The Best of 2019: Hugh Royer III Overcomes Harrowing Cancer Battle

From the depths of a life-threatening ordeal that required seven surgeries in nine months and dozens of rounds of radiation treatment, Hugh Royer III rose from his cancer battle to return to the golf scene in 2019 – including as a competitor, where the former PGA TOUR player took part in multiple senior tour events including the U.S. Senior Open Qualifier.

Off the course, Hugh has remained active on the public speaking and messaging front, cautioning others on the dangers of skin cancer and showing how you need to “Protect Your Skin if You Want to Win.” You can hear him speak more about his experience here, and below we present each of the two articles he penned for PlayGolfMyrlteBeach.com to help others prevent the occurrence of skin cancer. – Ed.

Protect Your Skin If You Want to Win

Feb. 25, 2019

Hugh Royer III, renowned golf instructor and former PGA TOUR player, has come a long way in his recovery from skin cancer – and learned a lot about simple ways that recreational golfers can minimize their risk of getting it.

By Hugh Royer III

Spring is around the corner, and everyone should be getting ready for the golf season! Getting ready means doing such things as changing your grips on your clubs, getting loft and lies checked on your irons, and loading your bag with all necessities.

The next thing to do is get your body in shape by stretching, and practicing indoors or outdoors. Most important, everyone should take the time to be sure they are healthy when the golf season starts.

In preparation for golf season and your trip to Myrtle Beach, it is imperative that you invest in a good sunscreen. Sunscreen is a vital part of skin cancer prevention, and it will save your life. It should be used each and every day as part of your daily routine – just like brushing your teeth, or putting on deodorant. For optimal protection, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with 30-50 SPF. The thicker, creamier sunscreens are used for drier skin and the face and ears, and the aerosol sprays are the most popular form of sunscreen used for ease of application. If the spray is your choice, be sure to apply generously so that it can soak into the skin.

Clothing is another means to protect your skin against sun damage, and an important preventive measure against skin cancer. Though many of us do not prefer it, wearing clothing that covers exposed areas of the skin is the best means to protect our bodies from the sun. The tighter the weave of the fabric, the better protected the skin is against UV radiation.

Synthetic fabrics or semi-synthetic fabrics are the best defense against harmful rays of the sun, compared to cotton or crepe materials. Thin or lightweight materials let in more UV light than heavier materials. Darker colors or intense bright colors provide great protection so, if possible, wear blacks and reds along with other bright colors. These colors deflect UV rays for better protection. Cotton is more comfortable, but it allows harmful UV rays to penetrate to the skin.

Wear loose-fitting clothes, because tighter-fitting clothes stretch and allow harmful rays to penetrate. When shopping for new clothes, look for the UPF tags that tell you how much protection is provided. Clothing has been called the first line of defense against the sun’s harmful rays, and is the single most effective means of sun protection. There is also a laundry additive that can be used that adds twenty days of UV protection, it is called Rit Dye Sun Guard.

Like many of you, I prefer a baseball-style hat. Some prefer visors. But for maximum protection, invest in a large-brim hat. Our head and neck receive the most exposure to the sun, so providing the best sun blockage is important. A wide-brim or floppy hat that is a minimum of three inches wide is essential for maximum coverage to protect the head, neck, ears and part of the shoulders. Be the person in your golf group that wears the cool, different hat, because it protects you against harmful UV rays of the sun.

Many people don’t like to wear sunglasses when they play golf, but they can add to the golfing experience as well as protect the eyes. Sunglasses can block 99-100 percent of harmful UV rays. There are many styles of sunglasses, but the larger the lenses, the better. The more they cover the eyes, eyelids, and cheeks, the better the protection against skin damage as well as skin cancer.

Take the time to invest in your health by preventing skin cancer. By following the suggestions I’ve mentioned here, along with the research that has been done on the effects of UV rays, you can make skin cancer prevention a simple schedule to follow. The more precautions you take, the lower your chances are of getting skin cancer.

Remember:

If you want to win, protect your skin!

To learn more about Hugh’s courageous recovery from the effects of skin cancer, click here.

Royer: The 6 Biggest Myths About Skin Cancer

June 21, 2019

Hugh Royer III, renowned golf instructor and former PGA TOUR player, is a skin cancer survivor who’s offered compelling testimony on the devastating impact the disease can have, and how recreational golfers can minimize their risks. Today, he wants you to be able to separate simple fact from fiction in gaining a better understanding of how to deal with it.

By Hugh Royer III

After a year of dealing with skin cancer that was misdiagnosed, I wanted to show in this space how naïve we as human beings can be about skin cancer. As with many physical issues, if caught early skin cancer can be removed, treated and managed effectively. The lack of knowledge about skin cancer is the biggest reason why it is the most common cancer, and affects nearly 4 million Americans a year.

Based on my experience, I can tell you that there are six big misconceptions about dealing with skin cancer.

Myth #1: All Physicians are Created Equal

There are many great skin cancer doctors in the U.S., but not all fit the needs of every patient. When a person is first diagnosed with skin cancer, their immediate reaction is to find a doctor or hospital. It is important to take the time to do research and find the best care physician and facility that fit the individual’s unique needs, and make the proper decision that will have a positive, long-term impact on their care.

Start by asking the doctor who first diagnosed you for his or her recommendations on the best specialists, hospitals and treatment facilities for your specific diagnosis. Use the American Cancer Society’s skin cancer fact sheet on how to choose and oncologist and cancer center.

Myth #2: All Slow-Growing Skin Cancers are Harmless

Some skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma are slow-growing. However, that doesn’t mean they are harmless. If left untreated these types of cancers can spread to other parts of the body. If a person finds any lesions or spots on their body that seem suspicious, they should contact a doctor immediately. If it turns out to be a form of skin cancer, your doctor can devise the best treatment plan and follow-up care to address the cancer issue.

Myth #3: If You Have Skin Cancer You Can Just Have It Cut Away – “No Big Deal”

Skin cancer is cancer: it can be cut off of the skin, but that’s not the end of the treatment. Once skin cancer is diagnosed and has been cut away, constant follow-ups with a physician are required to maintain the patient’s safety and well-being. If skin cancer is caught early enough, a 98 percent success rate is possible. With all the positives of early diagnosis, constant monitoring and examinations are required to prevent more serious situations. With the precautions needed to prevent further damage and threats to the patient, a skin cancer survivor’s daily life is never the same as it was pre-diagnosis.

Myth #4: “It’s Only Skin Cancer – Not Something Bad Like Breast Cancer”

It’s astonishing how some will shrug off skin cancer as “no big deal” when it can be as serious (if not more serious) than other forms of cancer. If not treated early on, skin cancer can become as life-threatening as any other cancer. If one or more major surgeries have been required to treat it, there is a 50 percent chance of recurrence, or even death. Maintaining constant awareness of the situation is a necessity for each patient.

Myth #5: Tanning Salons are a Safe Alternative to Sunlight

This is the single-biggest fallacy about skin cancer prevention. Tanning in a tanning bed as little as once a month under its ultraviolet lights can increase the risk of a deadly form of skin cancer occurring by 55 percent, and the danger is even greater when done in early adulthood. Tanning beds raise the risk of malignant melanoma, as well as other types of skin cancers. People who have visited a tanning salon are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than those who haven’t used a tanning salon. Tanning bed lights increase the risk of developing one of these three forms of cancer significantly.

Myth #6: You Don’t Need to Wear Sunscreen on a Cloudy Day

False! You can get sunburned and suffer skin damage on cloudy days. Cloud cover cools temperatures, and can make exposure more comfortable and last longer. The sun’s rays can still cause severe damage to the skin and eyes on overcast days, which is why sunscreen and sunglasses are essential preventive measures to take when you’re outdoors for any length of time. It is important to protect yourself every day.

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers – but the easiest to treat if caught early. All three forms of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) are dangerous and can result in death, so vigilant checks and doctor visits will help in prevention as well as maintenance. Find a doctor you trust who instills confidence, and do constant self checks: it could save your life.

And always remember: “Protect Your Skin If You Want to Win.”

If you want to learn more about Hugh’s courageous recovery from the effects of skin cancer, click here.