John McCain and Skin Cancer

I read that during John McCain's time as a POW in Vietnam he had enormous sun exposure for the 5 1/2 years.   I do not know about his youth and the sun, but imagine that extensive time in the sun in Vietnam contributed to his melanomas.

"The squamous cell carcinoma treated recently is a very common type of skin cancer appearing on sun damaged skin and is easily treated surgically and essentially cured."

Although there is a type of squamous cell carcinoma that is from sun damage and easily cured, oral squamous cell carcinoma is entirely different.  My father died of this cancer, one year after he was declared all clear.  In fact, his jaw looked just like McCain's one month before he died and it turned out it was the cancer returning in a way that could not be treated.

Honestly, this is what got me looking for why McCain had that lump on the side of his face.  I have read a lot of things about why that lump is there, from he got in while he was a POW to it is from the surgery to remove lymph nodes in his face.  Having witnesses how a face looks after cancer surgery, I can assure you that there is no lump, there is an indentation.  I have also searched for old photos of McCain and, although in some, it is apparent that the skin is loose and appearing kind of swollen, now it is a distinct lump.  

Since I haven't seen him in person and I noticed it on PBS on the 9/11 interviews, what I am seeing may not be accurate, but I was yelling at the tv saying, you have cancer, get that taken care of.  Honestly, it really looks like my dad looked when the squamous cell carcinoma of his tongue, jaw and throat returned and rapidly spread to his lungs and brain.

So the McCain campaign can sugar coat it all they want and release the most simple case of squamous cell carcinoma to the press to alleviate fears, but the fact is that oral squamous cell carcinoma has nothing to do with the sun. It has to do with smoking and alcohol and it is not simple to treat.  When it recurs, it can be untreatable and spread very quickly.  I know, my father died from it September 10, 2004.

If Sarah Palin was not his running mate, I would not be concerned, but she is.

Information below this link from this website:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/Patient

Lip and oral cavity cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lips or mouth.

The oral cavity includes the following:

• The front two thirds of the tongue.
• The gingiva (gums).
• The buccal mucosa (the lining of the inside of the cheeks).
• The floor (bottom) of the mouth under the tongue.
• The hard palate (the roof of the mouth).
• The retromolar trigone (the small area behind the wisdom teeth).

Most lip and oral cavity cancers start in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that line the lips and oral cavity. These are called squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows. Squamous cell carcinoma usually develops in areas of leukoplakia (white patches of cells that do not rub off).

Tobacco and alcohol use can affect the risk of developing lip and oral cavity cancer.