I have had a successful result from skin cancer that I have had to have removed.
I am very happy with the results of the skin cancer that I have had removed last week.
I really urge everyone to regularly get their skin checked for skin cancer. We have been getting our skin checked for over 20 years. We go to the same place in Mornington because they have all the photos of our skin on record for the past 20 years.
We go once a year so they can detect any changes to our skin fairly quickly.
So my latest check a few weeks ago, I thought was very routine. I was not aware of any problems. I had a tiny (something) under my eye that I had only felt when I was putting my moisturiser on. I could not even see it without my glasses.
Anyway, the Doctor went over my skin and he said to me,
"How long have you had that one,"
and pointed the little dot under my eye.
I said "I am not sure", maybe for a couple of months, I didn't realise that it was anything.
He said, "I think it is a BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma), I will take a biopsy."
I had to go back 2 days later so that he could take a biopsy on it. He said that I would get the results back in a week.
I really felt like it would be nothing. By the time I got my results back, it had completely gone away and there was not really even a mark on my skin.
Anyway, I got the results back 1 week later, only to learn that I had to have a small surgery to remove the cancer. It seems that it was deeper and that the surgery would take about 45 minutes. They would use a little flap from an adjacent area and this is generally a good way of repairing the wound for on the face.
The following week they got me in for the surgery and I must admit that I was a bit worried about it. I had 3 or 4 internal stitches and 8 stitches on the outside. I had to go back a few days later to change the bandage and for them to have a look at it. They were very happy and said that it looked really good.
I have had the stitches out yesterday and I have had the all-clear from the cancer. I do not have to have any further treatment which is fabulous and the main thing.
I was not sure what it looked like until today as I have had a bandage on it for the past 10 days.
I am very happy with the result and I am sure that over time the redness of the little scar will fade. It is early days.
My message is not to draw attention to myself about this, but to spread the word about how important it is to have our skin checked for skin cancer.
These things only get bigger and can be more complicated to treat.
Getting your skin checked regularly is the best way to keep skin cancer under control.
Some symptoms or signs that you may have a BCC tumor.
An open sore that does not heal. It may bleed, ooze or crust. It might persist for weeks or it may seem to heal and then come back again.
A reddish patch or irritated area. This can be on the face, chest, shoulder, arm, or leg that may crust, itch, hurt or cause no discomfort.
A shiny bump or nodule that is pearly or clear, pink, red, or white.
A small pink growth with a slightly raised, rolled edge and a crusted indentation in the center that may develop tiny surface blood vessels over time.
A scar-like area that is flat white, yellow, or waxy in color.
You only have one body and you have to look after it.