mattdaddy.net info that bounces inside my brain that makes sense to me, maybe you.

Day 7/365

I came across a great post by my cousin K on Facebook today and it was the YouTube video "Dear 16 yr old me".  I didn't realize it was about skin cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can hardly see the scar, but it's about the length of the box.  I was lucky, I had the "Good Cancer" - basal cell carcinoma.  After being diagnosed by my dermatologist, I went to a surgeon to have it removed using Mohs procedure, where they slice away layers until it's gone.  My problem was that instead of the mole around the size of a dime, it was an iceberg that stretched across both collarbones.

Oh yeah, this was done 2 days after my daughter was born.  Nice eh?  And the day before we signed papers to move into our house.  Awesome.

Anyway, enough about that.  I am a cancer survivor, even if it was a fairly small procedure and didn't require chemo or anything extensive.  I'm not comparing myself to anyone else, especially anyone who's been through melanoma or has a loved one who has been through it.

I caught it early.  The mole I had always had started changing shape and instead of brown, it was turning gray and got shiny.  My wife had been bugging me to get it checked, and when it started getting shiny, I decided enough was enough and went.

Why did this happen?  My doctor called it a golf spot because it was right where golf shirts don't cover.  I always said I'd wear sunscreen, but I really never did unless someone nagged me about it.  I wish I had worn more.  Again, I was lucky, but I would rather have not had to go through that.

The point of my post?  WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!!!!  It's worth it, and it's not that big of a deal to put on.  Also -

Check yourself regularly.  And watch this video.