Skin Cancer: Before and After
You've probably seen this image in the last couple of days. It's 27 year old Tawny Willoughby. The photo on the right is a selfie and that's the damage to her face after treatments for skin cancer. She posted the picture on Facebook and it's been shared more than 50,000 times.
How did this happen to her? She told CNN:"I had my own personal tanning bed in my home, and so did a lot of my friends growing up. ... Everyone tanned," Willoughby said. "I didn't really even think about the future or skin cancer at the time. If anyone needs a little motivation to not lay in the tanning bed and sun here ya go! This is what skin cancer treatment can look like," she wrote in a post along with the photo. "Wear sunscreen and get a spray tan. You only get one skin and you should take care of it."
She has been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer six times! Let me repeat that so everyone understands this...SIX TIMES!!! Amazing!! And none of the six was Melanoma...the deadliest of skin cancers.
I've ranted about this a few times in the last couple of months not only because I had Melanoma but because I think it's life saving advice. Here are some precautions. 1. Wear Sunscreen 2. Wear a hat 3. Stay out of tanning beds 4. Do a monthly body check for moles 5. Know the signs of a normal mole and one that could be Cancerous 6. See your dermatologist regularly.
Tawny Willoughby posted this photo because she didn't want anyone to end up like that. Neither do I.
Your welcome.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This is my story.
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