Five years Melanoma free. What's next?
Valentine's Day 2015. I was drying off after a shower when I saw noticed a strange looking mole on my back. I knew immediately it was Melanoma.
I was lucky for two reasons: a. I had been doing research for a story about the connection of Parkinson's Disease and Melanoma. The mole looked exactly like the one in the above photo. b. The mole was in a spot where you needed to be able to turn your head like Linda Blair in "The Exorcist" in order to see it. Somehow I saw it.
Here's the deal about Melanoma: if you catch it early and do something about it, it has one of the best cure rates of all cancers. You have a ninety-two to ninety-nine percent chance of living for five years without it returning. I like those odds. I found mine early and had surgery two months later. My five year mark is TODAY!!! Happy Cancerversary to me!
Now that we're at that point, I have one question....What's Next? Am I totally out of the woods? Can I stop freaking out about every new mole or piece of dry skin on my body?
I celebrated my cancerversary by seeing my dermatologist for my bi-annual full body check. After my doctor probed me and froze off six precancerous spots, I mentioned the date to her and asked the above questions. This is what she told me:
"Mazel Tov on five years. What's next is the same thing you've been doing for the last five years. Nothing changes...nothing at all."
Well, damn! I was hoping she was going to tell me it was now okay to move to the beach. Honestly, I know nothing should change. I know I'm always going to be neurotic about any skin change on my body. I also know that I should be grateful about all of this because I know a few people didn't make the five year mark....and I am grateful.
So on this five year Melanoma anniversary, I'll end this post like I always do. Here's a public service announcement: a. Use sunscreen, even when it's not sunny outside, and reapply every two hours. b. Stay out of tanning beds. c. Wear sun protective clothing. Long sleeves, hats and sunglasses. d. Limit your time in the sun during peak hours. e. See your dermatologist for a skin check on a regular basis.
Whether you've had Melanoma for five years, fifty years or never have had it, these precautions work to keep you safe from sun damage and skin cancer.
Five years down, who knows how many to go. We'll just take it one day at a time.
Related Post: The neurosis of Melanoma
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