It the beginning I thought it was a small skin tag or really nothing...
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 09:31AM 
I am admittedly very fond of the sun. I haven't often been one to actually lay in the sun to get the glowing tan that so many caucasions crave, I did my sunning as an avid fan of the outdoors and activities such as boating, horseback riding, and gardening.
Not to say I never laid in the sun. I did do that as well, but really not that often as I was pretty much in to staying busy! I also worked road construction for three summers and baked myself on the highway to the point of burning my face red daily. I am mostly French Canadian and a sunburn on my body would happen but once a year in Spring.
Skin cancer was not going to happen to me, it happend to light skinned people!
Timeline:December 2006
I noticed a small growth near the corner of my eye. I thought it was a small skin tag or something unimportant. In fact, after messing with it awhile I was actually able to remove most of it by pinching it off with my fingernails!
Walla, gone...or so I thought!
Timeline:June 2007
Then two years ago this month while I was getting a cortisone shot for my hip pain, the doctor told me I need to have the face thing looked at. It was small. So small I couldn't believe he even noticed it! I took his card with a referral to a dermatoligist and put it in my purse.
It wasn't that I didn't care about any of this or anything, but I never did anything about it. It was summertime and I was very busy living life and planning a sailing trip and a hip replacement was looming in my near future. It was always in the back of my mind, though. Also in the back of my mind were the other words the doctor had said "it's common and nothing to get worked up about and easily removed"...and those were the words I concentrated on the most.
I wish I hadn't!
Which leads me to why I am writing this to share with the world! I hope that anyone who comes across this blog will take stock and check themselves, and most importantly, heed this advice: If you have any changes in your skin, please do get it checked and do follow up with the advice given by your doctor. I'm lucky I did not lose an eye.
Reader Comments (11)
Make sure you continue to take care of yourself and dont neglect anything anymore woman!
P.S. I didnt know you were "mostly" French Canadian! I knew there was a reason why I liked you. LOL!
Yes I am 3/4 French Canadian. 100% on my dad's side and 50% on my mothers. The blonde hair and skin came from my grandfather who immigrated from Finland in the early 1900's.
Believe me, I will go running to the dermatologist at the first sign of anything from now on! I hope the warning of this ordeal will serve as a catalyst to get someone else off their feet and on the phone to schedule an appointment!
Stephanie
I get tons of moles, courtesy of my mom, so even me goes for a check up every couple of years. I get any that I dont like of the looks of removed too.
Well, Miss Frenchie! Keep your spirits up and continue to heal well ((Stephanie))
Take care,
S
I deserve the spanking. I had so many excuses. The impending hip replacement was enough to deal with was one. Well duh, why bother fixing myself to dance if I can't even see, ya know?
Always so busy, and too busy to pick up the phone and call. Wrong again!
I just hope that someone more ambitious than I am that is in the same boat will google skin cancer and perhaps run across this and read that it is to be taken seriously after all...
It's all I can hope for.
Consider me spanked, and then some...
S
I hope all is well with you give me a call sometime!
Stephanie