As some of you know, and in case you don’t, I’m one of those fair skinned blue-eyed blondes. However, if I can get out in the sun, I can get a nice tan going, and if I get in the tanning bed, well, all the better, not to mention quicker.
Two months ago, after a tanning session, I noticed a spot on my back, and it was small but kind of itchy. I’m prone to the occasional mole and freckle, but this little bugger was different. I kept an eye on it, as much as I could, considering the location on my back, and then started to notice that the very small area around it wasn’t tanning. It was just white and the center was kind of a tiny red splotch.
Apparently this was weighing on my mind more than I thought, because I had a bad dream about it. I am totally one for following my instincts, so I stopped tanning to see if it would go away. It didn’t, though the itching stopped.
So one Sunday, my husband and I were at Pro Cuts and somehow the stylist started talking about skin cancer (coincidence, I don’t think so!), and I casually mentioned my little spot. She asked to see it and I showed it to her, and then she made this wrinkly face and said “You better get that checked out.” Okay, so now I’m freaking. Already in the back of my mind all the possibilities of what it could be, I decided to call the doctor on Monday and he got me in on Tuesday.
The doctor said he didn’t think it was anything, but didn’t want to take any chances so he cut out the little bugger and sent it to the labs. Now I have to admit, I am a total weenie when it comes to things like that. I get all nervous and totally jitzy, and by the time he’s through with the procedure, it’s like I’m drunk or something. Come to find out, later, the injections he gives to numb the area are full of epinephrine! No wonder I’m completely wired!
A week later, to the day, my phone rings and it’s my doctor. Never a good sign when they take the time to make the call themselves. He tells me he is sorry, but it is a malignant melanoma, BUT it’s the non-spreading kind. WHAT, all I heard was malignant melanoma!! Malignant melanoma!! I’m on the verge of panic, tears forming in my eyes, my voice is cracking, but I hold it together while he explains that all he needs to do is go back in and take out a larger area, and then it should be fine. He puts on his secretary and schedules me for the two days later.
Well, my husband takes me because I had to take 3, yes I said 3, valium just to keep myself calm. I’m half asleep on the way there, and then he gives me that damn numbing epinephrine concoction. So much for my valium!!
As of now, I’ve got a much larger incision, which is starting to heal, ugly, but healing, and now, again, I’m just waiting on the labs to come back, which should be any day.
So, keep me in your thoughts ~ and wear SUNSCREEN and stay out of the tanning beds. Why does Vanity reign over our lives these days!?!
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2 comments:
Haven't been back to the tanning bed since. Vanity is a strange thing... some pay big bucks to look good. Others pay in other ways. Beauty is only skin deep and lasts a lifetime. Praying for you Hooka!!!
I cringe when I think about how much we use to lay out in the sun...and we didn't use sunscreen...no, we used things like baby oil and Crisco so that we would tan (make that "fry") faster! This was way before tanning salons were on every corner! I still don't use sunscreen (not too wild about smearing a bunch of chemicals and dyes all over my skin) but I do my gardening in the mornings and stay out of the hot afternoon soon all together! I'm just glad that you listened to that inner voice and followed up. Now everything is ok, right? Love ya, Patty
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