Wednesday, May 25, 2011

skin cancer awareness


this post, my own mole removals, and my dad's battle with other forms of skin cancer inspire these words.

my mom and dad are doctor people. (I say this in the most loving of ways.)

first, they know a lot of doctors. second, my mom has logged countless volunteer hours on the local hospital's women's board. and third, they use them. growing up, this gave me a sense of comfort. if I needed a doctor, mom and dad would know who to go to.

I can also so remember protesting when my mom would make yet another appointment that would require yet another mole be removed. thankfully (due to my mom's diligence) all of mine have been benign.

then, a few months ago, I found myself standing in her shoes. this time spencer was the patient and I was the mother saying "take it off" to the doctor. I refused the "we can watch it" offer and was thankful for my mama instinct...the mole came back "suspicious."

I trust you'll watch this brief video and take action if necessary! don't wait another day!

12 comments:

At Home Mommy Knits said...

Very powerful video Kristyn, thank you for sharing it!

Stephanie said...

Thank you for sharing, and I hope and pray that the suspicious mole is nothing. My husband has been thinking about getting some checked out, and this has made me decide to give him that extra push... thank you.

mark said...

i stop for a minute right now, and thank God for you and your mama instincts. and for your heart in sharing this. you don't care that you have readers near as much as you care for each and every one of your readers.

Mr. Puffy said...

Such good advice. My mother is English and never even saw the sun until an adult when she moved to California. When she turned 50 a doctor saw what looked like a sun spot. He thought it was probably nothing but sent in a sample anyway. It came back a melanoma.

rosemary said...

Oh my Kristyn, I JUST posted this same video on my blog, I was diagnosed 11 years ago with melanoma. It has a powerful message doesn't it! Good for your instincts!

Gigi said...

Hi K! Such good advice. And ditto to Stephanie's hoping and praying the suspicious mole is nothing!
My poor little fair skinned grandfather (who grew up out in the sun on his family farm) was terribly disfigured by the removal of many skin cancers on his face over the years. This was back in the day before the docs really knew how to remove them without just cutting away large parts of your skin. Makes me so sad to remember the smirks and cruel comments he endured over the years. I go in every year for a check over and so far so good. I'm a brown eyed girl -- less susceptible -- but after my mispent youth sunbathing, I have a lot of sun damage so . . . can't be too careful.
Blessings,
GG

stitching under oaks said...

this is so powerful. Mckenzie watched it with me and I was crying and she was glued to it. Thanks for sharing it.

Gloria said...

Thank you for sharing. I am glad you listened to your Mom voice and got your son in. I actually have had several skin cancer removal surgeries. They have all come back as basal cell carcinoma. The doctor said I am skin cancer about to happen. I am at a very high risk for it, due to being so fair, blue eyes, freckled. I had way too many sunburns growing up while living on the California coast. It was at a time when suntans were what you had to have. Mine were burns that just peeled off. :/ I talk to my girls about it all the time. It's pretty scary stuff!!

I love your quote on your last post! :) I hope you have a fun weekend!!

xoxo...Gloria

~ The Jolly Bee ~ said...

Obviously, you can never be too careful. I work with a wonderful lady who had skin cancer. It scared us all into getting each and every mole checked out. My fingers are crossed that all will be well.

Carolyn said...

Such good advice. thank you for sharing it!

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M Griffin said...

Thank you for sharing this video. My best friend died from melanoma on April 21st. She was 48 and her children are 13, 16 and 20. Be the advocate, listen to your instincts.

Liz said...

My dad just had his second carcinoma removed from his face. Scary stuff. He was treated for acne back in the 50s with facial tanning sessions. Luckily, he got me started with yearly dermatologist visits very young. Now I get checked yearly as do my kiddos.