My sister-in-law has always been someone who likes to be tan. I can't remember a time when she did not have a beautiful even tan. I've always been jealous. Her skin just has a really pretty tone to it when it's tan. So when we saw her on Easter, Andy noticed something on the inside of her ankle. Since I have had numerous trips to the dermatologist to have 'suspicious' spots on my skin removed he asked me to look at her leg.
I knew it immediately. This was not suspicious. That was Melanoma. There was not a doubt in my mind. I told her she needed to get to the doctor as soon as she possibly could. And she did. And the results came back yesterday.
Level 3(of 5)Melanoma. She was referred to Emory to have a 6" surgery to remove (what they hope) is the rest of the cancer. She also will have to have her lymph nodes biopsied and her cancer will be staged (from 1-4). Hopefully her doctors will find that the cancer has not spread past her skin. As long as it can be cut out Melanoma is treatable. Once it gets into your organs there is no treatment.
I can't imagine how afraid she is.
And here I sit. Writing her story and pondering if I should go back to the tanning bed tomorrow. I keep telling myself that I have dark features and tan really well. Surly it wouldn't happen to me too. And this makes me think my priorities really need to be put in order.
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