• May for Melanoma Awareness

    May is Melanoma Awareness Month  Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It affects more than 5 million people each year. Skin cancer: cancer you can see. Be proactive. Do skin exams monthly: they visually remind you to pay attention to your skin. Note any new or changing moles or unusual lesions. I am a melanoma survivor and grateful that early detection saved my life. I understand the ABCDEs of melanoma. It is essential to spot any potential skin cancers early. I just had my annual total body skin exam with my dermatology group. The yearly exam supplements my at-home skin checks.    Trust your instincts. You…

  • Ugly Ducklings Moles – Part Two – A Revelation

    In part one of my Ugly Ducklings story, I explained the process and reasons I went through having three moles , aka Ugly Ducklings, biopsied and tested. My story turned from being alarmed at the doctor's findings to anger when I realized that there was a coverup of a sloppy lab process. I was lead to believe I had potentially cancerous growths that needed retesting only to find out the lab messed up the test. Not atypical, but typical!

  • My Skin Cancer Anniversary – Lessons Learned

    Anniversary is a thing to celebrate and to remember. Sounds strange that I celebrate my Melanoma diagnosis and use this to remember my experiences. What I learned then and know now is that I am in charge of my health and well-being.   My doctors have all earned a basic level of my trust. The keyword is basic! I never let down my guard and question everything I hear. I respect the doctors I have chosen, but I do not treat them like gods. I have way too many experiences where what they thought or said was just wrong.

  • Melanoma Awareness – Important

    The list is long. Dianne Keaton, Melanie Griffith, Hugh Jackman, and Anderson Cooper are all now advocates of skin cancer protection. There are several different types of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell skin cancer, and squamous cell skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancer is a prevalent cancer in the United States, with more than 5 million people diagnosed each year. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are nonmelanoma skin cancers, are the most common types of skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. It is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to…

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