Thank you so much for reading and spreading the word. My, you continue to get good results. Thanks for sharing your own story!

Hi Amy! I’m so sorry you are having to go through this. I wrote this story in hopes that I could save someone or let people know there is hope. Like you, when I was diagnosed I browsed the web looking for stories from others. I found a few that helped comfort me. I know the fear you are feeling and all of the thoughts that are going through your mind. The whole world just kind of stops and you feel like you are floating around watching feeling helpless. The best advice I can give you is don’t let fear creep in and take over your spirit. Think as positively as you can. I pray that you get good results. God Bless You!

It’s August 19,2019. On Wednesday, August 14, 2019 I visited my dermatologist for the first time to check a mole that had begun to itch and bleed along my bra line on my back. Fair skinned, tanning bed lover that I am just thought it was infected. Doctor scraped a layer of the area and sent it off for testing. Fast forward to today and I get the phone call that it’s melanoma and I will need to see a plastic surgeon. Thankfully I have friends in many areas of health care due to my job. Messaged my friend and she got me in at 3:30 this afternoon. Of course I run into another friend at the same office. She sees me and asks “are you ok?” And the dam of tears that have been welling up since the earlier phone call breaks. I just lost it. I have never been through anything like this and NEVER heard the “C” word in relation to anything in my body. So scary. After I talked to my friends and the amazing doctor I felt better about what I’m facing. I will undergo the same procedures that you did. I am at 1.3 so very close to what you were. My area is a bit larger but procedure is the same. I will get my surgery date tomorrow and, once again, contact my nuclear medicine friend who will do that part and my nurse anesthesias friend who will take care of me in the OR. I will also have one or two lymph nodes removed. I’m anxious about the post surgical pathology report. I fear the unknowns. Reading your story has given me hope. I briefly thought about the potential of meeting Jesus due to this scary thing but I’m not ready for that and I’m not sure He is either. I haven’t told my two youngest children yet (20,21) because I need to calm my spirit before I explain it to them. Plus I want to have a definitive date so they can know it’s being removed. Thank you for sharing your story. I appreciate the photos and details. Blessings to you.

Thanks for sharing this, Cheryl. Yes, life is short and we are never promised tomorrow. I really don’t care about the scar. It’s a battle wound and I will be happy to share my story with anyone who asks about it. People do not realize how bad skin cancer really is. I hope your SIL continues to check out ok! <3

I am happy to share the information with you. Send an email to: TheMountainKitchen@gmail.com so I can get your email address and I will send you the info.

I knew it sounded familiar. Get some coffee and please go get checked girl!!

Thank you so much, Rachel! I love my blogging family. I have missed y’all so much. I’m able to get cooking again now. Please get checked. I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I did! ?

Thank you so much. Please go get checked!

Thanks for sharing my story, Dor. It was a very scary time. Just makes me appreciate the good times even more.

Thanks, Julie. I’m sorry about your neighbor. Timing is everything! If I hadn’t of gone to the dermatologist when I did, I’d still be waiting to get in now. It’s scary stuff! I hope my post can reach people in time. Precious time….

Wanda, thank you so much for sharing your children’s story. I really appreciate you sharing that. This has been a life changing experience, to say the least. I just want to create awareness. I know how oblivious I was. Thanks again for commenting! I’m glad your son and daughter continue living with awareness and are healthy!

My son was 38, I noticed the mole one day when he squatted down to wax his car and the waistband of his pants pulled low. Right away I said “Steve there is a mole on your back that you need to have checked.” His comment was that the mole had “always” been there. My reply was, “I’m your mother and, believe me, I know what has always been there!” Well it took two weeks of nagging but he finally got an appointment. The appointment was the doctor’s last one on a Friday – I insisted on going to the appointment with him since his wife didn’t want to and I was amazed when after examining the mole the doctor said that if this was his brother he would take the entire mole off immediately without waiting for biopsy results. One problem his staff was starting to close down the office. He stepped out and asked them change their plans and stay late. They immediately agreed and got going on the surgery prep, I think they all worked probably an hour and a half to two hours overtime.
Later we found out Steve would need a wider excision and in the end his little less-than-.5 inch mole required a nearly 5 inch incision. Wonderful doctor, wonderful results in the end. He was free of cancer. He also has yearly full-body exams and has had one recurrence on the edge of his ear which was caught very early.
Sorry for the long story but I wanted you to know that the good news can stay good! Be vigilant, but have fun and live your life fully just as my children are! Yes! You are one of the lucky ones!