How Old Were You When You Were Diagnosed?
60 years of age
What Symptoms Did You Have Before Being Diagnosed?
Just a mole that turned black on my underarm. I was as healthy as ever.
Tell Us About Your Diagnosis and Treatment
I went to have a superficial lesion removed from my face and the surgeon spotted the mole ,diagnosed and removed it. It was malignant melanoma. .09 on the Breslow scale. Because my sister died of melanoma (went to her brain) and my father died of cancer I was treated as high risk. Was on Interferon A for 4 months,stopped out of my own accord because it made me to sick. That was 2 years ago and I am still going. I was told to go for follow up tests but I do not want to go through the treatment again.
How Has Having Skin Cancer Affected Your Life?
The cancer did not affect my but the treatment did. I never even knew I had it. My life was downgraded because of the treatment and I just pray it does not go to my brain like it did with my sister. I used to be a sun worshipper as a young girl,and I now see to it that my children and grandchildren take better care of their skins.
I am living life like everyday is the last and thank God I can still tell my story.
Advice
- Do not take your skin for granted....Look after it...
