recently diagnosed with skin cancer, please take care of yourselves

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Aloha everyone, I recently found out I have skin cancer melanoma, the dermatologist took a biopsy..the thickness is 1.2mm if anyone is familiar with the charts. Next week I am scheduled for a PET and then the following week the surgeon will do a wider extraction of the site and probably remove the sentinel lymph node.

He believes we caught it early. It started out looking like a larger freckle, same color as my other ones. I am fair skin red hair, and spend time in the sun although now I am limiting it to early morning and evening. I wear sunscreen but don't often reapply when I'm in the water. The freckle was asymmetrical with no defined boundaries, had a small nodule that was clear, the freckle was light brown, and occasionally it itched. I had a hunch it was melanoma.

One nurse to another to please wear your sunscreen even if you have darker skin. And take care of yourselves. We spend so much time caring for others but please take care of yourselves too. Anything suspicious looking, go get it looked at. Ladies stay on top of your paps and mams, guys do you 'stuff' too :)

If anyone works at Kaiser maunalua the surgery will be there. I'd love to meet!

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

Good luck with your treatment. My father-in-law had surgery several (about 10) years ago for melanoma. He's fine now, but has to have frequent dermatology check-ups and, of course, stay out of the sun.

Thanks for the warning / reminder. I'm blonde and blue-eyed; I wear sunscreen (face & neck) daily, and all over when swimming, etc.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Please take care and thanks for the reminders.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology, Psych.

I will keep you in my thoughts. Good luck with your treatment and thank you for sharing your story.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Thanks for sharing with us! It's an excellent reminder to pay attention to those "hunches" our body gives us, get something checked right away if it feels "off".

Another thing melanoma patients often emphasize is NO TANNING BEDS!! I saw one today, just cringing at what damage those things can do.

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Specializes in CICU.

Best wishes to you.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I hope everything goes well for you and you're AOK very soon!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Good luck with the treatment and please keep us posted.

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Good luck and please post updates! I am glad you caught it early. I am a sun-worshipper of many years and this is always in the back of my mind....

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Hugs to you,I'm happy that your doc was able to caugh it early...I know I'm at a higher risk than others for the skin cancer because I'm blue eyed blond who has had severe sunburns at least three times during my adolescent years.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Speaking of sunshine...I recently had to have cataract surgery. I'm only 58--that's young for catarcts. The doctor said cataracts are often caused by too much exposure to sunlight. I was a sun-worshipper when I was younger, and out in it all the time.

...just food for thought....

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Thanks for the timely reminder and best wishes in your healing.

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