A melanoma patient urges people of all ages to get their skin checked. It could save their lives, just as it did his.
The Florida Department of Health reports that melanoma cases increased across the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida between 2017 and 2021.
“I've been working outside my whole life and didn't use sunscreen until probably my late 40s or early 50s,” said part-time Florida resident Michael Hagney.
Hagney visits a dermatologist several times a year.
“As a child, of course, everybody played outside,” he said. “In the '50s, we didn't have sunscreen or anything like that. I worked on a farm as a teenager, then went to Vietnam when I was 20 years old. After that, I worked for the U.S. Postal Service, carrying mail.”
After decades of sun exposure, skin cancer is now a familiar battle for Hagney.
“I've had three melanomas that were caught in the early stages,” he said.
Thanks to self-exams and regular skin screenings, all of his cancers were detected early.
“I get regular skin checks,” he said. “They do one here in Florida, and I get another when I go back to Illinois in April. My wife and I both go in. We strip down. We've been married 57 years, so it's not a big deal. We go together and have our skin checks done.”
Dr. Gregory Houck emphasizes that regular skin checks are essential for everyone, regardless of age.
“We see basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma every day,” Houck said. “Every day, we're finding these cases. But the good news is we can treat them. The prevalence is very high, and it doesn't seem to be slowing down.”
The best way to protect your skin is simple: use sunscreen.
“I recommend mineral sunscreens instead of chemical sunscreens,” Houck said. “I just think they’re a better overall option. The active ingredients should be either zinc or titanium.”
And reapplying sunscreen often is key — something Hagney now makes a habit of.
“With all the time I’ve spent in the sun, I know I’m never in the clear,” he said. “Every time I go in, I need something done — whether it's liquid nitrogen treatment or having something removed, like today. Sometimes, it’s a small cut that needs a couple of stitches.”
Houck performed a minor procedure on Hagney, and by the time he left the dermatologist's office, his skin was clear of any cancer.
“He had a lesion that wasn’t healing,” Houck said. “He identified it, we did a biopsy, and today we were able to remove the cancer with surgery.”
New advancements are helping Houck and his team diagnose and treat patients every day.
“There are really interesting treatment modalities now for precancers that we’ve incorporated into the practice,” Houck said.
For Hagney, getting skin checks is a top priority.
“Melanoma is deadly. It will kill you,” he said. “I have friends who have died from melanoma.”
And for those hesitant to see a doctor, Hagney has one piece of advice:
“Suck it up,” he said. “Go to the doctor. Don’t be a chicken.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts.