the unplanned update

Well, I promised I’d write again with some exciting updates….. I have a major life changing update but it’s most definitely not what I had in mind or something that I planned for.
It’s also still difficult to talk/write about, but I think if I share my story, maybe I can help others.

Sunshine. Beautiful warm sunny weather. I absolutely love it. I love being outside feeling the heat and I’ve always thought that I have the type of skin that doesn’t burn and just goes beautiful brown. I love having a tan and that summer glow that goes along with it.

It was during the serious lockdown of covid (early May), that my husband noticed a ‘funny’ mole on my back - left shoulder blade to be more specific.
I’m normally not one to go to see a doctor unless something is really very concerning. I didn’t even think this was something to worry about but for some reason decided to get it checked out. Covid times remember. I couldn’t go see my doc, but had to make an appointment for her to call me at a set time. Even when she called (May 8th), I was more curious to see how she was doing through all the craziness rather than worry about this little spot on my shoulder. I eventually told her what I was calling for and she asked if I could email her a photo of it.
She scheduled me in right away (May 11th) to get a biopsy done after seeing the photo I sent. starting to get a little concerned now.
I get another phone call from my Doctor (May 22). My ‘funny’ mole came back positive for Melanoma. I don’t know if it was shock or just ignorance on the subject. Melanoma. But I have skin that doesn’t burn and I love the sun so this topic is so foreign to me. I’ve never had a worry about skin cancer and never thought it would be me. I remember my Doctor telling me that this is really serious. I also remember her telling me not to google it too much, stick to the ‘good sites’ for information and that it’s too easy to go down a deep dark hole. That last tidbit was probably the best thing she could have told me - There are a lot of horror stories out there and it is way too easy to slip into a dark place.
What I did read was that Melanoma is one of the worst kinds of skin cancer. It can spread really fast to your lymph nodes and then just takes over. Very serious, very scary stuff.
I had to wait three weeks with this knowledge eating away at me. Did it spread? What’s going to happen? Am I going to be ok? What about my kids? Can I go outside? By this time I’m afraid to be outside. I’m afraid of that beautiful sunshine I was talking about earlier. Two weeks until my appointment with a plastic surgeon to remove the entire mole plus a good chunk of skin all around it. another eight days after that to get the results and find out if it’s spread.
I really appreciated this Doctor (the plastic surgeon). He was blunt and straight to the point - in a good way. He explained things in simple terms with easy comparisons I could relate to. ‘The fence’ is a great example. He explained that our skin is like a fence that protects us. If the melanoma stays outside the fence (which is 1mm under the top layer of skin), then you have a really good chance of removing it all and that it didn’t spread. If the cancer goes past your fence and deeper than 1mm it’s more likely to spread. My melanoma tested at .88. That’s pretty darn close to the fence! But I’m a lucky one, if I can say that, because the entire thing was successfully removed without it spreading any further.

dermatologist was up next (june 5). officially now considered a cancer patient, my appointment was scheduled right away (most dermatologists have huge waiting lists). now and for the rest of my life, i have to see a specialist doctor at the bc cancer agency every six months for a full body exam of all my spots and marks. because i have had skin cancer i am susceptible for reoccurrence.

could be so much worse

as i mentioned at the beginning, i am writing this in hopes to help and inform others. just within my small circle of friends that I have told my story to personally, five of them have had moles removed, two of which were cancerous. they admitted they never would have gone if it wasn’t for me. make that appointment and get your skin checked. cover up. wear sunscreen. wear a hat. wear sunglasses. find the shade. avoid being in the sun during the hottest time of the day. look after yourselves!