Years of spending leisure time among the thousands of lakes in Minnesota sent Al Carlson, KLN Family Brand’s recently-retired chief talent officer, on a months-long medical journey.
During a regular visit with Carlson’s primary physician, the doctor discovered a discoloration in the skin on his shoulder. A trip to the dermatologist determined the discoloration was suspect and needed to be removed. Carlson says the doctor removed skin from the discolored area. A follow-up appointment one year later called for another procedure to remove more of the concerning skin.
“You read about this a lot with Baby Boomers,” says Carlson. “We weren’t smart about being in the sun when we were younger. A lot of my generation, we spent a lot of time out in the sun and never thought about protecting our skin.”
Now, Carlson is making sure to protect his skin from the sun. Not only was his skin scare a wake-up call, Carlson explains that his wife was also diagnosed with melanoma. Whenever the two take their boat out on one of the many lakes in Minnesota, they make sure to take precautions. Those include wearing wide-brimmed hats that cover the face, neck, ears and shoulders, as well as sunscreen.
“We regularly take care of ourselves,” says Carlson. “I’m cognizant of the fact I have to take care of that shoulder. We value taking care of the skin. After all, it is the biggest organ in the body.”
They also make sure to bring extra hats and sunscreen to share with family and friends.
“We like being out (on the water) all day. We’re going to tan, of course, but now we’re going to do it the right way, not the old way,” he says.
Carlson says it’s important that people make sure they check any concerning skin discolorations or moles in order to maintain good health. He says you don’t want to ignore something only to later discover it is a deadly form of cancer.
Following his and his wife’s experience, Carlson says he has a regular checkup with his dermatologist that provides him with reassurance.
“As I’m aging, I’ve become more concerned about my skin,” he says. “You don’t want melanoma. Early detection is critical. Mine is a lesson in what not to do. Making sure you see a dermatologist is important. They are experts and my story is ongoing. That’s why I have a regular meeting each year.”
