My New Year started badly again – do they ever not in this century? I have had a couple of small skin coloured lumps on the side of my nose for a while. They were barely noticeable and I assumed them to be innocuous. I decided to get rid of them and waited several months to see a top dermatologist – this is my face, being, with my hair, the only parts of me that look even remotely like the me of old: both need to be protected at any cost!
The Derm Doc seemed very un-alarmed – to the point of casual, ‘Oh yes, that’s skin cancer, nothing to worry about.’ I went back the following week and had both lumps removed. Local anaesthetic, a few stitches, a couple of small scars...all should be fine. I have to say that needles in the sensitive flesh of the face and nose generated some eye watering pain!
I am now only too aware that, with my fair colouring - I have only ‘small jugs’ of melanin, the natural sun protector - I am a prime candidate for skin cancer and that the laughably high doses of steroids that I have been receiving into my body, for the past decade, break down the collagen in my skin making me even more vulnerable to such cancers. How unfortunate that not a single medical professional thought to mention this to me previously, and, that they have encouraged me vociferously to sit in the sun to increase my levels of vitamin C/D to protect against osteoporosis. Left hand: right hand?
Derm Doc says that I am not to step outside without factor 60 skin protection and a big hat from now on as these skin cancers do recur. All sun - even winter sun – is a big no no for me.... the tiny trip from front door to car is too much, bare-faced!
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