I came across a great video tonight on melanoma. You can view it here. When I first discovered the mole that was eventually diagnosed as melanoma, I was pregnant with Ainsley. It started as a small mole on my shoulder blade and got bigger. It itched like crazy and Joel and I kept a close eye on it. I didn't have my regular yearly appointment with my dermatologist until a few months after I had Ainsley, and with a newborn, I wasn't too eager to get it checked out.
I was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 27. I knew I had an increased risk, since my Dad had it, my fair complexion and freckles. I've had yearly skin checks since 2005 when my Dad was diagnosed with melanoma. It's amazing how fast it can develop and how your world can be turned upside down with just a few words: "It's melanoma." Ainsley was just a few months old when I was diagnosed, and that was so scary to hear as a new Mom. I want to be able to watch her grow old. Luckily, the doctor was able to get all of the melanoma by taking a (pretty big) chunk of skin off my left shoulder. I now have a lovely scar, that has a little indention from everything she removed to remind me every day of what was there.
I was a young and stupid teenager who used a tanning bed a little too often. The place I worked while in high school and college was just a few doors down from a salon with tanning beds. I would walk over and tan during my break about every day. It was my time during the afternoon to get a 10-15 minute nap in while laying in the bed. I remember how hot my legs would get while laying in the tanning bed. I would get out and the backs of my legs and butt would be bright red from burning. I hated the way I smelled after tanning and can still smell that smell to this day. It was like burnt skin. I stunk for the rest of the day and would carry body spray with me so I could freshen up after tanning.
Why did I continue to tan if it got so hot that my legs and butt literally burned? And why did I keep going if I stunk so bad after tanning? I was young and stupid. No question about it. I'm so glad to see that there are cities (including Springfield) that recently put a ban on teenagers tanning. Sure, you look great tan, but is it really worth it?
I hate seeing people post on facebook about going to the tanning salon, etc. and that they don't even worry about the risk. I think (almost) every day about the "what ifs" What if it comes back? I've been really scared throughout this pregnancy, and have been watching my body very closely for any type of changes. It scares me that it happened during my last pregnancy, and it just makes me think that it's going to happen again during this one. So far, so good though. Nothing out of the ordinary!
Hopefully this video will help at least one person realize that it's just not worth it!!!
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