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Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:01 pm  |
It's been forever since I have visited! But I still lurk every once and awhile; I've just been busy (translated: I got a job and had a few escapades) 
Anywho, I wanted to relay my story real quick:
I was getting those ppx treatments and the laser had suction on it so zits under the skin would turn purple-ish and look kind of funny. So, I had this spot on the top of my forehead that I thought was one such zit. However, it kept scabbing and re-scabbing. I tried to tell myself that I was probably reopening the wound while I was drying my bangs.
After months and months of trying to make up an excuse why this thing on my head (about the size of my small pinky nail) wasn't going away I broke down and went and had it biopsied. Sure enough it was cancer and lucky it was basal cell. I had the Mohs surgery to remove it all and it ended up being about the size of a quarter (aka it had been brewing for quite a long time). It's just weird to for me to say or think "I had skin cancer". Yet, what is even weirder is that my surgeon said that he had done surgery on a 19 year old girl the week before who had melanoma! Even stranger, he said it didn't look like your typical melanoma.
This is three days after surgery (one more scar to battle ):
I've changed my mind about using Environ skincare. I'm trying it again since an Environ clinic has opened up in my area and I can get more guidance. After reading more of their literature, it just seem like they have the most common sense, no-frills, and high quality approach to skin cancer and aging prevention. Plus, after using Remergent, they seem affordable 
Hope everyone is well and getting any strange spots on their body checked out! I miss this place! |
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28 Fair skin, brown hair, blue eyes & acne prone combo skin |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:07 pm |
| Welcome back, Sundew! It's good to see you! As a 26 year old pale girl, I definitely found your story to be unsettling! If you don't mind sharing, can you tell us what kind of sunscreen you use on your face and how long you've been using it? Thank you for sharing and posting a picture. I'm just glad you got it removed and you are OK! |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:23 pm |
Thank you so much for sharing your story with everyone, and welcome back.
God bless you! |
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♥I'm flattered by all the lovely PM's, but I don't get here much these days. Please don't be afraid to post your quearies to other DIY members who will be glad to help you (or sell you their wares..lol) Still happy with LED, dermarolling and a DIY antioxidant regime. Peace & Hugs to all.♥ |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:26 pm |
| manslayerliz wrote: |
| Welcome back, Sundew! It's good to see you! As a 26 year old pale girl, I definitely found your story to be unsettling! If you don't mind sharing, can you tell us what kind of sunscreen you use on your face and how long you've been using it? Thank you for sharing and posting a picture. I'm just glad you got it removed and you are OK! |
Hi Liz!!
I can see the tomatoes be chucked already but I kind of deserve it . *sheepishly*: I haven't been using a sunscreen. I've been interested is in starting but the ss topic is so confusing. I was trying the 'avoid the sun technique'. Which, I guess, obviously wasn't good enough, specially when living in a region I don't think my pale skin was meant to live in.
Now I'm using Environ's RAD spf16 and I like it so far.
Two interesting side notes:
One thing that prompted me to get this checked out was an article on the large amount of skin cancer on womens left side of their face. They think this might have to do with sun exposure while driving. Of course, as you can see, my spot was on the left side.
Second: I've had had hair covering most of my forehead, specially that spot, for at least 4 years. Guess hair isn't a good sunblocker!
ETA: Thanks Kassy |
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28 Fair skin, brown hair, blue eyes & acne prone combo skin |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:44 pm |
| I am sorry for your experience but I am glad that you took prompt action to stop things from getting more serious. Wish you a speedy recovery. |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:41 pm |
| Oh, my I guess we all have to take this as a lesson to block up!! Hope all is well with you! |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:13 pm |
Best of luck and speedy recovery.
Also, in a while that scar will be barely noticeable, if that worries you.
I also think that SPF 25/30 is a minimum, and also whatever sunscreen you choose it has to have not just UVB (SPF rating covers this), but also UVA protection
Good luck and best of health,
Lucy. |
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Early 50s, Skin: combin.,semi-sensitive, fair with occasional breakouts, some old acne scars, freckles, under-eye wrinkles; Redhead with hazel eyes |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:17 pm |
Sundew, your story is very touching. Thank you for sharing it with us and caring about us to give us a warning and letting us know what signs to look for. I am glad that you found it quickly and dealt with it before it got out of control. You're right about the left side of the face getting more sun exposure, and has more problems. My left cheek got more spots than my right from driving in the sun without using SS in my early years. Yikes, I thought my hair would help to protect my face. Now I have to be more vigilant about that SS on the face.
Oh yeah, for a great sun protection, I think Sunkiller SPF 50+ with PA+++ is awesome. I use the clear water one, which is like water. It feels light and not greasy. I asked my sis to buy it for me in Thailand and sent it over with someone who was coming back to LA after a visit to Bangkok, but you can also order from either ebay (a HK seller) or Bobodave (also in HK). The only downside from ordering from HK is if you're not home, you'll get a slip to pick up your package at the USPS office, which could be a pain since I'm never home when they try to deliver my package. The cost is only $12 or so with shipping. |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:25 pm |
Congrats on having it removed!))And the scar is not a big deal,compared to the trade off especially.This kinda freaked me out-aka after I finish typing this I am checking every single spot on my body  |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:32 pm |
| Thank you for sharing your story. I didn't realise the amount of sun you could get on your face while driving. I will wear sunscreen in the car from now on! |
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Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:32 pm |
| Thanks for sharing your story! I have never worn sunscreen because I am dark complected and have never sunburned nor have I laid out in the sun but your story about driving and sun exposure is scary. I will start wearing sunscreen pronto! I am glad you are O.K. and I wish you good health! |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:55 am |
thank you for sharing your story..........i was just thinking about putting off sunscreen considering the amount of chemicals that are in SS........but this has made me rethink my decision so rather than give up altogether i think i will go for mineral based SS or sunblocks rather than chemical based SS which im thinking cant be that good for you long term as it gets asborbed into the body aye
wish you good health and its good to hear you are ok |
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age 33 .. skin dry with odd breakout now and then. skin color best i can describe is golden brown..tans easily |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:13 am |
Sundew, thank you for sharing and for warning all us! Wishing you speedy recovery and always take care of yourself!
 |
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31, combo - oily, breakout-prone, fair complexion, sensitive and prone to rosacea |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:27 am |
| Thanks for sharing your story Sundew and I hope you continue to recover quickly. This is scary and a bit of a wakeup call. I'm a pale girl too and although I wear sunscreen sometimes I'm not as diligent about it as I should be. I really appreciate your story. Welcome back to the forum. |
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32 years old, combination skin, working on lots of age-related changes (fine lines, dull skin, hyperpigmentation) since I hit the big 3-0. Loving the 302 line. |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:43 am |
So glad you took care of it - and speedy recovery!!! and wear that sunscreen!!!  |
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39, fair combo skin, dark brown hair, acne prone. |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:38 am |
Hi Sundew.
Thanks for sharing your story with us!
Hope you are fine!
Regards! |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:11 pm |
| thanks for the reminder to check weird spots on our body. I have a weird bump on the back of my calf that's been there about a year that i should get checked. I have a doc appt. in two weeks so I'll have her look at it then. |
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oily tzone;fair; mild roseacea;PCOS symptoms-hirsutism,occasional cystic acne. Mid 30's-light-med brown hair, light brown eyes |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:04 pm |
| I'm so glad you got it taken out. Hugs to you! |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:34 pm |
Hi Sundew,
I'm new here but just wanted to thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad to hear things worked out well for you. |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:37 pm |
Congratulations Sundew on having it removed and I hope you are healing well!
I just wanted to say thank you for posting your story as I have been very reckless in the past-not protecting my skin in the sun. Your story serves as a wake-up call. I should be using a product with SPF!
Thank you and Take Care! |
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:59 am |
Hi Sundew! Glad you got that taken care of and hope your scar heals well.
I'm so glad you posted this. I hope I'm not hijacking your thread, but want to throw my experience in too, hoping it might encourage others to use that sunscreen!
I had a brown spot above my ankle, also about the size of a small f-nail, flat, smooth, but became itchy. Showed it to my Derm, who said it looked harmless, but biopsied it anyway, and it she was amazed it came back BCC.
She removed it, (horrible experience) my leg has a 2 in. brownish nasty dent/scar in it now. If I knew what it entailed I would've had a PS remove it. I imagine it came from suntanning, no sunscreen, etc. in past years. I still hate wearing anything other than pants it's so ugly.
I also have a full body check every year now.
BTW, I'm br/eyes/skin/hair. |
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Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:23 pm |
Sundew,welcome back.
What an eye opener...thank you.
My face is an example of left side damage,although no cancer. Hope you heal quickly.
Linda |
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Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:28 am |
Ditto on what everyone else has said  This is a "good" story to pass on to our daughters. |
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46, curly dk blonde hair, fair, blue eyes, very oily T-zone. HGs: Tazorac .05% gel; Avene/Bioderma s/s (very high spf AND ppd); Cellbone vit Cie 20%; Cellbone Hyperpeptides; IFP 5% bha/10% aha; Obagi Clear; 'curly girl' method (no poo, just co wash) for my 3b curls. |
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Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:26 am |
Hi Sundew
Thank you for sharing your story. It's very interesting that you should get this melanoma at such a young age. Is there any history of it in your family? Did you have the spots on this area before you treated laser treatments? Can you recall ever having severe sunburn on this area when you were younger?
What does your derm think caused it?
As you can probably tell I'm very interested in this area of skincare!
Hope you're doing OK and thanks again for being kind enough to share. |
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Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:19 pm |
| Camelia wrote: |
Hi Sundew
Thank you for sharing your story. It's very interesting that you should get this melanoma at such a young age. Is there any history of it in your family? Did you have the spots on this area before you treated laser treatments? Can you recall ever having severe sunburn on this area when you were younger?
What does your derm think caused it?
As you can probably tell I'm very interested in this area of skincare!
Hope you're doing OK and thanks again for being kind enough to share. |
She had BASAL CELL, not Melanoma.
Most BC is likely caused by sun or UV exposure, and is showing up in younger and younger ages nowadays. Especially in fair skinned people. But BC can be very disfiguring if on the face (or anywhere really  ) from the surgery to get rid of it.
Thank goodness it was NOT Melanoma. |
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