Melanoma: My PSA

It’s a balmy Sunday out there … 90 degrees and humid in New York! I am sitting on the couch with my coffee thinking I haven’t written a blog since Mother’s Day. So I started scrolling through my notes reading all the ones I started over the last 6 months but didn’t finish because life got in the way and I found this one. I guess the sun streaming in the window clinched it – I have to share my melanoma story!

As the world reopens and summer is just about here, there is no time like the present.

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Written on 12/8/2020

It’s late Tuesday afternoon and I am lounging on the couch. Not because I have nothing to do, but because I am taking the plastic surgeon’s advice. Today, I had a melanoma removed. In and out procedure done right in the office – they dig a hole and take it out. This .2 cm little dot the dermatologist assured me was probably nothing, will now be a 2-inch scar on my leg. That’s how much they have to cut out around it. Can you imagine if it was something substantial?

A little over a year ago, I had some Squamous Cell Carcinoma removed from my face. Remember those days of baking in the sun with the oil and the reflector? How it couldn’t be summer with being as tan as you could possibly be?

I was jealous of the girls who would be “black” as we called it. My mostly Irish skin would burn and my freckles would come out, but it was hard for me to catch up to my friends. My method was to get burned the first time and then eventually it turns to tan and then keep working it. I wouldn’t leave the beach until I was a little toasty. That would be considered a successful day and then I would go home and get dolled up for the night out because I looked great with my sunburned tan. Those were the days!!

Those were also the days when the ozone layer was healthier, but when the damage was done. What will the results be for the people who are out there cooking in the rays now when the ozone is so depleted? I haven’t been to a beach in a few years now. Ever since menopause started, it became difficult to sit there, and I am not tolerant of the heat. Do I care? Nope! These legs will never be tan again. Is there an SPF 100? Because I am not sure that will be enough.

Folks, please do not send me any words of condolence or sympathy. Truly, this was nothing in the scheme of things and NOT my reason for sharing. My reason for opening up is to tell you all to stay out of the sun. When the surgeon told me after the squamous cell issue that I would be back to see him every 2-3 years because it will keep coming back, I didn’t think it would be a year later with Melanoma.

Now I have to get body checks every 3 months. On top of that biopsy, I did have a couple of suspicious atypical cells on my forehead the doctor froze. Not for nothing, that’s what happened with the spot on my face 1.5 years ago. It was frozen and then it turned. I imagine those spots on my head will have to be cut out a little down the road. I don’t just imagine, but am fully expecting it. It’s ok and I accept it. Hell, I brought it on myself!

I am good and my quarterly visits for the next year are already added to the schedule. This isn’t my first medical problem and it won’t be my last, but it could have been avoided. Melanoma is a controllable cancer until it isn’t. It took 7 days from diagnosis to removal because of how fast it moves.

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6 Months Later ….

I had my second 3-month follow-up with nothing glaring. I happily go to the dermatologist waiting for the next battle scar, but not worried about it. As long as I keep on top of it, all will be fine. My Irish skin mentioned earlier is something I get from my father, who also had his battle scars from melanoma. So it isn’t only because I baked in the sun, but it’s genetic. I remember when he had the top of his ear cut off and how upsetting it was. He never went to play golf again without his wide-brimmed hat and neither will I.

Between my baseball hat, sunglasses, and mask, my face is always undercover. Shorts are worn in the house, and I am not putting on a bathing suit and going to a beach anytime soon. It isn’t because of the scar, I am not that vain. I happen to use Frankincense essential oil on it, and it looks pretty good! But to be perfectly honest, the feeling of the sun on my skin freaks me out a bit and something I will have to work on.

By no means am I telling you to stay indoors. I have to be outside every chance I get, but I want you to be safe.

My advice as Melanoma cases have nearly doubled in the last decade, please …

Get yearly check-ups no matter your skin type or genetics. If I hadn’t already been doing it, this could have been so much worse. The squamous cell, pointed out to me by a friend, did look suspicious, but the melanoma was very inconspicuous.

Wear a hat! The last place my dermatologist always checks is my scalp. Although, it is not as common, if found there, it is more serious.

Lather on the sunscreen because you can still get a sunburn in the shade or under an umbrella. The sunlight reflects off sand and many umbrella materials are porous so the UV rays penetrate. Even if your umbrella says it protects you from UV rays, it doesn’t work 100% and can’t prevent reflection.

You may think you look good tan and you probably do, but your skin is being damaged and it isn’t worth the end result.

If you are concerned about Vitamin D, sunscreen does not prevent it from getting through to your skin. Or you can simply take the supplement. I am not a supplement kind of girl and prefer the natural way in most aspects of life, but in this case, the vitamin outweighs the consequences.

Last, but not least, do what we can to help protect the ozone layer! Every small change we can make in our lives will help make a difference.

So be safe out there, my friends … with Covid and the sun!

Until next time, much love always,

Sandy

#enlighten #empower #inspire #educate #bethechange