A Very Scary Moment
by Rebecca Fryman
(Georgetown, KY, USA)
My name is Becky and I am a 31 year old mother of one. I used to be an avid swimmer and sunbather as well as an occasional user of the tanning bed.
The year I turned 25 was the scariest time of my life. My daughter was 6 years old and things were going great for our family.
Until one day I was putting on my swim suit to get ready to go swimming and my daughter asked me "Mommy, what is that black spot on your back"?
I thought maybe it was a bruise, but I had my husband look at it to make sure. He looked closely and said it looked like a mole.
I made an appointment with my dermatologist just to be sure it wasn't anything to worry about. He looked at the mole and at a few other worrisome spots I found that morning and decided to take a biopsy.
I went home scared to death but at the same time hoping I was worrying for nothing. The next day the results came back. I had basal cell carcinoma ( Basal Skin Cancer ).
I immediately broke into tears. All the usual questions raced through my head, and then I began blaming myself.
The doctor began discussing with me a plan of treatment. We chose curettage and desiccation. They injected local anesthesia into the site and began scooping out the Skin Cancer.
I still felt him cutting and it burned the whole time. I had three places removed and thankfully, didn't require any stitches for any of them.
Luckily I didn't need any other form of treatment, since all the cancer was removed.
I check myself everyday to make sure no new places have started and I make sure to see my Dermatologist every 3 months to check on the old places.
I make sure to put on lots of sunscreen if I am out in the sun now and I have sworn off tanning beds. I am cancer free now but I will have the scars for the rest of my life to remind me.
Facial Skin Cancer
Five Signs of Skin Cancer
Information on Skin Cancer
Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer
Melanoma Skin Cancer
