#melanoma

As rates of a dangerous form of skin cancer rise, health experts are warning Albertans to protect themselves and watch out for misinformation circulating on social media. According to Statistics Canada's most recent data, the number of new melanoma cases in Alberta nearly doubled between 2013 and 2023. And the age-standardized rate increased from 17.6 to 26.3 per 100,000 people during the same time period. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates there will be 1,190 cases of melanoma diagnosed in the province this year and 115 Albertans will die due to the illness.

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I'm going to be fine. It's extremely early stage and will involve a second small out patient procedure to remove more tissue and, assuming all goes well and nothing more funky is discovered, I should recover quickly and be "cancer free" by next week aka almost immediately.

Based off my complexion and my family history, I really have known for years I'd someday say, "I have skin cancer." I remember my grandfather's hands marred with scars from removal of spots. Once my dad had it when I was in HS, our family doctor said, "it's not if, it's more likely when for you."

So I have been VIGILANT. I started regular skin scans at 30 and my dermatologist was able to map my marks and moles and pay careful attention annually. I don't fuck around with sun exposure--when I'm out in the water and shit in Texas, I literally wear an SPF long sleep hooded swim shirt. I use at least 50 SPF sunscreen which I reapply continuously, carry an umbrella for shade, wear a hideous visor, and have the BIGGEST, darkest, weirdest UV blocking sunglasses you've ever seen.

I look very strange (YES in 100+ degree heat) and my friends poke fun at me a bit about it. I've been loving called "a Tim Burton character. When I tell them this news, I can't wait to say "Looking like a vampire freak WAS JUSTIFIED and I will keep doing it" 🤣

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take these things seriously and keep in mind:

You should wear sunscreen EVERY DAMN DAY (unless you're 100% indoors, but idk UV rays might even be getting to ya through windows and shit)

If it's accessible to you, you should be getting regular skin scans from a qualified dermatologist annually. The first time, they'll do a baseline mark mapping so they can keep an eye out for changes and new stuff.

If you notice ANY changes in a mole, especially if they boarders become irregular, etc. GO TO THE DOCTOR.

Don't for one moment think that tanning is ever good or helpful...like at all.

No matter what your skin tone/complexion is like, USE SUNSCREEN. But if you are fair, fully red headed or even a tad "ginger," and/or have lots and lots of freckles and/or moles, BE EXTRA VIGILANT. I am those things, and here we are.

In 2022 I went to a doctor who dismissed my concerns about a freckle turned mole on my abdomen, he dismissed me and said it was nothing- I knew something was wrong so I went back in early 2023 and the doctor then made an emergency referral to a local dermatologist, she knew something was wrong the moment she saw it. The mole wasn’t “just a mole”, it was skin cancer. The mole was an irregular shape with spotting around it, key sign of melanoma.

In mid April I was given a biopsy and immediately contacted within 12 days of the biopsy that I had fast developing skin cancer, I was diagnosed with pre stage one - stage one cancer. At the time I was still in school but they needed me into surgery fast, I was dangerously close to the “point of no return”.

With permission from my university’s professors I completed classes early and went into surgery to remove the mole. Let’s just say they were surprised with how deep it went… no bueno. Fast forward to a few weeks later they called me and said I have been officially cleared, I was free. However, I’d need regular skin checks to make sure it stayed away.