DEAR SIR

I’ve written to you and your two predecessors over a period of years on a variety of topics. Some may have found them interesting, some irritating but I want to address two completely different topics for your readers to consider.

For some time now I’ve had an irritating, recurring small scab on the tip of my nose. It annoyed me but not enough for me to “go further”. On the encouragement of my wife, I finally succumbed and got it checked out. A biopsy confirmed BCC or Basal cell carcinoma.

It is generally not life-threatening, but left alone it can develop to the point that you can end up losing a bit of tissue around the offending area

This is a localised but potentially nasty type of cancer that often occurs on the nose or ears. It is generally not life-threatening, but left alone it can develop to the point that you can end up losing a bit of tissue around the offending area.

When I went to the specialist, he put me on a waiting list for removal of the root of the BCC on my nose. While there he froze off several “sunspots” on various parts of my body.

It’s important that you get brown or dark spots looked at and establish what they are. They might be more than you would like or may be completely benign. But please get them checked as it’s very much a farmer risk, an outdoor thing.

In some cases, a melanoma can be found and in some cases, it may need immediate attention.

I had a target of 200 donations but will now not reach this number

Because of what I’ve just described, I now am blocked from donating platelets. I gave my first blood donation while in Warrenstown ag college in 1970.

I was a sporadic donor until a life-changing event made me switch to giving platelets. I have been much more active on this. I had a target of 200 donations but will now not reach this number.

Many lives may be improved by your gift

My plea to you fellow farmers is will you consider taking my place and become a platelet donor? Platelets are vital for many medical procedures and there are less than 2,000 donors nationally. Please, please join this exclusive club. Many lives may be improved by your gift.

The other point is check out that pesky scab, have somebody check that new mole or dark spot. Men are not good at this kind of non-emergency intervention but do it for the other people in your lives.