Forty years ago as a young father, I was in Saint Joe’s for melanoma surgery, accompanied by my daughter’s teddy bear for good luck! So this is an anniversary of sorts and I’m offering it in hopes that the following news will prove timely for some:

When it comes to skin cancer, Arizona is in the cross-hairs. Dr. David S. Alberts, director of the Arizona Cancer Center and co-director of its Skin Cancer Institute, states, “Queensland in Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The second-highest rate in the world is in Southeast Arizona. So we have that dubious honor. And we’re struggling because we’re getting worse and not better.” (He refers to Tucson but the Phoenix area can also be included.)

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.

For some, it is cured rather easily. For others like me, it can represent a lifetime of ongoing treatment and vigilance. Even though we have about 3,800 hours of sunlight each year in our area, people don’t cover up and they don’t wear sun hats.

So, why is this? Denial maybe? Or lack of knowledge? Or vanity?

The worst high risk combination is a fair-skinned golfer who doesn’t cover up or use enough sunscreen. Know any of those?