Richard Lyons was 83 years old when he was diagnosed with melanoma in his right forearm.
Rotorua resident Richard Lyons says at 83 years old he is “damn lucky” to have survived a malignant melanoma on his right forearm - the same forearm he used to hang outside his truck every day for four years.
A skin doctor says sunblock is not enough to protect people who get a lot of sun exposure at work, including drivers who may also end up with more aged-looking skin on one side of their face.
Lyons has spent time working on airport tarmacs and hobby farms. He enjoyed walking his late dog Cubby on sunny days. But he believes he was most exposed to the dangers of ultraviolet radiation during his stint as a truck driver 50 years ago.
“This melanoma, I suspect it goes back to when I had a trucking business in the late 60s, early 70s,” Lyons told the Rotorua Daily Post.
“[I wore] shorts and short-sleeve cotton tops all year around. My arm was stuck out the window all the time on the right-hand side. It used to get very brown over the summer period.
“For three or four years, I spent eight hours a day in the truck and sometimes more, particularly in the summertime. It all counts.”
At the time, Lyons said he never used sunblock “or anything like that” and he isn’t sure what was available at the time would have made a difference.
“When I had the trucking business I recall there was some anti-sunburn oil or cream around in those days but there was nothing like the high-intensity ones they have right now.”
Lyons said he had never been too concerned about skin cancer.
“I’d read about [melanoma] and you hear about it on the telly,” Lyons said.
“I used to give it what I would term cursory acknowledgement.”
Richard Lyons was 83 years old when he was diagnosed with melanoma in his right forearm. He says he didn't stay out much in the sun but was a truck driver for many years. Photo / Andrew Warner
That all changed in September when the 83-year-old noticed that a scab on his right forearm stopped healing properly.
“All of a sudden this little tumour popped up. You could see the growth in it each day.”
Lyons went to his GP and was referred first to Rotorua Hospital and then Waikato Hospital for scans which confirmed the worst. He had melanoma and it was malignant.
“I was a bit surprised but not totally. My main concern was after I had spoken to the surgeons and I thought about it spreading.
“I started to feel very tired.”
The cancer had begun to affect Lyons’ lymph nodes under his left armpit. Lyons was told urgent surgery was needed and that due to the depth of the melanoma, he would lose the affected lymph nodes and some muscle from his forearm.
“I would like to say very emphatically that the Rotorua Hospital staff right from the very beginning [were] absolutely spot on. I am well today because of them and their true professionalism in everything that they do.”
Now, Lyons is in remission. He has been advised he will need a check-up every six months and Lyons is determined to stick to the appointments.
“Now I’ve had it,” Lyons said.
“I know what [melanonma] is all about and I think about how to tell people what’s going down and what the real chances of getting it are. Everybody can get it.”
Lyons said he wanted to share his story so that drivers knew the car did not protect them from the dangers of the sun’s rays.
“I think some people get complacent about it or they just don’t think about it. It’s an insidious disease.”
It showed 504 patients were diagnosed with melanoma, BCC (basal cell carcinoma) and SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) skin cancer in 2022, and 545 in 2023 between January and mid-October.
According to skin cancer detection service MoleMap New Zealand’s website those working in professions that require lots of sun exposure, like truck drivers, are most at risk.
“Recent studies indicate that people working in these fields may be receiving up to nine times the amount of dangerous UV radiation exposure than those working in any other capacity,” the website said.
“Since drivers in Australia and New Zealand sit on the right side of the car, skin cancers are more prominent on the right arm and right side of the face. This is due to the UV exposure through the car window.”
Skinspots founder and MoleMap chief medical officer New Zealand, Dr Franz Strydom.
MoleMap New Zealand chief medical officer and Skinspots founder Dr Franz Strydom, who is based in Mount Maunganui, said workers such as bus or truck drivers had “occupational exposure” to the sun.
“The more sun you get, the more damage your skin will get and you will end up [having] a droopy face on one side and the other side [will look] 10 years younger.”
He said bus drivers had a “huge big window in front of them”.
“Some of the light will be filtered through the glass and some of them have some filters on but there’s still a lot of sunlight coming through there. There will still be some UV light that gets to them.”
Strydom said sunscreen would not “be enough” for drivers working six to eight-hour days and they should wear long sleeves, a hat and something to protect their eyes.
“It tells you what to look for and if anything’s sore, scaly or slow to heal, anything that’s changing, anything that looks abnormal... and anything that’s new.
“Those things are the most important things to watch out for.”
New Zealand Trucking Association HARMfree programme manager John Sansom said the association recognise the importance of staying sun safe on the road.
“The New Zealand Trucking Association reminds all drivers to protect themselves from the sun. Wear a hat, use sunscreen, and stay hydrated.”
- Additional reporting Megan Wilson
Melanoma: The numbers
More than 6000 melanomas are diagnosed in New Zealand every year
Melanoma accounts for nearly 80 per cent of all skin cancer deaths
Almost 300 Kiwis die of melanoma every year
Around 70 per cent of melanoma cases occur in people aged 50 years and older
Men are twice as likely than women to die from melanoma
