Lessons I Learned After Being Diagnosed with Skin Cancer

Being diagnosed with skin cancer was very unexpected, but I truly believe everything happens for a reason.  One of the ways I cope is thinking this exact thing so I have something positive to hold onto through the process of having the skin cancer removed.  My life has definitely changed since being diagnosed with skin cancer and I wanted to share what I’ve learned with others in hopes that it could help them too.  I believe that these things do not just relate to this specific medical diagnosis, but can relate to life’s obstacles in general.

It is great to get a second doctor’s opinion – especially if your gut is telling you to.

Last year I had a small bump appear on the side of my nose out of nowhere.  I never had something like this happen and knew I should meet with a doctor.  The first time I went to the dermatologist to have the bump checked, the doctor immediately diagnosed it as something benign.  She even went so far to say that having it removed would not only be costly – as it would be considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance – but it would leave a large scar on my face.  She told me that bumps are more natural-looking than scars and she didn’t even suggest coming in for another visit in the future to check if it develops any further.  This dermatologist visit left me feeling very confused, unsupported, and I continued to feel self-conscious.  But, I figured that since the dermatologist is more knowledgeable in this field than I am, I should take her word for it.

The bump on my nose began to grow and become more unsightly.  Eight months later I felt even more uncomfortable with it, so I made the decision to make an appointment to have it removed by another dermatologist.  I figured the couple hundred dollars and the scar would be better than delaying this any longer.  This dermatologist took one look at me and immediately recognized that it was skin cancer. After she took a biopsy and had it sent to a lab, it was confirmed.  Ever since then, I whole-heartedly believe that getting second opinions are a great idea, especially if you feel like someone is taking your concerns lightly.

Live your days with compassion for others – You never know what they are going through

I have always tried living each day by keeping the saying “treat others how you want to be treated” in mind.  When I come across people throughout my day whose attitude may be rude or they did not reciprocate the kindness I showed them, I try to remember that you never truly know what others are going through.

A few days after I received the confirmation that the bump on my nose was positive for skin cancer cells, I was at work and trying to stay calm.  I went to the gym on my lunch break, trying to continue my daily routine while I waited for two surgeons to call me in regard to the surgery dates that they wanted to schedule as soon as possible.  While at the gym an older man – who is not a regular, as I have never seen him the last 2 years of my gym membership there – interrupted me during my workout in front of a handful of other people working out.  He wanted to (arrogantly) tell me that he didn’t like the workout I was doing because he felt that I was in his way.  Already on the verge of tears from what I was dealing with that week, I lost it.  Long story short, I told him to not judge others as you never know what they are going through.  Though, I did use a few other choice words when talking to him!  Haven’t seen him since…I think I scared him off!

Focus on the people that are there for you, not the ones that aren’t.

Being diagnosed with skin cancer and the 15+ doctor’s appointments I had in relation to it was not exactly a topic I considered to be casual conversation when someone at work asked me how my weekend went in the hallway of our office.  But for the friends and family I talk to on a daily or weekly basis, the subject came out easily because they were coming from a good place and truly cared about my wellbeing.  After going through something so mentally and physically draining, I was so thankful to have a solid group of friends and family supporting me.  And, on the contrary, I learned that other people won’t reach out to you.  Some people have things going on in their own life that is taking up their attention, and other people just won’t care.  And that’s okay.  You give life what you give energy to, and focusing your attention on those that truly care is the best option in life.

Use products that are both beautiful and functional!

I have sensitive skin, so finding products that work for me can be a challenge.  My Bare Minerals foundation is SPF 15 but after finding out I had skin cancer, I knew I needed something more to protect my skin.  On my last trip to Maui I tried applying my makeup and spraying sunscreen after, only to be left with a very shiny face.  Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for most skin cancers and I knew I needed to start taking this seriously.

The esthetician at my surgeon’s office suggested Skin Ceuticals sunscreen.  After sampling a few products, I chose Skin Ceuticals’ Physical Matte UV Defense sunscreen, which is SPF 50!  I love this product as it works well in conjunction with my daily makeup routine.  I thought adding another product to my normal makeup routine would make my face look “cakey” but that’s not the case!  This sunscreen blends very well.

I have also purchased several hats that will cover my face if I’m outside in the sun for long periods of time.  I’ve never really been a “hat person” so this was new to me!  One of the hats I chose was the Victoria Diva hat from Wallaroo Hats because I loved the style.  After researching, I learned that different hats can protect you from different UV rays, depending on material, brim size, and other factors.  The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the material of Wallaroo hats with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating and a 3-inch brim (or more) as an effective protectant from UV rays.  This specific hat does not have approval from The Skin Cancer Foundation because the material is not woven tightly enough and it is rated at about UPF 30, which is still good and definitely better than nothing!