Basil Cell Carcinoma

Last year I noticed an age spot on my left arm that seemed to have a scab on it that would never heal. 

Each time I would notice it I would think it was just an infected pore and it would go away.  Month after month though, it would still be there, like a thin scab.  

 
I finally went to the clinic at my work and had it looked at.  The Physician’s assistant thought it was something to worry about and did a punch biopsy on it.  

A week later I got a call saying it was a basil cell carcinoma.  The carcinoma was on the outer edge of the biopsy and needed to be looked at by a specialist.  I made an appointment with Dr. Mark Eliason at the University of Utah the next week.  He took a look at it and explained the procedure to remove the rest of any skin that may have carcinoma.  The soonest they could get me in for the surgery was in three weeks.  By then the original biopsy had healed real well, hardly leaving a scar.  The new surgery went real well and the results came back clean.  The scar however, is two inches long.  At first the skin at each end was bunched up and looked pretty gnarly.  It since has healed real well and the swelling has come down almost all the way.

So, what does this have to do with Fly Fishing?  I like to fish with short sleeves.  The main reason is so that I can reach into the water without getting my sleeves wet.  Whether it is to release a fish or to unhook my fly off a snag, long sleeves invariably get wet.  Another reason is just to be more comfortable when it is warm out.  Another interesting fact regarding this age spot was that it was on my left arm which is exposed to the sun while I drive.

Since the incident with the carcinoma, I’ve realized I may be more vulnerable than I was in my younger years.  I even got my first colonoscopy after this and I’ve got some fabulous color pictures.  Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the details.  I have started to wear long sleeves while in the sun.  There are materials that shirts are made of nowadays that aren’t too awfully hot when it is warm outside.  Most these are bright color shirts made for fishing the salt flats but some aren’t too bright. They are made of synthetics, don’t hold water and dry real fast.   

There are also sleeves you can buy for when you are wearing short sleeves that you can slip on. 

Another alternative is sunscreen.  I just don’t like wearing sunscreen unless I’m going to be out a long time.  The good thing about sunscreen is while you are applying it to your arms; you can cover your other exposed skin too.  Just remember, don’t leave any sunscreen on your finger tips that may end up on your fly or line that would alert the fish.