Dave Dahl Shares His Experience with Skin Cancer | Health

KSTP Meteorologist Dave Dahl spends his life predicting the weather, but one thing he did not see coming was a skin cancer diagnosis.

When he is not working, Dave enjoys spending time with his family out on his boat, often in the heat of the sun. It is something that doctors say likely led to a questionable spot on his leg that was later diagnosed as non-melanoma skin cancer. Dave noticed the spot a couple years ago but was not aware of the warning signs, so he put off going to the doctor.

Dave blames his cancer on not using sunscreen, which he says wasn't even part of the vocabulary growing up.

"There wasn't such thing as sunscreen, and I'd burn all the time because I'm fair skinned and I do burn easily," says Dave.

"This is one of the most common things we see. There are millions of cases of non-melenoa skin cancer every year, and they are almost 100 percent caused by the sun," says Dr. Julie Cronk, who treated Dave.

Dr. Cronk say most of her patients are over 50 years old. She says earlier detection is key, and that includes knowing your own skin.
 
"If a person has something bleeding, growing or changing, we want them to come in and see their dermatologist," says Cronk.

She says everyone should uses at least a SPF 30 on their face everyday, even in the wintertime, in the form of a moisturizer that has sunscreen in it. She warns not to count on sunscreen alone. She also recommends wearing a hat and protective clothing with SPF protection built into the fabric. She also says to avoid peak sun hours and stay in the shade when possible.

Dave had the spot on his leg and another on his chest removed. He is now cancer free. His advice to others is not to wait -- get anything questionable checked out.