Melanoma is not something I can ignore, but I can live a full life because mine was caught early. Majority of our readers are the statistical age to be diagnosed with a VERY deadly form of skin cancer. I want to educate people about melanoma so children have their mom to watch them grow up. I want to bring awareness so no one has to say goodbye to a loved one prematurely. Melanoma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer and also the most treatable with early detection. Please pause and really read these humbling statistics in the infographic below from https://melanoma.org/ or click the graphic for more information.
It’s been a while since I’ve shared my story. I was 32 years old and noticed a dark freckle on my chest. I was familiar with skin cancer because in my late 20’s I had already had basal cell skin cancer, but I didn’t really know much about melanoma. It wasn’t long into my google search that I was booking myself an appointment ASAP with my family doctor. My “new” freckle was not only very dark brown in some places, but it was almost the size of a pencil eraser and the borders were an irregular pattern. It wasn’t a symmetrical freckle. Other then those tell-tale signs, it wasn’t alarming. It wasn’t gross or ugly.
What does melanoma look like?
Having your skin checked once each year by a dermatologist, as well as checking your skin at home each month, may help melanoma be caught in its earliest stage. Although melanoma can only be diagnosed with a biopsy, the ABCDE rule can help you and your dermatologist identify a melanoma.
A: Asymmetrical Shape – Melanomas are often irregular, or not symmetrical, in shape. Benign moles are usually symmetrical.
B: Border – Typically, non-cancerous moles have smooth, even borders. Melanomas usually have irregular borders that are difficult to define.
C: Color – The presence of more than one color (blue, black, brown, tan, etc.) or the uneven distribution of color can sometimes be a warning sign of melanoma. Benign moles are usually a single shade of brown or tan.
D: Diameter – Melanomas are often greater than 6 millimeters in diameter (approximately the size of a pencil eraser).
E: Evolution (or change) – The evolution of your mole(s) has become the most important factor to consider when it comes to diagnosing a melanoma. Knowing what is normal for YOU could save your life. If a mole has gone through recent changes in color and/or size, bring it to the attention of a dermatologist right away.
The roaming dermatologist took a look at it and decided a quick biopsy would be a good idea. I remember her saying, “if it is melanoma, it’s likely very new.” She sent it off to the lab and I hopped on a plane the next day looking forward to a family vacation. About a week later she called me with the news that it was melanoma. My heart sank and I was instantly terrified that my kids were not going to have a mother. I had a 6 month old baby! I knew the stories about people dying from melanoma in less then a year. My doctor gave me the details that I had stage 1a melanoma and “I should live a full life.” Initially I was really fearful, but over the years that has turned to feelings of thankfulness to be alive, a safer relationship with the sun, and a zeal to protect and educate others from melanoma.
When I got back from our trip I had a wide excision surgery to remove a football shape section to ensure there were no cancer cells left in my body.
It wasn’t pleasant, but I was thankful that was the extent of treatment I would need with my staging. Lots of stitches later, it was healed and we got labs back that said the borders were clear. That was hopefully the last of that melanoma, but the beginning of my lifelong task to not get it again.
I went to the dermatologist every 3 months for a full body look over. It’s not as bad as one would think. My dermatologists are moms about my age. We chit chat about the kids and they make sure I don’t have life ending moles on my skin.
I have had numerous biopsies in the last 7 years, but no recurrence or new melanoma spots. I did however have a biopsy come back atypical and as I understand it, it basically means there’s a very good chance it would turn into melanoma. I am currently recovering from a surgery on my leg. It’s not pretty. I’m actually going to give you the choice if you want to see it. Do not click the picture below if you’re sensitive to stitches or wounds. My left arm is carefully place for view discretion.
Click photo to reveal surgery of a pre-cancerous skin surgery.
Did you click? I know, it’s bruised and ugly. I have about 12 stitches on the top and another layer below that. The bruising makes it extra dramatic. My stitches actually come out today and it’s looking much better. I don’t like the scar, but I do love being alive.
Keeping melanoma from reaching my lymphatic system is the goal and I want that for anyone reading this article too. The longer you wait, the less time you will have if it’s reached tissue levels that transport the cancer to your lymphatic system.
I will forever regret using tanning beds. I also had a lot of sun exposure in the summer on the lake. Protect your skin from the sun! It’s a big and important part of your body. Be proactive about keeping an eye on changes of your skin and see a dermatologist yearly. Don’t think that you are exempt because you tan or you’re a different race.
According to the Skin of Color Society, “People with skin of color are of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and include African Americans, Asians, Hispanics or Latinos, Native Indians and Pacific Islanders primarily, as well as individuals from these groups who have intermarried.” Melanoma does not discriminate skin color, gender or age.
Another thing that melanoma doesn’t do is discriminate against other cancers. In fact, while melanoma survivors need to pay close attention to their skin health and skin anomalies, they also need to be attentive to other abnormal health issues. As a survivor, you are at higher risk of getting other types of cancer, including breast and bowel cancers. In most cases, the safest bet is to remove the part affected by the tumors before they can spread, which would be a mastectomy for breast cancer and an ostomy for bowel cancer. Both are life-changing, but those with ostomy require specialist supplies for life, such as Convatec ostomy supplies. This only highlights how dangerous melanoma can be and the damage it can cause to your body. So don’t neglect your health if you’ve already survived melanoma once!
Thanks for reading to the end. I hope you find yourself at the dermatologist at least once a year. Sooner if you have anything of concern!
