Yesterday I had a doctor’s appointment to check out what I thought was just an age spot on my face.
I’ve put it off for far too long, mostly because I have an irrational fear of hearing the C-word. Well, maybe it is not so irrational considering my family medical history and the odds that at some point in life I could be faced with having this become my reality.
The truth is this is not the first time I have had a cancer scare.
I’ve had moles and other skin things removed before as a precaution and to run tests that always come back negative.
A little over a year ago I had a breast cancer scare that took my family and me on an emotional ride.
I’ve ignored the flaky patch of skin that never heals, moisturized it to no avail, and covered it with makeup so no one else would see it for well over a year now.
The other night while sitting outside with my husband, he noticed it.
He urged me to make an appointment although I was sure the doctor would think I was crazy.
It’s easier to live in denial than face your fears sometimes, and that is the route I’ve taken up until yesterday.
Do you know what really stinks?
Hearing the doctor tell you the same diagnosis that WedMD had said earlier in the day when you were looking up symptoms. Everyone knows WedMD will turn any symptom into cancer right? Apparently there are those times when it turns out to be true.
Right now this is all we know.
The spot on my face is not normal. Before I left the office she did cryotherapy on it, which is when they put liquid nitrogen on it. It freezes the skin surface, and as your skin heals it also allows new skin to appear. This is the most common treatment.
Now we wait to see if and how it heals.
If it heals then we are good and caught it before it turned into skin cancer.
The word the doctor used is preCANCERous.
If it doesn’t heal, we move onto the next course of action which is a biopsy. Since I really am a big baby and don’t like the idea of someone cutting on my face, I am choosing to believe the freezing worked.
So, I shared this with you because frankly, I couldn’t not share it with you. If you have a spot of skin that you just aren’t sure about, please have your doctor check it even if you’re sure it is nothing like I was.
Early detection is the most important thing!
Don’t forget to put on sunscreen daily. I’ve been doing this my entire adult life, but I’m an Irish girl with very fair skin and I can remember getting several sunburns every summer growing up. I used to joke that if I could just get the first sunburn out of the way for the year, then I could actually get a tan.
Also, tanning beds are not really better than sun 🙁
My sweet almost 20-year-old daughter, you may want to reconsider how many visits you make to the tanning salon even if they tell you it is totally safe. Turns out the UVA rays that you get from tanning beds actually penetrate your skin more than the sun and cause actinic keratoses which increases your risk of skin cancer.
I also shared this because I know that many of you are prayer warriors and I would love to be covered during this time of wait and see.
aw Kristi. Lifting you up to our Ultimate Healer!! Praising Him for doctors who take the time to stop and listen to their patients and trusting you are in HIS great care!!
Mikki, I really appreciate it!!
I’ve had several things removed and biopsied,four on my face and seven on my body.None were cancer ,thank you God.I’ll be praying for you that it will be all right.
Aww, thinking of you! My mom has had several skin cancer patches removed, too. Not fun 🙁 Glad you posted this…I have a spot too that I have been putting off going to the doc for. I need to call and schedule an appt! Skin cancer is nothing to mess around with, but thankfully it can generally be easy to remove. Keep us posted. I’ll be praying for you! xox
Kristie – Will be praying for you & that you can feel His peace as you wait & that the procedure worked ! I used to also be the one who would try to forget about things & wait too long to get things checked out, but after having a cancerous tumor myself in my mid 20’s & other health issues, I’ve learned that it’s so much better to get things checked out earlier than later, so I’m glad you got it checked out! Such a good reminder to share about with people, so thank you for sharing!
I had the exact same procedure done on similar looking spots on my cheek, nose, and calf. My dermatologist called them Lentigo. The procedure itself wasn’t a big deal and the icky stuff fell off in about a week. Prayers for you!
I had one on the base of my spin when I was in college. If it wasn’t a dermatologist, go see one. Get a bio of it. It will give you peace of mind. I get checked every six months. I am glad you shared. Hopefully, it will get more people to get checked!
I had one on the base of my spin when I was in college. If it wasn’t a dermatologist, go see one. Get a bio of it. It will give you peace of mind. I get checked every six months. I am glad you shared. Hopefully, it will get more people to get checked!
Praying that your body catches up with reality. God has already healed you. Grace and blessings for you and your family.
Oh Kristie I can so relate to your “C” word phobia. I too have had several scares..first a uterine cancer scare, then thyroid cancer scare, then a bone cancer scare….it’s just ridiculous! So, like you, I tend to avoid doctors because I don’t want to hear it. I realize that that is irrational and I am trying to overcome with the grace, help and strength of God, but it is tough. I am praying that this IS NOT cancer and that the freezing worked.
My husband just had two spots today removed by cryotherapy. He has had numerous ones frozen off, but has had three melanomas removed and a couple of basal cell cancers. He uses sunscreen faithfully now but evidently the damage was done in earlier years when he was in the sun a lot when they lived on the farm, and then after he was a truck driver until 2 years ago. Skin cancers can be cured, IF you keep on top of things and get regular checks and go to a dermatologist if you notice anything suspicious. Better to check it out than to regret it later for NOT doing it. Blessings to you!
I’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer 4 times within the past 13 yrs. and so far none have been melanoma … only basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. I am praying that you will be equally blessed with your diagnosis! I use sunscreen EVERY day and strongly urge everyone to do the same and to also see a dermatologist every year! Prayers for you and your family!
Praying for you. I have a spot in almost the same location with same look to it. It’s flaky and changes and never goes away. They told me the name of it and it’s not cancerous. My hope and prayers is that yours will be the same. Hugs!
Please take it easy. I had the same and it healed after I saw the dermatologist. I was scared too! God Bless
BIG HUGS. In all honesty I’m quite surprised they didn’t biopsy. ESP because it was flaking and stuff as you described. The important thing is to remain ON TOP of this. I’m a melanoma survivor and have had numerous biopsies and other basal cells etc removed. I’ve not sunned since my teens and all of my exposure occurred as a child – it was inevitable growing up in Miami, so please be diligent. I’m dealing w/ this right now on my forehead so I completely understand what you’re going through. I had a biopsy in July it came back positive so we had to take more today. It’s not fun but its way better than the alternative. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers-sending you positive healing thoughts too! xo
Nicole, thank you SO much for sharing your story with me! Seriously you are the only person I know who has gone through this and it means a lot to know you and how courageous you are about it. It was your speaking about the biopsy a couple months ago that gave me the courage to talk about it today. I am praying for you too (((HUGS)))
Huge, gigantic hugs, Kristie!!
Thanks so much Lisa!
Kristie prayers your way, I am too afraid of the Dr.’s and the “C” word!
Thanks Shannon!
Praying peace and healing over you!
Phoebe thank you so much!
Sending thoughts and prayers!
Thanks Alisha!
Praying for His perfect peace to cover you during this time of waiting.
Thank you for reminding all of us not to ignore potential health issues. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks Lori!!
thinking positive thoughts and sending them your way!! XO
Thanks Melissa I appreciate it!
Prayers to you for full and complete healing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.