Skin Cancer at 25

My blog has been redundant for the lasr few weeks, reason 1 is that beeing a Mum is a busy job and reason 2, I have just had an operation to reomve skin cancer.  I have had a ‘red mark’ on my forehead for around 4 – 5 years, it started off very small like a spot but over time got bigger, so around 2 – 3 years ago I went o my GP for a diagnosis, this ‘patch’ of red scaly skin was diagnosed as Eczema so I began using a topical steroid cream.  This never did anything to improve the ‘patch’ so everytime I visited the GP I asked for a second opinion and was always given the same diagnosis.  I guess I have never been satisifed with this diagnosis and always had a doubt in the back of my mind.  So, whilst pregant i decided that after I had my baby I would go and insist in a referal to the Dermatology department for a biopsy done, anyway, with one thing and another and all the problems after having Oliver this delayed my visit but recently I went back to my Doctors surgery and insisted on a referal, they actually agreed this time to do a biopsy for me and unfortunatly the results came back as a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC).  This is a common cancer that isn’t usually invasive but due to my age the hospital decided that it was more risky and decided to remove it (rather than the radiotherapy creams used on occasion for older people).

As I walked in to the minor ops room to start my surgery the Consultant was amazed I was so young, he thought there was mistake, said he had never seen anyone under 40 with the same cancer, so eagerly whipped it off.  It was actually a rather large area so he initally thought he wouldn’t be able to do it as a minor op as I may require skin grafts but he managed it…  and I have to say, so far, it’s looking good.  I had my stitches removed last Friday and the cut is really neat…  LARGE but very neat.  The operation really did take it’s tll on me and was harder than I expected but it’s done now and hopefully things will be ok. 

I have a review at the hospital on 2nd September and thankfully the removal should be it for treatment but unfortunately it does make me more susceptable to further skin cancers. This is usually a cancer on older people caused by sun damage but the consultant thought mine was a birth mark gone wrong, which makes ense as I have never abused the sun.

All in all this whole experience scared me, to be told at 25 you have any form of cancer is scary, however mild the cancer was, it is still so frightening to have that kind of diagnosis and I hope it’s something I never experience again..  but hey…  I can put it all down to experience.  Thankfully my family (which obviously includes Matt) were there for me and looked after me so well after my operation helping me bath and wash so I just want to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to them.  Even such a small scare puts things into perspective really and makes you realise somethings in life just aren’t worth the worry.

All in all folks I guess I just want to say…  know ur body and your skin, if you aren’t happy with something, anything, the go to your doctor and persist… You know your body, take care of it!!

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