Canadian Cancer Society British Columbia and Yukon

Guest blogger, Survivor, Tanning, Women's Health, Youth, August 17th, 2012

Fa-shun-able Me

by Sarah Merrill

Since my last post there are a few things I would like to clarify. I know suggesting forgoing a tan for some equates social suicide, you might as well “put your head between your legs and kiss your butt goodbye”. I understand, but please realize it took a bout of skin cancer for me to even think about changing my ways. In fact, one month after being cancer-free I spent days lying in the California sun (applying sunscreen every two hours of course and making sure I did not burn…). Although I was consciously applying sunscreen I also kept checking my tan lines to see if - by chance - I’d achieved a little color. Do you hear me? One month after skin cancer I still managed to justify baking in the sun. Really there is no difference between you and me, I’m just one of the ones who got caught. I did not share my story expecting you to drop everything and stop tanning. It’s a process, a process that can only happen if YOU want to make it happen. Having skin cancer forced me to get creative, unfortunately I can’t reverse the damage done, but I can take precautions so it will not happen again.

It’s about making little tweaks here and there; sun protection does not have to be a daunting task. Last summer, I set a goal to remain sunburn-free through the scorching months and I achieved it! This summer I upped the anti and decided to make adjustments to my daily routine and wardrobe. Instead of adding to my already abundant collection of short-shorts and sleeveless numbers, I purchased feminine maxi skirts, breezy cover-ups, a wide brimmed hat and I’m slowly replacing my cosmetics with products containing SPF.

However, my enthusiasm is not shared by everyone. Since incorporating sun safe changes I’ve received the following comments: “Why don’t you wear clothes that fit?”, “Show some skin” and my favourite “You look like a 60 year-old grandma”. Moral of the story, people are not down with my new digs, but I find consolation in the fact that my grandma is one sexy old lady, so whatever.

Ladies I know sunscreen can be greasy, ruins your makeup, and is just an overall hassle, but there’s a solution! Try a 30 SPF powder foundation! They do exist. And despite my earlier quip, it is possible to protect yourself from the sun and look good while doing so! (At least I think I pull it off…) If you choose to embrace your natural skin tone there are ways to showcase it. If not, there are methods to fake it till you make it!

Attention boys, men, males, gentlemen, it’s your turn. Sunscreen can be a royal pain in the butt and maybe in your testosterone filled world surviving a brutal sunburn constitutes manliness but it ain’t worth it! Wear sunglasses, a hat, and try a spray sunscreen. It’s a quick application method, so quick you won’t miss a second of the beach action.

YOU can minimize your risk of skin cancer (melanoma is one of the most deadly & common diseases in young people ages 15-29, but it is mostly preventable!) by taking note of these alternative tips and tricks. I look at it as a special YOU treatment all summer long. You’re worth it! Summer is coming to a close, but start the process by thinking about what little change(s) you might incorporate into your routine next summer. I risked my life in the name of beauty once, and I don’t plan on doing it again, even if it means being fa-shun-able. For now, I’ll take 21 dressing like 60 over skin cancer any day.

Sarah Merrill is a volunteer blogger for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Tanning is Out initiative.

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Guest blogger, Survivor, TIO Ambassadors, Tanning, Women's Health, July 23rd, 2012

I’d hate to be Frank

By Sarah Merrill

Sarah Merrill is a volunteer blogger for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Tanning is Out initiative. She is also a skin cancer survivor. In her latest post, she shares her story.

A few years ago I remember reading a magazine article about a girl in her twenties who after excessive tanning was diagnosed with skin cancer. The spread contrasted photos of her tanned with pictures of her embracing her natural skin tone. In the moment the story resonated, but I got up, put the magazine down and walked away. It would never happen to me.

I have always been a health conscious individual; I exercise regularly and eat healthy because I was taught to treat my body with respect. I wore sunscreen most of the time, but my lily-white skin didn’t mix well with the Saskatchewan sun. My love for outdoor sports seemed to make at least one major sunburn inevitable each summer. When it came to indoor tanning I was apprehensive, but at age 16 I tanned to get a “good base tan” for Mexico. A year or so later I tanned a couple of times before a friends prom, and one last time for my own prom. I did not want to be orange like the girls who graduated before me; I just wanted that “healthy glow”. I debated a spray tan, but it didn’t fit my high school budget and I’d have to travel to find a salon that offered spray tan services. Sadly, I didn’t know going in a tanning bed for ANY AMOUNT OF TIME before the age of 35 can increase one’s risk of skin cancer by 75%.

Somewhere along the line, a mole on my knee morphed from the small brown beauty mark it once was to a funky-looking pink aberration. I went to my doctor to get the mole removed - simply because it was unattractive - but he considered excision of the mole cosmetic and sent me on my way. By grade 12 the mole grew bigger, was getting more attention, and thus became worthy of a name - Frank. How the name came about, I cannot recall but it stuck. Frank was a creepy little guy, so unpleasant looking my peers suggested I wear band-aids over him and pretend it was a cut.

That fall, I moved to Calgary for university and the following short-shorts worthy summer brought Frank to my attention, for a second time. He was a little more red, a lot more raised, and rather round. With more determination than last time I went to a few doctors, but the results were the same; one doctor offered to freeze Frank off and the rest said, “It is nothing”. Finally, after pulling some strings, I got an appointment in Saskatchewan and drove home specifically to have the mole removed. Both the doctor and the surgeon who removed Frank said, “It is nothing,” and that they were only sending Frank in as mandatory procedure. I watched them plop Frank in a little container thinking a tiny little scar would be all I had to remember him by. Good riddance!

Wrong. Frank actually had a family and they had moved in. It turns out “nothing” was stage 3 invasive malignant melanoma. Fortunately, the process for me was short; I was diagnosed around Thanksgiving in 2010, went in for surgery on December 16, and was announced cancer-free freshly into the New Year. Even though I have the battle wounds to prove it, a scar on my knee (initial incision) and upper thigh (lymph node removal), the seriousness of the situation did not sink in until recently when I heard about Glenna Kohl. At age 26 after excessive tanning both indoors and outdoors, and a misdiagnosis, stage 3 invasive malignant melanoma took Glenna’s life. As I read her story, it finally hit me that it’s a miracle my cancer had not spread since stage 3 invasive malignant melanoma generally means the cancer has gone beyond the skin and traveled throughout the body to the lymph nodes.

If you are reading this you’re probably feeling the same way I did years ago sitting in the doctors office, but please don’t walk away thinking, “It will never happen to me,” like I did. I encourage you to discuss Frank to your friends, family, or anyone who will listen - tweet it, Facebook it, or get old school and just talk about it - tanning is not worth the risk. Make little changes in your life (I’m not saying don’t go outside, just be careful when you do). Know your skin, watch for signs of change and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

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TIO Ambassadors, Tanning, Women's Health, Youth, June 28th, 2012

Keep it real.

By Brittney Parks

Summer is here and the pressure to rock your beach-ready body and flawless tan is on. Unfortunately, this is one of the pressures some women face throughout their adolescent lives and into their young adult years. A new social media campaign aims to change this – the Keep it Real Challenge.

SPARK Movement, MissRepresentation.org, Lovesocial.org, Endangered Bodies and I Am That Girl are joining forces to host the Keep it Real Challenge, a three-day social media campaign to urge print magazines to pledge to print at least one non-photoshopped image of female models per issue.

This movement started with just one individual - 14-year-old Julia Bluhm. Julia started a Change.org petition to get Seventeen Magazine to include one non-photoshopped image in every issue. She has successfully collected over 80,000 petitions and counting!

Her one-person campaign has snowballed into a much larger movement.

The Keep it Real Challenge, which runs from June 27th to June 29th, is empowering girls and young women to challenge unrealistic expectations of appropriate body image.

Throughout our Tanning is Out initiative, we encourage young women and men to not outdoor or indoor tan and to own their own skin tone. When speaking with young women, they often bring up the pressures to tan resulting from the media – the image of a tall, tanned, skinny woman. While it may seem beautiful in a magazine, in reality, it is an image that many young women struggle with as they strive to live up to this notion of perceived beauty. They should not have to face these pressures - they should feel empowered to embrace their own skin tone and natural beauty.

The Tanning is Out initiative is breaking down some of the barriers faced in terms of beauty; however, our work is not done yet.

Today, we are participating in the Keep It Real Challenge by sharing our voice, through our blog. We are encouraging others to do the same. Please note - this campaign does not apply just to women - it is an opportunity for guys to also get involved and let magazines know how they feel about the use of photoshopped images and unrealistic expectations about appearance.

Day 1 (June 27^th): Use the #KeepitReal on Twitter to challenge magazines to drop photoshop.

Day 2 (June 28^th): Use your blog to share your voice and tell the world why photoshop needs to go.

Day 3 (June 29^th): Post images of real beauty via your Instagram account and be entered into the #KeepItRealChallenge, with selected photos being shown on a billboard in New York City.

We are continuously inspired by the youth we work with throughout the Tanning is Out initiative and their commitment to natural beauty and keeping it real by being tan-free.

Tanning is Out Ambassadors presented to the Capital Regional District on Vancouver Island in support of a bylaw prohibiting those under 18 from indoor tanning.

Young women standing up for real beauty!

For more information, check out the Keep It Real Challenge Toolkit. Here is a photo worth sharing.

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Guest blogger, Tanning, Women's Health, Youth, March 1st, 2012

Interview with Julia Murray

By Julia Zhou, Guest Blogger

Julia Murray is an athlete, Olympian and advocate for skin cancer prevention. Both her parents were members of the Canadian National Ski team, which led to her passion in skiing. She is currently a member of the Canadian National Ski Cross Team and was a silver medalist in the FIS Freestyle World Championships last year. Julia feels strongly about cancer prevention as her father passed away from melanoma. Today, she shares her experience as a professional athlete and as an advocate for skin cancer prevention.

Julia Murray, FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships

Q: As a professional athlete, you probably spend a lot of time training and practicing - how do you balance your personal life and your profession?

Life is definitely busy! But I like it that way. I always love to be on the go. I enjoy training for my sport, going to school, and spending time with family and friends - so I always make an effort to make time for it all.

Q: Did you always know that you would become a professional skier? Did you have any other dreams before? If so, how did it change?

I have been skiing since the age of two, then ski raced until the age of seventeen, before switching to ski cross. With my mother being a professional freestyle skier in the 70’s along with my Dad’s background of being one of the four Crazy Canuck Downhill ski racers in the 70’s, skiing is definitely in my blood! I grew up in a town of people who love the mountains, and skied on average three or four days a week - and our school supported that! As early as grade 4, I was presenting projects to my teachers about the Olympics in our backyard, with me racing down my Dad’s downhill (Dave Murray Downhill).

Q: As a professional athlete you are very physically active – what are some other ways you maintain good health?

In the summer, I do a lot of biking (mountain, road and dirt biking), along with a lot of time in the gym. In the winter, I’ve been skate skiing a lot and going to yoga, as well as biking in the city!

Q: The sun’s rays can be very strong on the hill and in winter, reflection off snow can nearly double UV strength. What are some ways you stay protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays?

I wear sunscreen every day I’m on the mountain. I make it a part of my routine in the morning, to put sunscreen on before breakfast. I then reapply once a day while I’m up there. I always keep my goggles down to protect my eyes too.

Q: You are working to help raise awareness about the importance of wearing sunscreen in the winter. Why is this important to you?

My father passed away when he was 39 years old (I was two) from malignant melanoma. I really want to help make people aware of how dangerous the sun’s rays are and prevent melanoma from taking the lives of others.

Q: Indoor tanning is an important priority for the Canadian Cancer Society. How do you feel about indoor tanning?

Indoor tanning is so bad for you. It increases your chances drastically of developing skin cancer. Stay away from them! Enjoy your own beautiful, natural skin colour!

Q: What would you advise to the teens out there that might also wish to become a professional athlete someday?

If you have a dream - keep taking the little steps towards achieving it - because you will! And you’ll look back at your hard work and accomplishments and learn from them and be so proud of your self for putting all those hours and sweat into it!

Photo: Julia Murray, FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships

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Jen, Tanning, Women's Health, January 24th, 2012

New Year, New You

By Jen

At the start of every year the common trend seems to be to make resolutions only to forget them by the end of the week. True, quitting smoking or tanning may not be the easiest things in the world, but it’s vital to highlight the benefits you would get from achieving your goals.

Make 2012 a year of health conscience moves, to love yourself and the skin that you’re in. Maybe you want to limit the amount of times you check yourself in the mirror or to stop obsessing over how “pale” you look. Whatever your resolution is, let 2012 be a year to focus on you.

Typically, I find girls my age (and some guys!) complaining about how they resemble an “Edward Cullen” vampire figure. Yes, I have to admit he may be a tad pale but hey, that doesn’t stop him being incredibly gorgeous and winning every girl’s heart out there, does it? My point is that, the tone of your skin doesn’t define you, your character does!

Too often we get caught up in the media and the idea that tanned skin is beautiful or essential. Yes, there may be a lot of products and services out there that seem tempting for that “quick fix” for that achieving that bronzy glow, but there are many dangers that result from tanning. According to the World Health Organization , any use of indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 has been found to increase the risk of melanoma cancer by 75%!

Baby steps.

Okay, we might not be able to wake up looking as godly as a Victoria Secret model or as gorgeous as Ryan Goseling, but we are beautiful and amazing in our own way! Instead of dwelling on things we can’t change, let’s start loving the skin we’re in.

Everyone at some point will struggle with image issues. Being self conscience or not feeling good enough is common, but the way you deal with those insecurities depict how strong you really are. Sure, fake tans may grant you a temporary satisfaction of “beauty” but who are we kidding? You’re basically hiding your own skin and wearing some temporary shell that the media has advertised as a “healthy glow”. Self confidence begins with acceptance of one’s true self and grows when you embrace yourself, flaws and all.

Fact! : The effects of tanning are irreversible and once your skin colour changes, it’s damaged which can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer.

Stay Motivated and make a plan.

REPLACE “I want” with “I WILL”

Will 2012 be the year that you cut the tanning visits and replace it with a gym membership? Maybe you want to stay more focused, active, and take better care of your health. Whatever goals you have, jot it down, stick it beside that tempting chocolate bar, or even by your computer to remind yourself of what you’re fighting for!

Fact: Melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer for people between the ages of 15-29 and it’s mostly preventable.

Make 2012 a year about YOU ! Whether it be to fit into that bridesmaid dress by March, or to quit the salon tanning sessions. Have a game plan, make reminders of all the benefits and stay focused because you WILL get there! Overcome those insecurities and avoid the tanning bed and start embracing your natural glow! Own your skin , love yourself, and achieve your goals!

Feel free to comment below to share your goals for 2012!

Until next time,

XOXO Jennifer Wu

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Women's Health, November 17th, 2011

Women’s Health Highlights

By Brittney Parks

For the month of October we launched our women’s health awareness campaign, What’s Your Game Plan?.

We encouraged women to be aware of three cancers (colorectal, breast and cervical), and to have a Game Plan to defend themselves, family members and friends against these cancers.

What should your Game Plan include:
• Know your body
• Check your family history
• Get screened and help find cancer early
• Make healthy choices

To help spread the word about women’s health and encourage all women to adopt a healthy lifestyle we worked with university communities, businesses and the general public throughout the province.

Here are a few photo highlights…

University of Victoria Undie Run

What’s Your Game Plan? briefs at ShoreRunners in Campbell River

Health and Wellness Fair at Simon Fraser University

For more photo visit us on at facebook.com/CanadianCancerSocietyBCY

Keep your game plan in mind throughout the year, beyond Women’s Health Awareness Month.

For more tips, check out our Women’s Health guest blog posts by Leah Munday, blogger for Trip Styler and Miranda Massie, blogger for Healthy UBC.

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Guest blogger, Women's Health, November 1st, 2011

Staying Healthy on the Road

by Leah Munday

For the month of October, we launched our women’s health awareness campaign, What’s Your Game Plan? We encouraged women to have a game plan to defend against breast, cervical and colon cancer by taking 4 easy steps: know your body, check your family history, get screened and help fight cancer early, and make healthy choices. As October comes to an end, we hope you will keep your game plan in mind - at home and away!

To make healthy choices while travelling, a game plan is a great idea. Who better to give us tips on doing this than Leah Munday, owner of OTfit as well as health and wellness contributor to Vancouver-based TripStyler.com – a travel lifestyle website providing daily trip style tips to aspiring jetsetters.

At Trip Styler, we choose to write a regular column about staying healthy on the road, because we believe in taking care of ourselves every day, whether at home or away. Healthy living isn’t just about exercise, it’s about making healthy lifestyle choices and treating yourself, others, and the environment well. Physical activity, balanced nutrition, and healthy thoughts/feelings are key components to living well.

You may already have, or be in the process of, adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Unfortunately, travelling has the potential to hinder our best efforts. On holiday, it’s tempting to toss aside our good habits with the rest of our daily routine. Your vacation destination may have a state of the art gym, or be within minutes of incredible walking paths, but without a game plan, there’s a good chance your sneakers won’t be laced up—or even packed, for that matter!

Here are some tips to help you prepare for a vacation which returns you home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated:

Do
Do something physically active every day. Pace, intensity or activity type, it’s all up to you, just do what appeals most to you and get moving! It will lift your mood, reduce your stress and improve your sleep to name just a few of the many benefits.

List
Before setting off on your next trip, make a list of activities you could do at your destination. The goal is to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate activity each day you are away, and then pack/plan accordingly. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Walk whenever you can. You will need more than flip flops, so pack your sneakers!
- Purchase a pedometer before you go and be conscious of gathering the recommended number of daily steps (10,000) over the course of your day (no need to do anything more).
- Choose excursions which involve physical activity.

Be Mindful
Be mindful of what you consume:
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. Bring a water bottle and don’t forget to empty it before security!
- Pack snacks. I recommend packing nutritional bars with approximately 200 calories, fewer than 25 grams of sugar and at least 10 grams of protein. My favourite bar at the moment is Vega’s Whole Food Energy Bar. These are perfect for snacking on between meals.
- Eat a balanced breakfast (in a pinch, nutrition bars can be handy here too).
- When facing a buffet (think all-inclusive resorts and cruises), choose a smaller plate and fill half your plate with vegetables, a quarter with grain products and a quarter with meat or alternatives.

Time Out
Take time out to calm your mind. Emotional and spiritual wellness are very personal matters, but travelling can present some amazing opportunities for reflection and renewal. Wherever you find renewal, try going there for at least 20 minutes each day you are away. These 20 minutes will have a huge impact on every other hour of your trip, including your sleep. Consider bringing a journal to record some of your thoughts and reflections.

If your next trip involves a game plan that includes physical activity, healthy eating and mindfulness, you will be better equipped to handle the daily challenges waiting to greet you when the trip is over. Keep these habits up when you get home and your overall health will soar!

Looking for more great advice to stay healthy while jetsetting? Check out our interview with Trish Friesen, Editor-In-Chief of TripStyler.com!

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Guest blogger, Women's Health, October 28th, 2011

Do You Have a Game Plan?

by Miranda Massie, Guest Post

October is Women’s Health Awareness month and as it wraps up, Miranda Massie, blogger for Healthy UBC, shares her game plan with us. In her latest post she asked her readers, “Do you have a game plan?” We hope this encourages you to take steps like Miranda did and possibly, hold yourself accountable to it - in other words - making it happen!

On a daily basis we are bombarded by research in the media with respect to practically every aspect of our mental and physical wellbeing. With each passing day there is something else out there that will kill us, give us cancer or leach radiation into our brains. While I am not dismissing these claims as false or ill-intentioned, sometimes, I just stop listening. It is important to be aware of new information being discovered but it is perhaps more important to transform this awareness into lifelong habits that could potentially save our lives.

The promotion of this type of lifestyle behaviour change is something I feel the Canadian Cancer Society is really trying to touch on with their latest campaign: the Women’s Health What’s Your Game Plan? Campaign. It encourages women to become active participants in their own health and in protecting themselves against 3 types of cancer that account for 40% of all new cases: Colorectal, breast and cervical. The campaign encourages women to set a game plan based on the following:

Know your body

Check your family history

Get screened to help with early detection

Make healthy choices

We supposedly have the most accountability to ourselves when we set a goal and write it out by hand. This takes the idea out of our mind and makes it tangible and more attainable. You can now all be witnesses to my game plan (I typed it but I think it will still work!):

I will try to be more aware of changes that I notice within my body and will be sure to see a doctor if they persist or worry me. I am aware of a family history of colon cancer and intend to follow the suggested age guidelines for when I will need my first screening. I will continue to get my annual PAP test to help protect me against cervical cancer and I will continue to strive to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle that includes getting enough veggies, sleep and exercise.

So, what is your game plan?

My plan took me about 2 minutes to write and already I feel as if I have taken a step in the right direction with respect to my health. I am feeling the mental benefits already and providing I stick with it, I am hopeful the physical benefits will follow.

Miranda is blogger for the Healthy UBC Blog, as well as an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) Clerk in Health Promotion Programs at UBC. Miranda feels passionate about inspiring people to become active participants in their own health. To view more of Miranda’s blog posts visit the Healthy UBC Blog.

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