Time stood still for us as we wept and clung to each other in the entryway of our home. Meanwhile 5 year old Luke, 2 year old Charlie, and 6 month old Jack continued playing in blissful ignorance of the news that he just dropped.
I didn't know much about it. But, I knew it was the skin cancer you really didn't want to have.
It turns out that the so very tiny freckle that kept on bleeding, was a deep cancerous tumor.
Kevin let it go for awhile. He thought it was just a freckle that kept getting scratched when he was getting dressed, surfing, etc.
The initial biopsy came back negative, but his dermatologist had a nagging suspicion and took a bigger sample to biopsy which came back positive.
As the oncologist said best, "If she didn't do that, you'd be a dead man."
Two invasive surgeries later and finding out that the cancer had spread to a lymph node, Kevin started a year of grueling treatment.
This spiraled us onto a new life path. Although he has been cancer free for 5 years, the long term prognosis is that his cancer can come back at anytime, anywhere. We have moved forward, but cancer is a lurker.
Melanoma is a beast. If you don't catch it early, it is hard to treat and the recurrence rate is high.
So it is with our story that I encourage you to be sun safe. Don't post photos of your sunburn on Facebook. Be preventative all year long. Wear your sunscreen. Use an umbrella at the pool, beach, or lake. Wear a hat and protective clothing. Get your skin checked.
Please.
Not only will you hopefully live longer, but you'll look cuter too!
Much love,
Katie
5 comments:
My father had melanoma, too. I'm glad your husband is now cancer free (so is my dad). My in-laws are tanning obsessed and call me translucent because I cover up every time I go to the beach with them. The sun is no joke.
Your husband is vey lucky! So many people do not take it serious ! So happy he is 5 years cancer free!
Congrats on hitting the 5 year mark and thank you for this post! It's a great reminder and you're right, so very important.
YES!!!!! such great advise i hope your readers take your husbands story to heart and listen ! hope your summer is going good!
I honestly never thought melanoma could be this serious. I know that sounds awful...since reading all of your posts regarding Kevin, I have learned a lot. And thankfully, have always been very sun safe. It terrifies me.
So glad to hear he is cancer free. 5 years is a huge milestone! xo
Post a Comment