. Hopefully my story helps you understand the importance of prevention and not ignoring the warning signs.

From the skin to muscle and joints, prevention is key for success. WaveOn offers this same type of service for chronic aches and pains. Don't let the problem get worse by ignoring the signs. Get support from the earliest onset to save yourself many problems and to continue playing the sport or activity you love.

Keep playing in the sun!

Reach out if you have any questions.

Adam

[email protected], 505-238-9626