Sunday 15 and Monday 16 March were two very different days for me.
Sunday was an incredibly fun and relaxing day at the Mondure Gardening Experience Day. Monday I traveled to Toowoomba for surgery due to too many ‘sun days.’
I’m a very private person, but I have decided to share this experience to highlight the importance of having regular skin checks done.
First of all, I’m 100 per cent fine. What I had removed were two basal cell carcinomas – the ones that do not spread.
Many of us have had this procedure done, but just hear me out and please don’t suggest that I should have done anything differently.
I’ve always loved the outdoors and spending countless hours gardening, so naturally this equates to some sun exposure.
It seems that wearing a hat and the occasional sunscreen has not been enough in my case. With the gift of hindsight, a larger-brimmed hat and applying sunscreen daily would have been better.
Why am I saying all this? Well, something I didn’t do was have a regular skin check; I hadn’t ‘got around to it’ for a few years.
I have now learned the hard way and will definitely get a yearly skin check.
In my case all I had visible was a tiny, shiny spot on my cheek and thought nothing of it.
I’m a regular make-up user so I wasn’t paying any particular attention, and I felt nothing amiss.
My local GP during a general checkup saw the little shiny spot which I had bumped and which started to bleed. That day I didn’t have make-up on.
Thank you so much for reading. I feel that by sharing my experience it might prevent someone else from going through this.
Note to self and to all my wonderful readers: have a regular skin check! I hope to see you at the upcoming Wondai Autumn Garden Expo on 11 and 12 April at the Wondai Showgrounds.
