#skincancerawareness

[lamentations44]

Hey hey hey- its MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH!

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.

A change in your skin is the most common sign of skin cancer.

(Abdomen from 5/5/23). Back from (4/2016)

[markquimark]

I got in a brawl. If you think I look bad, you should see the other guy 😮😂💪🏻 Just kidding, of course. It was actually a bad boob job that caused the bruise 🤣🤣 #skincancer #skincancerawareness #fithomo #fitnessjourney #hivpositiveliving #thrivingwithhiv #fitforlife💪 #stayphysicallyfit #fitnessafter60 #longtermsurvivor #brainsandbrawn (at Jersey City, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmF3hvJO51B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[italianoutlanders]

#Repost from @drdavidcolbert . A message from @caitrionabalfe from #outlander on the importance of #physicalsunscreen in your daily #skincare #beauty routine . May is #skincancerawareness month . Thank you #caitrionabalfe ! https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBaNDJoMKc/?igshid=12u2revnbv4t2

[contour-derm]

This is the last day of #SkinCancerAwareness month and we are sending you off with some incredible statistics about #Melanoma from our Nurse Practitioner Jessica Arnold when she spoke last week at the La Quinta Public Library event! Be sure to see your #Dermatologist for a full body skin screening to catch any suspicious spots early. #sundamage #basalcell #squamouscell #Dermatology #skincancer #LaQuinta #PalmSprings #RanchoMirage (at La Quinta Public Library)

[lisamatro]

🏝 Summer is coming ☀️ I’ve got you covered 🏖 Protect your assets 😎 How can I help you? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #prevention #spf #sunscreen #skincancerawareness

[mermaidjessicapearl]

I wasn't sure whether to post about this or not... But a couple of months ago I got diagnosed with skin cancer. I offhandedly mentioned a mole to my doctor during an unrelated appointment, we got it tested and it was a basal cell carcinoma, the most common (and treatable) form of skin cancer. I'm only in my 20's but a lifetime of being an ocean-child has done some damage! I am meticulous with sunscreen these days but it wasn't enough. Don't worry though! This is the type that doesn't usually spread so I'm going to be ok. I got it taken out yesterday. So please... All of my merfolk out there and all of my followers and your little ones... Wear sunscreen, reapply regularly. Slip (on a shirt), slop (on sunscreen), slap (on a hat), seek (shade) and slide (on some sunnies)! #sunsmart #slipslopslap #sunscreen #skincancerawareness #wearsunscreen #besunsmart (at Perth, Western Australia)

[deadbeathero]

Here is the piece I donated to the @spot.the.dot #rebelagainstskincancer event last night at @improperwalls. "Shannon Cannon" shooting up at the sun. I wanted to get that WWII fighter jet type feel with the pin-up girl rallying the troops to action. Thank you to #spotthedot for including me in the group exhibition. This piece is for sale and all proceeds go towards #skincancerawareness. #deadbeathero #art #pinup #pinupart #stencil #stencilart #streetart #skateboardart #art #artist #vienna #vienna_austria (at Improper Walls)

[lamentations44]

Take 2.

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

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer