Friday, April 20, 2012

Sorry I've been MIA

Hey friends! Sorry I've been MIA all week. I was diagnosed with skin cancer on my nose and needless to say, it's been a rough week. While I'm very thankful that it's not Melanoma, it's Basal Cell (the best kind to have if you're going to have it), being told you have to have surgery on your nose a month before your wedding is very upsetting. Thankfully, my surgeon is one of the best, and he's assured me that I will be fine by June 2nd. However, the timing is AWFUL- financially (it's a very expensive procedure), work wise (right during our EOC testing week) and with the wedding (SO much to do).

Friends, what is most scary is that I DO NOT meet the criteria to have this. I am dark hair, eyed, and skin. I tan very well, have only had maybe 2 sunburns in my life, and I wear sunscreen. I DO NOT use the tanning bed and the spot is on my nose where my sunglasses tend to sit and isn't readily exposed to sun. Needless to say, this can happen to anyone!! In fact, when my derm saw the spot over the winter, she dismissed it as just a patch of dry of skin or some mild pigment issue because this is usually something that affects old people. 
Please, please, please, be cautious of any changes you have to your skin (mine is a very slight reddish color patch) and go see your dermatologist. If this spot hadn't been on my face, I wouldn't have even gone and seen about it b/c its barely noticeable!! 
Please pray that it's no worse than they think and that my little nose heals very quickly and scar free ( I've heard horror stories of how awful you can look afterwards). I'll keep everyone updated after my surgery and I'll also try to post some next week about our fabulous couples shower we are having tomorrow!! Have a wonderful weekend and remember to wear your sunscreen on your lovely little noses!!!

XOXO,
Ash

9 comments:

  1. Praying for you, Ashlee! I am praying for the best new possible, quick healing, and a blessed soul. <3

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  2. Although terrible timing, thank God you did go to the doctor. See everything happens for a reason. Stay strong and don't worry. Everything will be fine. Enjoy your couple's shower.

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  3. So scary!!! Praying for you!!! Keep us updated!

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  4. Praying for you as well. My mom had this same type of thing with a place on her forehead a few years ago. Similar situation to what you described. Hope everything goes well with the procedure!!

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  5. I will definitely be praying for you! I cannot imagine what you're going through.

    Allyson
    http://cupcakescandycanes.blogspot.com

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  6. I had the exact same thing last year right underneath my left eye. I had let it go for over a year before I went to the dermatologist and found out it was a Basal cell also. I just thought it was a wart because it wasn't discolored or anything. I am like you too with dark hair and I always wear sunglasses. It freaked me out to have skin cancer at the age of 23. We went to a specialist because with it being right under my eye, I could have potentially had a droopy eyelid after the surgery (and my students have enough things to make fun of me about!). If you have any questions or concerns about the surgery, let me know! I'll be thinking of you and good luck!

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  7. I am so sorry! I will say a prayer for you!

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  8. Also, if your doctor hasn't suggested it, get some Mederma for after the wound heals. It'll help with the scarring, at least I think it did. They had to cut on me twice, but hopefully they'll get you all cleared out on the first try!
    If you have any sort of supplemental cancer policy with your health insurance, it's also worth looking into. Turns out I was still covered by my parents' and they paid for almost everything that my primary insurance didn't. Even mileage. Being skin cancer, we weren't sure if it really "applied," but I'm SO glad we looked into it.

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