For as long as I could remember I've had an annoying little bump on my forehead. No big deal but not the most attractive thing. Well, lately this little bump has gotten bigger and has, uh, changed texture. And after reading health magazines I'm a little freaked out because that's a sign to see a dermatologist.
Sigh.
I am an avid Neutrogena sunscreen wearer (even in the winter) but I know I'm not 100% at reapplying and I do have a few memories of childhood over baking. Not good.
According to the Mayo Clinic of Health website, here are the telltale signs of skin cancer. If you have any of these signs please see a derm ASAP.
- A pearly or waxy bump
- A flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion
- A firm, red nodule
- A flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface
- A large brownish spot with darker speckles
- A mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds
- A small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, white, blue or blue-black
- Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina or anus.
Have fun in the sun but don't forget to take care of your skin!
Even though I know we all are vigilant about wearing sunscreen and paying attention to our awesome beauty marks, have any of you had a skin cancer scare? What was the derm appointment like?
30 comments:
My hubby had to have a patch removed from his neck a few years ago. Run don't walk to the dermatologist.
In my early 20's I used to go tanning in a bed (gross, I know) then I had to have a mole removed because it was pre-cancerous. The dr appt wasn't scary at all. He just numbed the area, then sliced it right off. I didn't feel a thing. My mom just had surgery because of skin cancer, so now I'm extra cautious. You should see a dr asap, just to be safe.
so funny that you post this today, cuz i had my doctor friend take a look at something on my neck yesterday. pretty positive Its time to go to the derm.
good job warning people!
oh ps i can totally share with you cuz nobody that can find out with see THIS RIGHT?! i'm dying to spill too lol
me, my sister, and her boyfriend are driving home to ohio right after work friday to surprise my daddy for Father's Day Weekend.
NOT the best part. My sisters bf is going to be talking to my dad and proposing to my sister while we are there too. AHHH!
I haven't, thank God, but it is something I always worry about. I should be better at wearing sunscreen.
I never have, because I always wear sunscreen (and reapply) and stay out of the sun most of the time. But my mother, brother, father, and aunt all have had little things removed that were thought to be cancerous. They were all really lucky. My 7th grade Language Arts teacher had really bad skin cancer, and he drilled into me how important it was to take good care of yourself.
Good reminder to us all. Will you keep us posted and let us know what the doc says?
oxoxo
Denalee
I really appreciate this post. I have spent way too much time in the sun, and try to be much more careful now. Thanks for the reminder!
Go see the Dermatologist. Not scary at all. I just went and had a mole check myself. Oh, and my favorite SPF ever is by Oxygen Botanicals. A bit more expensive, but it smells like green apple and is has a very light texture.
I'm blond hair, blue eyed, fair skinned, and covered with moles and have had cystic acne since 8. I am a dermatoligist's jack pot.
I hope your bump on your forehead is ok! I'm only 14 so I have not had any skin cancer scares....but I know I need to wear sunscreen and try not to tan too much in the summer!!
Good for you for going. I need to to. Let's go together! (I don't really mean at the same time or the same place, of course...)
Thank you for the post!
I haven't but honey, you have to keep us posted!! The best part is that you're staying proactive, doing your research and getting it checked out. Stay positive and everything will be fine! I just know it.
Couldn't agree with you more. WHen I was a kid I got burned over and over, because my parents had no idea what to do with the fair-skinned one in the family. Everyone else could bake in the sun and I just went pink and had water blisters for ever. Horrible. Now I seriously worry about that damage to my skin - every summer it happened until I was old enough to take care of myself. So you are right to be vigilant. My mother forced me to take Silversu tablets for some reason - she thoought it would stop be getting burnt when really I just needed to be out of the sun ! And then they were banned so I worry about those effects too. How can it be that our parents knew so little ????
A girl on my staff had a mole in her childhood that changed. She and her parents ignored it for a while because she was so young. When they did show it to the doctor is had spread deeper (instead of laterally) and a 2in section had to be removed. I guess it served to tell me that if I am suspicious, I shouldn't wait for it to get BIGGER because it may be getting bigger in a way I can't see.
Also, I hope that everything is fine. Get it checked out. Prevention and early detection is key! You are very intune with your body, so that is on your side.
I hope everything is fine, but since you are thinking of it you should definatly get i checked out. Let me know how it goes!
My mama just had a scare. They removed some things..tested them and everything was fine. Prayers going up that you'll be fin too. I'm sure you will!
My mother had a skin cancer scare-not surprising, since I'm not sure she could even locate sunscreen before it. As a fair-skinned gal, I've always been extra-cautious, and I'm sure her pre-cancerous cells didn't hurt. I buy La Roche-Posay spf 50+ Fluide Extreme online, and return from a day in the sun more blanched than when I left!
I'm such a bad person, I can't actually continue to read this post because out of guilt. I am destined for skin cancer. I'm always tanning and trying to get that healthy glow :( Yes, I know I can achieve this with lotions and tanning sprays, I'm so bad.
I think it's awesome that you posted this though.
Ohhh thank you sweetie...Its so important for us all to make sure to wear it and to check out skin:)
Great post, sweetie!
Kisses and see you soon:)
Muah
wow! this is oddly timely, just had my full once a year body check on Monday! Had a teeny tiny mole removed just as a precaution...its no big deal. Go, you will be so glad you did!
I've never had any sort of scare like that thank goodness! I think I would just freak out...
Thanks for sharing thee tips!
xoxo
Olivia
Oh no! You better be okay :( I am very high risk for skin cancer because I am SO FREAKING WHITE. I got the auburn hair and Irish skin that cannot and will not ever tan (freckles and sunburn only!)...Please keep me updated that you are fine :)
xoxoxo
Hope
Hmm... sounds like it's time to listen to your husband and see the doctor.
Two things : get it checked, where a NATURAL s/s.
Chemicals in commercial +sun do not combine well.
I went to the derm last summer and was inspected head to toe. Turns out the spots I was concerned about (they fit the description for skin cancer!) were nothing to be worried about, and a mole underneath my right breast WAS something to worry about. She told me to wait 3 months and come back to see if it had grown. So I went in October and sure enough, it grew a little bit. So she removed it right then and there because it could have been pre-cancerous. SO SCARY but I was so thankful she could remove it and nip it right away.
I hope this is nothing serious! I never go out into the sun because of my super pale skin, I burn quickly.
never had any skin issue ;) but being from brazil and having my skin pretty 'burned' so often always made me wonder. time to go in for an appointment!
Yikes, this post hits very close to home for me.
My dad is fair, like me. He has had numerous bouts with skin cancer, including his nose re-done (using skin from his ear), and parts of his back, forehead, cheeks, shoulders, geesh! Just about everywhere on his upper body has been touched by skin cancer.
I go to a dermatologist regularly to get checked. And this is a reminder I'm due to go and get checked again. doesn't help that I'm covered in 1,001 freckles & moles, many of which frequently scare me -- I worry they could be the beginning of skin cancer...
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