The path.

Ali,
I'm so thankful for your proactive stance on skin cancer. It would have saved my father's life in the 70's if people knew what they did now. He died of melanoma when he was 30 and each day that goes by, I am thankful for just one more day. I get checked yearly and my brother gets checked every 6 months. I have 3 children who are very well protected in the sun unlike I was when I was younger. Thank goodness I got smarter as I got older.
Good luck with your next visit! I look forward to reading how they find nothing else on you and you battle back again!

Thank goodness for early detection and dermatologists! Couldn't agree more. SPF 50 is my best friend. And I stay out of the sun although when I was much younger, I was stupid about it. Now there's a price to pay.
Taking care of yourself is very important, as you know. Thanks for setting such a great example for many. :)

I'm gonna say a little prayer tonight to thank GOD that you had that checked...you had an angel looking out for you. Just reading this I was so thankful you are OK but I have also welled up - I've survived cancer twice (not skin cancer though) and I would hate any of my friends to face that, especially when they inspire me everyday like you.
Take care of you and stay vigilant.
love ya xo

((HUGS)) to you and prayers headed your way! We will be thinking of you and praying for you ... let us know when you go back in.

Sweet Lord and Jesus. So glad it was caught early. Praying for you even still. I feel you on getting healthy and taking care of yourself. I had some unusual dizzy spells that prompted me to make appointments to get myself checked out. In the meantime, I am doing more exercise and eating better. Be blessed.

Ali,
I have had more than 20 moles removed and biopsied myself. Just last week I had another check with my dermatologist. I am so happy that you got it early and that it looks like it will all be good. It is not fun, somewhat scary, and something that most people don't think about.
Wishing you all the best. You are in my thoughts...

Ali, sending great big hugs your way and thanking God for the lady at the landscape place. How cool would it be to send a thank you (in whatever form) to her, letting her know how she helped? I bet she would feel better about speaking up when she feels a tugging on her heart to do so.
I am SO glad you caught it early... also, I have been cringing at my paleness in the mirror lately. I was seriously thinking I should buy a tanning bed package. I am NOT going to do that now. Being here for my family is so much more important than the color of my skin. Thank you.

Thanks for the reminder. We live in FL and I've let the derm visits slide but after reading your post I just made appts for my 6 yo dd and I. So glad yours was caught early.

Thank you for sharing about your dermatologist visit! As someone who is very fair, I have always had to be ultra careful with my exposure to the sun. Hopefully more will follow your example and take better care of their health (taking care of my health has always been a big deal to me, but there are many that don't take care of themselves like they should). It is so important! Thank you for being an example for all of us!
Jennifer

keeping you in my thoughts & prayers ali. my father in-law has melanoma as well. he has undergone several treatments and is doing wonderful. it is a great blessing that you were able to detect this so early. you are a very strong person. wishing you all the best & sending you some {{HUGS}}

you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. SO glad you had the moles tested. Keep smiling and have a good rest of your summer! :) Love the picture of the three of you...

Hi Ali,
Just wanted to wish you luck with your procedure. I had a squamous carcinoma removed from my arm last year (had to go back so they could excise the skin around it, etc) and have become a sunscreen preacher to all. But even more important, OUR AWARENESS will help us protect our kids starting now at young ages. I'll be thinking of you! ~ Trish :-)
PS - Loving these pics you post of coastal Oregon!

So glad you went and got checked out early!

Thank you for being such an advocate for health. Glad you had that taken care of early. Love the photo - what part of the coast is that?

Bonjour Ali.
very beautiful pics.
it looks like at here in Normandie where we live.
sending you good vibes & hope you feel better now.
hugs
PROLIX
{ThE fReNcH tOuCh}
http://prolix.typepad.fr

So glad that you caught it early. My mother had a melanoma that was caught late, however they were able to graft and she is alive and healthy today. Anyways, glad to hear that you caught it early and that you will be OK!

I had something similar a few months ago and it was a bit irritating until they took out the stitches (mine was on my back), but no problems since. I had neglected going to the dermatologist for several years; now I'm back on an every 6 months regimen. Am very glad you got yours checked out and very much appreciate your sharing. You may never know exactly how much influence that simple act of sharing has had, but it sounds as if the effect will be far-reaching. Good for you and for everyone who read and is heeding and spreading the word!

So glad to hear that it is caught in the early stages. Not great news that it is melanoma but good news that it is very, very early. HUGS!

Way to go Ali! Being proactive really pays off . All those scary words can now just behave! Congratulations on your anniv too.

I, too, have to go regularly for mole checks. I had a few removed and one came back, although not malignant, pre-pre-cancerous. So, I had the same thing done, with further removal. I am so happy you are getting checked regularly so they can find things quickly!! And it's awesome that you protect yourself from the sun, as well as blog about it and remind others!! I try to, as well, but it seems so few people heed the warnings of "worshiping the sun God". :)
One last thing: I loved the photo-you look like you're waiting for Simon to take your hands, which I do with my girls.
Thanks for your positivity and great outlook!

Love that photo!! So glad that the cancer was detected early and that you are OK.Big hugs to you! Happy Anniversary too!Have a wonderful weekend!

Glad everything's ok. Kudos to you for staying on top of it. :l

your're lucky..advanced melanoma is deadly...so glad it was caught early. keep up on those mole checks....
cindy

Just saw my dermatologist this morning for a biopsy follow-up. One of mine was cancer-in-situ (which means the cells are not "completely" cancerous). We also "froze" 8 other places that were what he called "pre-cancerous". This is all because I grew up at the beach in S.C. and don't remember using anything except maybe some baby oil - if that, and being golden brown all summer long. It is so important to keep checks on all of this.
At my annual physical last year, I mentioned some random joint pain and feeling tired alot - well several tubes of blood later and I find out I have full blown lupus and fibromyalgia.
Get those check-ups!!!!!!!!

love you,
M