I thought one type of cancer was enough

Bee76

I finished chemo in January and just completed 6 weeks of radiotherapy in March. The day before I had a party to celebrate the end of the worst part of my treatment I went for a skin check, as during the rollercoaster ride of this cancer journey, I didn't get around to do my annual check-up. The doctor picked up a mole which she didn't like the look of and given my medical history, she thought it best that we play it safe and have it removed as soon as possible.

The following week I went and got the mole cut out. I thought it was just going to be a little cut and 2 or 3 stiches, but I currently have a big gash on my arm, with 11 stitches quite widely spread. Compared to what I've been through it's no big deal, but given that I've been through enough crap, the stitches have really bothered me and I was looking forward to having them removed next week.

Well, the pathology report came through, and it was Melanoma-in-situ. The in-situ part is obviously good news, but it now means that instead of having my stitches out next week, they are going to do an even bigger cut to widen the margins. So 4 weeks of stitches and a sore arm instead of 2.

I was so happy when I finished radiotherapy thinking my days of discomfort were over (provided that Tamoxifen treats me nicely, which so far it has), but it looks like I've got a few more weeks to go.

Cancer really sucks! Sorry, I just had to get this off my chest.  

cbm

Hello, Bee; thank you so much for posting this.  I'm so sorry you have to go through it, but I want you to know that your posting served to remind me that having had BC and treatment is not a pass on the other kinds of concer.  I have abused my skin in the sun since I was a child, I'm allergic to most sunscreen products, and one of my coworkers was just diagnosed with melanoma.  As I was thinking about making an appointment with the dermatologist,something I dread, especially now after a steady diet of doctors, I could hear a little voice in my head saying, "oh, not if you had breast cancer--the universe would never do such a thing, you're safe, you can put that off."  

I'll make that appointment now, thanks to you, and I'm truly grateful that you wrote.

Warmly,

Cathy 

SpecialK

bee - I had three skin cancers dx'ed in between BMX and chemo.  They had to be removed prior to starting chemo, so that they would have a chance of healing.  One on my back and one on each shin.  Someone in my chemo group on this board also had a melanoma.  So, I feel ya on this subject! 

P.S. - that is a spray tan in my avatar. lol!

Bee76

Thanks guys,

Cathy - I hope your skin check appointment will only serve to set your mind at ease, but I'm glad that you are going to check.

Since I moved to Australia 4 years ago, I've made sure to have my skin checked every year, and this was the only time I missed it. I'm very glad I did get around to sorting it out though or it would have been a different story if I'd left it for too long.

SpecialK - that would have totally sucked to have 3 melanomas on top of breast cancer to deal with all at the same time. In a way I guess it's better the way I've had it happen, because as soon as I saw in-situ I wasn't half as scared as when I had my breast cancer explained to me.

voraciousreader

I was diagnosed with a skin cancer on my back years ago! VR doesn't get your garden variety type of cancers. She gets the rare types! The type that I had escapes my memory, but the dermatologist didn't seem too alarmed at the time... so I chose not to worry. The thing that I found frustrating was that THAT part of my back rarely saw the light of day and I always enjoyed the shade more than the sun...so, go figure.



Meanwhile, I was also told that besides the face, the most common area for skin cancer was on the back and on the back of the calves and shins. Having had skin cancer more than two decades ago at a young age has made me vigilant in getting screened regularly.

SpecialK

The skin cancers I had removed betwen BMX and chemo were #18, 19 & 20.  I am a California girl who is old enough to have been out in the sun long before the invention of sunscreen.  My first skin cancer was dx'ed 20 years ago.  I have not been out in the sun much since then - I am currently straddling the fine line between getting a brief (10 minutes or so daily) sun exposure to up my Vitamin D, and protecting my skin.  I am vigilant in having regular (every 6 months) exams and my dermatologist removes anything that looks suspicious.  Unfortunately for me, everything that has looked suspicious, has been!  100% of my biopsies have been cancer, skin and breast.