Issue #489: Why Catch It Early
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, January 20th.
In today’s email:
Focus: My Visit to the Dermatologist
Try: Schedule Your Skin Exam
Move: Get Stronger Hip Flexors
In the News: Happiness as a Work Compass
After nearly 500 issues, we’re making a change:
Next Tuesday will be our final free newsletter.
No, we’re not stopping - we’re stepping it up.
Thrive25 has grown into much more than health content. We’re here to help everyone actually take control of your health - to stay organized, know what you should be doing, and use the healthcare system in a way to maximize your longevity.
That evolution led us to build the Thrive25 Personal Health OS - a single place to manage, understand, and act on your health.
Companies across the U.S. are already signing up to have an affordable way to help employees feel healthier, more energized, and more in control of their lives.
What’s changing?
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Not longer reads.
Just more useful.
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A thank you to loyal readers!
Because you’ve been with us, we want to make this easy.
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🩺 Prevention
Know when to go for screenings, what to ask, and how to make a 12-minute appointment actually work for you (see my example below).🧪 Biomarkers
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Thousands of people already use Thrive25 to feel more organized, informed and in control of their health - here’s some great wins we’re hearing from our members 👇
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Thanks for being here. Truly.
We wouldn’t be nearing 500 issues without readers like you - and I hope Thrive25 continues to be part of your week and your health for a long time into the future.
Stat of the Day
The number of Americans that will develop skin cancer before age 70. (Skincancer.org)
Learn
My Visit to the Dermatologist
I spent years going to the doctor with no plan or agenda. I’d never do that with a business meeting - why would I do it with something as important as my health?
Here’s how I just had the most effective dermatologist appointment:
About four months ago, I took photos of a few skin spots I wanted to keep an eye on. Instead of letting them get lost in my camera roll, I uploaded them into my Health Hub in Thrive25.
Then the day before the visit, I opened up the appointment details in my app and added specific questions I wanted to cover - I wanted to make sure this wouldn’t be a 12 minute drive-by and I’d forget everything I wanted to ask.
Take a deeper look at the spots I wanted to call out
How to handle sun exposure in FL - get Vitamin D, but not be at risk of cancer
Longevity skincare options for my face
Taking charge of the agenda changed the entire appointment. I still received a full body scan, but most of the time was focused on my concerns and I left with specific answers (and piece of mind).
The photos made it easy to compare size and color over time - one of the most important signals for skin cancer risk. Dermatologists care less about how a spot looks in isolation and much more about whether it’s changing over time.
Now instead of “let’s keep an eye on it,” we already had done that and could confidently rule out these spots being a problem.
Then the dermatologist gave me some notes for my specific skin risks - I used voice-to-text to get these notes directly into my appointment details in the app. Nothing will be lost when I come back next year.
I’m in FL and want to be active outside, so I’m going to continue to get out in the sun. But, I’ve seen what happens over time when skin health is ignored - multiple procedures, unnecessary stress. That’s not the path I want.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S.
About 1 in 5 Americans will develop it at some point.
There are three types of skin cancer:
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) - often shows up as a pink patch or bump.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) - starts as a scaly patch and can look like a firm red nodule.
Melanoma - new, odd-shaped moles that are unusual in color and grow quickly.
Basal cell is the most common and slowest to spread. But squamous and melanoma can be much more severe.
But even the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99% - when caught early. That’s why dermatologists care so much about:
Change over time
Irregular shape or color
Cumulative sun exposure
For higher-risk cases, Mohs surgery is often used - removing cancer layer by layer and checking each one in real time. It’s precise, tissue-sparing, and extremely effective when lesions are caught early.
One of our Thrive25 Medical Advisors specializes in this surgery and will tell you that early detection is the #1 priority for all of us.
It’s not just up to the doctor. Better outcomes start with better-prepared patients - informed, organized, and confident enough to take ownership of their health.
Try
Schedule your Skin Exam
Skin cancer isn’t something to panic about - but it is something to stay ahead of.
Get your annual skin exam to dramatically lower the risk of future problems. It’s one of the simplest ways to protect your long-term health.
Before you go, take photos of any spots you want checked and write down your questions. Showing up prepared turns a quick appointment into real preventive care.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
As a Thrive25 reader, you know curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) is powerful for inflammation and brain health.
But here’s the problem: most curcumin barely gets absorbed.
SuperNatural BodyControl solves that.
It uses a patented delivery process to create BioSoluble® Curcumin™, allowing curcumin to cross the gut and blood-brain barrier - making it up to 42× more bioavailable than standard curcumin, for faster, real-world impact.
Less wasted. More effect. That’s the difference.
Kick off your 2026 health goals with BodyControl.
Move
Strong Hip Flexors
How many of us have heard (or said) - “wow my hip flexors are tight”?
Spending most of the day sitting in standard chairs is a fast track to weakness and atrophy in these muscles. And the solution isn’t just about stretching - it’s strengthening too.
Hip flexors are the muscles at the front of our hip (top of our quads) that connect our pelvis and legs. They play a huge role in stabilizing posture and supporting efficient movement when we walk or run.
This muscle group also helps extend the knee, rotate the thigh, and support the groin. In other words, they’re doing a lot more than most of us give them credit for.
And if you’ve ever dealt with lower back pain or tightness - hip flexors might be the culprit.
Here’s a simple exercise you can do absolutely anywhere to build hip flexor strength:
Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Sit tall, aiming to keep your torso close to a 90° angle with the floor - you can use your hands for support so you don’t lean back.
Place a cone, water bottle or any object ~10-12 inches high in front of you. Keeping one leg straight, slowly lift it over the object and lower it on the other side. Then lift it back over to the starting position.
That’s one rep. Do five reps per leg, then switch sides.
Start with one set and gradually build to 3-5 sets. It’s something you can do during your morning routine, evening routine, or literally anytime during the day.
It only takes a few minutes, requires zero equipment, and won’t leave you sweaty.
Feels like the perfect Quick Win to give a try.
H&L in the News
Turning Tumors Against Themselves: Scientists have found a way to reprogram immune cells already inside tumors, flipping them from cancer protectors into cancer killers. This in-body approach could make powerful immunotherapy faster, cheaper, and far more effective against solid tumors. (SciTech Daily)
Menopause, Explained Head-to-Toe: Menopause isn’t just hot flashes. This head-to-toe guide breaks down how shifting hormones affect the brain, heart, metabolism, bones, and more - plus what actually helps - so you can navigate midlife changes with clarity and confidence. (NYTimes)
Happiness as a Work Compass: As AI reshapes work, efficiency isn’t enough. Happiness gives leaders real-time insight into trust, fear, and engagement - turning well-being into a practical compass for healthier, higher-performing workplaces. (Big Think)
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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To health!
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.