Jimmy Buffet's Death Serves as Warning to Jersey Shore Visitors

The death of Jimmy Buffet this week, came as a surprise to his fans. However, Buffet has been ill for several years.

TMZ is reporting that Buffet was diagnosed with skin cancer 4 years ago, and that skin cancer morphed into Lymphoma. They're reporting that it was the lymphoma that caused his death.

It's difficult to ignore the irony of Jimmy Buffet, Mr. Sunshine and Beach icon, getting skin cancer.

Skin cancer is preventable. Yet many of us, still don't take it seriously. Face it, we love our tans, and there's something about laying on the hot sand, soaking in the rays that brings a sense of calmness to our hectic lives.

Let Buffet's death serve as a reminder that skin cancer is a real threat, and its avoidable.

Here's some stats to think about.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association,

Skin Cancer is the number 1 cancer in America.
1 in 5 Americans will contract skin cancer in their lifetime.
Skin Cancer doesn't discriminate. White, Black, Latino, Asians, Men and Women are all at risk.

The good news is that when detected, and treated early, the survival rate is quite high.

It feels like as I get older, I add more doctors to my schedule. A few weeks ago, at my family's urging, I went to visit a dermatologist for the first time. It was an easy visit. The doctor at Schweiger Dermatology looked over my whole body with a special magnifier.

The whole appointment took less than 15 minutes, and I'm not going to lie, I was surprised that she found nothing.

Regardless of where you choose to go, find 15 minutes to do it.

What to look for? The AAD says,

changes in size, shape, or color of a mole or other skin lesion, the appearance of a new growth on the skin, or a sore that doesn't heal. If you notice any spots on your skin that are different from the others, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, contact a doctor

Jimmy Buffett Dead at 76 from Skin Cancer (tmz.com)

See Inside Jimmy Buffett's Staggering $6.9 Million Palm Beach Mansion

Jimmy Buffett sure knew how to live the good life. His former 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, 4,039-square-foot mansion in the exclusive Eden Properties neighborhood in Palm Beach is exactly the kind of laid-back home you'd expect the superstar to relax in when he was off the road.

The interior centers around a combined dining and living room with eye-popping vaulted ceilings topped off by skylights, while a massive wall of mahogany-framed sliding glass doors looks out over the pool area outside. The kitchen is decorated in gleaming white, and each of the bedrooms has its own attached bathroom, while the massive master suite also has sliding glass doors that open to both the pool and a bathroom that looks like it belongs in a high-end resort.

The exterior of the house is just as striking, centered around a sparkling pool of deep cobalt blue. The pool area features plenty of lounging, and a loggia just outside the living room offers open-air dining. There are lush gardens, brick paths that walk through elaborate pergolas and a fountain. The property also features a two-car garage with a guest suite overhead, and it offers deeded access to the beach nearby.