I am told that Melanoma is the third most common cancer in women aged 20-39 and over 8000 people a year will die from the disease. Those figures did not really sink in until the first (of three Melanoma’s) was diagnosed in my late twenties.   I remember the day vividly. Relaxing on a sunny beach on Maui, I looked down to see a perfectly symmetrical but just slightly darker then the rest of my moles, right above my right thigh. My mole did not follow any of the typical things to watch for :Asymmetry A stands for Asymmetry, B stands for Border, C for Color, D for Diameter and E for Evolving or changing  ( known as the ABCDEs of Skin Cancer) but....  I remember saying to my partner, “does this look OK” and him saying, “its fine”. Still I put a band-aid on it the rest of the trip to keep it out of the sun, (like that was really going to help). Something told me to investigate a little more so when I returned from the trip I went to the dermatologist.  

My Doctor was known as the best Skin Cancer guy in the Bay Area so when he said it was fine and nothing to worry about I was both surprised but relieved that everything was OK. Still, I asked to have it biopsied….. The Doctor and I had some conversation around this because he really did not feel it was warranted nor probably had the time to do so that day. I don’t really know why I persisted but I won.

 I just had “a feeling”.  About a week later with no call from the Doctor I was starting to think what an idiot I was for insisting on the biopsy. Then I got a call from my Doctor. It was a Friday afternoon. The Doctor was telling me it was a melanoma and surgery was scheduled for the next day/ Saturday. I told the Doctor I was busy that weekend but would make an appointment first thing on Monday. That was not an option. It needed to come out now. He said I had to have this operation or was risking my life. It was that far along!!!   

So the one thing a I wan t everyone to know about (Skin) Cancer is that is does not have to follow the Skin Cancer ABCDEs.

In fact, the melanoma that does not follow the ABCDEs is much more aggressive and deadly. So if you see something on your body and it just does feel right, it just might not be right. Take action quickly. It could just save your life.  BTW: My Melanoma # 2- the Dr. and I both said it looked strange

Melanoma #3- Same story as above except it was an early stage nevi.  On this one I actually had to tell the Doctor and Nurse I was not leaving until he biopsied it.

Didn’t make friends but…..