Page 11 - WM Donald Newsletter - Edition Four

My encounterwith skin cancerLike most working men I’m not keen on making an appointment to see the doctor. It’s the disruption, the waiting around, the feeling that you’re probably wasting the doctor’s time.Think again.In the second half of 2016 I had a lesion at the top of my nose, close to me eye. The lesion would partially scab over and then would start to weep again. It never really healed. Under duress, I saw my doctor who arranged for me to have a biopsy. The result of the biopsy: skin cancer!Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Sadly for us Scots, it is more common amongst fair-skinned adults. It can occur anywhere on the skin, but is particularly prevalent in those areas which are exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time: face, nose, ears, arms. Cancerous growths are localised but, without treatment, they do continue to grow.I was operated on under local anaesthetic in April 2017. In my case the cancerous growth was close to a tear duct and, therefore, Mohs micrographic surgery was used. This technique involves removing layers of skin until, eventually, only cancer-free tissue remains. Despite the micro-surgey tag, I distinctly remember the feeling ofthe surgeon’s knife feeling like a pair of scissors going through chicken breast. There was also the smell of burning flesh as the wound was cauterized!I’d really like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone working outdoors to take basic safety precautions.Firstly, keep covered up. Secondly, for those areas where this is difficult, use a high protection SPF30+ sun cream to protect against UVB rays. Ideally, this should be applied 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun.Secondly, self-check your skin at least once a month for marks and scabs. If these are growing, changing in appearance, bleeding or failing to heal then go and see your GP.Finding out you have ‘cancer’, however benign, is scary. I was lucky; there are far more serious skin cancers than basal cell carcinoma. Start taking the precautions before it’s too late.Raymond BlackDID YOU KNOW?It’s not just the Natural History Museum that has a whale to be proud of! WMD Drainage Services has added a 32t KaiserWhale to its fleet.The KaiserWhale is primarily used on large drain and sewer cleaning projects. It employs continuous dirty water recycling technology to remain active on site until the job is complete. Water used in the jetting is vacuumed out along with the silt and debris. It is then filtered before being resent to the jetting nozzle. The KaiserWhale can jet at up to 400l/min at 200 bar.Studies have indicated that the KaiserWhale is on site for 40% more time, uses far less potable water and is more fuel-efficient!WMD Drainage Services’ team continues to grow and has reached eight in only six months of operations.The team delivers drain and sewer inspection, jetting, maintenance and repair services.The team has recently completed projects in Orkney where team leader, Colin Christie, captured this beautiful sunset.The W M Donald suction excavator has been in demand during 2017.Projects have included supporting an unexploded ordinance survey in Nigg Bay. On a day-to-day basis, however, the suction excavator is typically used on site preparation and utility projects.The suction excavator is a business in its own right, so please contact Jim Strang at W M Donald if you’d like to hire it.11