#skincancerawareness

Put your sunscreen, hat, longsleeve, full coverage bathing suit, etc on!

April 2016 I had a malignant melanoma removed from my back- I still have a significant scar as a reminder. My husband had a melanoma removed a few years after that and we have been vigilant since.

Unfortunately- I had a mole come back after my last visit as a “severely atypical nevi” and had to have a surgical excision( today). These moles or nevi are not ALWAYS cancer or dangerous- but from what I gather, convert easily to melanoma. Given my sordid history with melanoma- the choice was a 2.5cm surgical incision/ removal. I was grateful it was less than the 11cm from the previous melanoma. However- this one is slap dab in the middle of my abdomen. So now, thanks (likely) to my idiotic youth and bikini choices- I will sport- not a cute bikini- but a large surgical incision on my back from 2016 and a medium sized one on my abdomen from today.

Please- be careful. No matter what beautiful skin tone you are- be careful and get SCREENED.

We can PREVENT two cancers- SKIN and COLON. Be smart and screen regularly for both.

My stomach dropped and my throat felt heavy as I stared at the text message from my husband.

“The dermatologist called me.  I will call him back when I get out of work.”  Was all it said.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.  I knew what that meant.  I had gotten a call from the same dermatologist when I had a positive biopsy.  That could only mean that my husband also had a positive biopsy.

Two hours dragged past until my husband called me.

“Yeah… its melanoma.” He said, confirming my fears. “Too deep for him to remove, I have to see a surgeon and get my lymph nodes checked.”

I felt sick.  I had researched too much when I had a similar mole removed.  But mine had been clean- the base clear.  His is not clean or clear.  He is in a more complicated place.

He told me not to worry and later put a smile on to show me he was ok.

To be honest, I am worried sick.  I’m good at my job as an ICU nurse because I imagine the worst possible scenario and work to prevent it.   Today, as a wife, I feel like that couldn’t be a worse trait.

Dear sun worshippers… PLEASE.  PLEASE. Don’t be foolish.  Take precautions.  My small family is now 2 for 2 on melanoma moles. If you aren’t worried about yourself and your OWN skin… please know that the people who love you ARE worried.

Go see a dermatologist. Go get checked.  Look at your skin.  Check your moles.  PLEASE.

Being tan isn’t worth dying over.

www.skincancer.org

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma