I’m a Melanoma Survivor
Because almost all of us are exposed to the sun on a daily bases I want to share my story with you because I want you all to be safe and instead of boring you with statistics and info about UV rays,
I will just tell you what you should look for and what to be concerned about.
About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Melanoma. I had a mole on my ankle that had been growing and rapidly changing; it was bigger than a pencil eraser. I remember always telling my family that I knew it was cancer. I finally got brave enough and nervous enough to go get it checked out and sure enough it was melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. I remember getting that phone call from my doctor. I sat there in my living room kind of in shock, not really believing what I heard. I was about to go pick up my husband from basic training and realizing I had no way to get a hold of him to tell him. I had cancer! What happens now!?
They scheduled some appointments for me to dissect more skin around my mole to check my lymph nodes and then finally to schedule my surgery to remove the melanoma. The surgery went well and they removed some lymph nodes from my knee and groin and thankfully it hadn’t spread! They removed a huge section around my mole and stapled it shut and now I have a narley scar on my ankle. I don’t mind the scar. It reminds me that I need to check myself and those I love. You can never be too careful with your skin. I now have to go in every 4 months and get mole mapped. What is that you ask? Well, lets just say I get scanned in my au-natural in front my my doc and nurses to see if anything has changed on my body. ( I guess I am really close with alot of my nurses. haha)
This post isn’t to care you, but I would like to make sure you, our readers, are educated.
What do you watch for?
Its called the ABC’s of melanoma
If you notice anything like this happening on your body, PLEASE go see your dermatologist. Don’t be like me and put it off until it starts getting deeper in your skin.
Facts:
- Melanoma on men usually occurs on the chest or back, on women it occurs on the lower legs.
- It is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S.
- In women 25-29, melanoma is the primary cause of cancer death, and in women 30-34 it is the second most common cause of cancer death.
- In the U.S. your chance of getting melanoma in 1940 was 1 in 1500. By 2004, it was 1 in 67. By 2016, scientists predict it will be 1 in 50.
- If caught in the earliest stages, melanoma is entirely treatable with a survival rate of nearly 100%. If untreated and allowed to spread, there is no known treatment or cure.
Also, I know we all know that tanning beds are bad, sun is bad, and you need to protect yourself!
WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN!
Wear your sun hats and make sure your kids are covered, too!
About Jessica
I too have melanoma, it started as a mole and went to clarks stage 4…they got all of it out… I had hoped.. a 4×6 taken from my back… I have been having all the test and scans for the past two years… I noticed a lump on my breast.. went to have it checked and the doctor said it was a gland.. Staying with the program I went in for a CT scan… the scan came out two weeks later and the doctor said there is a spot on your breast.. I said I know, the doctor said it was a gland.. My oncologist said I want it checked anyways… Good thing I did..The cancer is back now in both breast… I said take them off and get it out.. he said, its not breast cancer its Melanoma.. After curssing a lot , I am now to understand the cancer is back and he doesn’t want to operate as then it will spread more…… OMG what am I going to do.. I have three young adult teens in college… their father passed 7 years ago and I am all they have… How can this be… So now I am living on Faith and fear…. they are going to start me on Yervoy…. I WANT TO LIVE TO SEE MY GRAND CHILDREN AND TEACH THEM TO SURF AND BE PIRATES…… GOD ARE YOU LISTENING… NOT YET I SAY…. ITS IN HIS HANDS NOW…
Kelley! My heart goes out to you and your family! You will definitely be in our prayers. I believe that if you have a positive outlook things will look brighter. I know that may seem so hard right now and it should be but know that you are not alone and there are people thinking of you and wishing for the best for you and god has a plan for you too! I’m so sorry you are going through this! Cancer SUCKS!
I’m so sorry to hear your sad news. Have you researched CBD oil or other natural therapies? There’s lots of good natural cures for cancer that doctors don’t tell you about.
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I’m so glad you got it checked in time! How scary that must have been for you. Thanks for the reminders as the weather is warning up and we have more sun exposure.
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