Sorry to hear about that Spheric. Truly.
It turns out that a lot of cancers that people had were indeed caused by melanoma (especially lung cancer, liver cancer, and brain tumors/cancer.)
Okama, another MacNNer, just revealed in the other thread (about hamburgers) that his mother died in 1997 of melanoma.
It is more common than people realize and when you have a suspicious lesion removed, waiting for that biopsy and reflecting on past sun worshipping activity (or lack of care or attention to your skin) is agonizing.
When I was younger I always thought, "It would never happen to me, I'm too healthy." I never cared. But, as an adult in my 30s, now I'm starting to see and experience what that lack of care to my skin has resulted in: Numerous skin lesions that arise from nowhere and need to be removed immediately.
I have had 9 lesions removed in two years. The one on my stomach (while I am pregnant no less) is the biggest. It was a normal-looking freckle that in a period of only 2 weeks turned dark brownish black and doubled in size. It was removed and rushed to pathology (overnight) by the dermatologist because it was so highly unusual.
It was a suspicious lesion called a "dysplastic compound nevus with irregular borders and color," and because of the rate of growth I had to go back and get a second excision done meaning that they widened the excision to make sure that it was gone. That is why I have a big hole above my navel at this time.
People with more than 50 freckles or moles are at a much higher risk for melanoma and my arms and legs have hundreds of them (history of red hair in the family.)
It is a very VERY scary experience that I do not want ANYONE to go through.
Please take care of yourselves.
It turns out that a lot of cancers that people had were indeed caused by melanoma (especially lung cancer, liver cancer, and brain tumors/cancer.)
Okama, another MacNNer, just revealed in the other thread (about hamburgers) that his mother died in 1997 of melanoma.
It is more common than people realize and when you have a suspicious lesion removed, waiting for that biopsy and reflecting on past sun worshipping activity (or lack of care or attention to your skin) is agonizing.
When I was younger I always thought, "It would never happen to me, I'm too healthy." I never cared. But, as an adult in my 30s, now I'm starting to see and experience what that lack of care to my skin has resulted in: Numerous skin lesions that arise from nowhere and need to be removed immediately.
I have had 9 lesions removed in two years. The one on my stomach (while I am pregnant no less) is the biggest. It was a normal-looking freckle that in a period of only 2 weeks turned dark brownish black and doubled in size. It was removed and rushed to pathology (overnight) by the dermatologist because it was so highly unusual.
It was a suspicious lesion called a "dysplastic compound nevus with irregular borders and color," and because of the rate of growth I had to go back and get a second excision done meaning that they widened the excision to make sure that it was gone. That is why I have a big hole above my navel at this time.
People with more than 50 freckles or moles are at a much higher risk for melanoma and my arms and legs have hundreds of them (history of red hair in the family.)
It is a very VERY scary experience that I do not want ANYONE to go through.
Please take care of yourselves.