My experience of Skin Cancer (My Experience of Skin Cancer)

Name: scooby27

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Product:	My Experience of Skin Cancer
Date:	28.04.08 (127 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mine was caught early

Disadvantages: Biopsy were uncomfortable and the waiting for results

Last years after spending a few years checking my moles myself as much as I could, I decided I wanted to have them checked by a skin doctor who knew what they were looking for.
Being fair skinned I have always tried to stay out of the sun but being fair I think you can just be more genetically prone to things like skin cancer.

The mole I was most worried about was on my back where I couldn't see it so I had to always rely on my mum looking for signs of anything changing with it, It was dark but for as long as I can remember she had said it was dark and I have others that are quite dark, but this one was nearly black.

I eventually asked my doctor to look at it to see what he thought and he just thought the same as me I think, that it looked dark but was probably ok, even though he though it was probably ok he still got me an appointment at the hospital to see the skin doctors.

The first doctor I saw there asked me to undress to my knickers and bra so he could take a good look at all my moles and skin, the mole I was worried about was the only one he thought looked suspicious.
He advised I had it removed to be checked for abnormalities, He asked if I wanted it doing that day or wanted to come in another day to get it done.
I chose to have it removed that day to get it over with as I would only just worry about it if not.
I was given a general anaesthetic to numb the area so I couldn't feel it when he cut the mole out, this was all done in about 15 mins and I was sent home and told I would receive the results in the post in the next two weeks.
I had 4 stitches in my back to hold the cut together and let it heal, The actual cut was never really that painful I'm glad to say, to start with it just felt like a sharp scratch on my back but when it started healing it was itching so much.
I found it very hard to lay on, I just couldn't get comfy and my whole body from my back down was aching from being so tense all the time, I still worked while I had this done as it didn't affect my job as it was fine when I was walking about and standing I just had to be careful not to over stretch and tear a stitch.

After two weeks I received my letter from the hospital which started "I'm glad to inform you we have made you another appointment to come and see us" this is all it basically said with the date and time.
I had to phone them up and basically had to ask them if It was cancerous. The lady I had spoke to said yes, then I asked if they wanted to remove some more skin to see if it had spread, She said yes to this too.
I'm not sure why they just can't send you the letter and say we have found some abnormalities in your biopsy and we would like to remove more to check it, at least that way you know and as I couldn't drive with the stitches in my back for the first couple of days I needed to arrange someone to go with me.

When I went back to the hospital 3 weeks after having the mole removed the doctor told me that it was Malignant Melanoma. I didn't really know what this was but I think it's the worst form of skin cancer to have.
While there I had another biopsy done of the area around my new scar, this time they cut away a bigger and deeper bit of my back.
I'm glad to say I didn't have to have any skin grafts like some of the people who's reviews I have read on here, but I am now the proud owner of a 3 inch scar.

I'm glad I went to the hospital when I did as they found this mole to be cancerous and it was 1mm which I think is good, I'm not sure if this cancer would have ever spread if it had been left or if it would have just stayed the same.
But I'm glad to say this was caught very early either way and I only had to have two biopsy's to remove the mole and the other to check the surrounding area.
Some people aren't so lucky so anyone who is worried about any mole go and get it checked to be sure.

I now have to have regular check up's, 3 monthly for the first 2 years, 4 monthly for the next 2 years, 6 monthly for the final 2 years.
On my first check up I had another mole removed, this was in a funny place that I never thought to get them to look at the first time I went, the centre of my bottom.
Now this mole used to itch and when I sat down too long it would feel quite painful so I thought this one might be cancerous to, but I'm glad to say it wasn't and now the mole has gone I can sit down for a long time now without it hurting.
I'm think I'm definitely one of the lucky people who had there cancer caught early and hopefully nothing more will come of it but I'm hoping if any more abnormalities are found they will be caught early enough to treat with out to much trouble.

Summary: Anyone worried go and see your gp for a refferal to a dermatologist