Sunscreen - Always Worth It!

"Well, it looks like the report indicated it was malignant melanoma."

I'll never forget the moment Dr. Virgil Hatcher said those words to me. In fact, I don't remember much of anything after he said those words. I immediately began to panic and think the worst even as he assured me that it had been caught at the very earliest stages and there wouldn't be a need for any type of chemo or radiation.

I was completely caught off guard. I mean, yes, I had been the one to notice the mole looked a little different than others and suggested to my primary physician that I have it looked at by a dermatologist, but seriously, I never even fathomed it would be melanoma.

At the initial dermatology appointment, the doctor agreed my mole was a tad odd shaped and the coloring might be off a bit. He definitely wanted to test it, but didn't give me any indication that it might be skin cancer. Besides, it was in such an odd place - my left shoulder blade. While the initial procedure was a tad burdensome in itself, I had no idea I was looking at a second procedure that would involve seven stitches and a permanent label.

When I returned for that follow up visit in late May, I was stunned by the result - malignant melanoma. What?!?!? Totally unprepared to hear that news, I immediately began to tear up even though I knew it was silly to get so worked up when the doctor was so clear about the favorable early diagnosis. The second procedure would simply be to remove more tissue in the margins of the cancerous wound. Granted it would extend deep and wide enough that seven stitches would be involved, but it was mostly precautionary. The main culprit had already been removed.

It was a long week's wait between that fateful appointment and the procedure itself, but on June 6, it was done. Before we left the doctor's office after the out patient procedure, Chris learned all about the care this area would require over the next few weeks. He was a real trooper being the sole person responsible for all the bandaging since I could barely see it in the mirror let alone reach it.

The morale of this story is simply to wear sunscreen and protect your skin. I don't even really like being in the sun and try to avoid it as much as possible, but it still found a way to sink itself into my fair skin. I am certainly more conscious now of the importance of regular skin exams and being as protective as possible. I hope you do the same.

Andrea :)