How Old Were You When You Were Diagnosed?
18
What Symptoms Did You Have Before Being Diagnosed?
I didn't have any symptoms, but how I found out was through getting sun poisoning on a vacation in Florida, the Dr. asked If I ever had my skin checked, then he found a small black mole on my stomach
Tell Us About Your Diagnosis and Treatment
When he found the mole he took a biopsy and sent over to the labs. I had a follow up to get my stitches out and he gave the news, Melanoma that started spreading, I was 18 scared and alone in a brand new city I went to for college. He checked my skin again and took 4 more biopsies.. all came back positive.. but the labs showed luckily the biopsy retrieved all the cancer from those 4. I had an apointment to get the Mohs procedure from the mole on my stomach with a local dermatologist surgeon. The surgery you have to stay awake, they give about 80 shots to numb the area and a valium to calm your nerves.
How Has Having Skin Cancer Affected Your Life?
At first I was in denial and in a depression. I couldn't beleive ME, ME you never expect bad things to happen to yourself. I am very much in debt and had to drop out of college to work full time and then some to pay for the bills. Not only the surgery was expensive, but all the other dr's I had to see to check EVERYTHING internally and externally, I also was hospitalized due to a biospy getting infected- that ran up the medical bills. I am back in school part time at age 21. I find myself taking more care of my skin, absolutely NO tanning, I do Mystic when I need a little glow. I feel beautiful in my REAL skin. I preach to all my friends, sun safety and how bad tanning beds can be. I feel blessed that it didn't spread. I do get checked every three months due to some spots being caught under my hair on my scalp and inbetween my toes.. But I am happy again.
Advice
- Take a deep breath step one
- Make sure to go to all your dr's gyno, internist, cardio, gastro to make sure there are no lesions anywhere else in the body.
- Take care of yourself, now is not the time to let things go- eat better, take your vitamins, drink fluid and wear that sunscreen
- Take Vit D+ Calcium- 1000 UI daily
- Talk to your friends and family- Do not keep it inside
- Let your REAL self glow, who cares about a tan if you feel good you will absolutely look good.
