By Shellie Miller Farrugia
For the girls and guys I grew up with, and all of those who aren’t protecting their skin right now, this is for you.
Quite a few years ago, I noticed a scaly little patch on my face, right above my lip. It was small and annoying, so I would gently peel off the flakes, revealing tender pink skin underneath, and then quickly dab on concealer to hide it. I ignored it for years, figuring it would go away on its own or that it wasn’t worth bothering a doctor over. Five years ago, I went to a dermatologist who did a biopsy. The results came back as basal cell skin cancer. She explained that Mohs surgery was the best way to remove it completely while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. But because the spot was right there on my face for everyone to see, my vanity took over. The thought of scarring made me put it off. My husband kept gently pushing , reminding me it was important, but I was too scared of what the aftermath might look like.
A year later, I saw a more direct dermatologist who stressed that delaying could make things worse, that these cancers grow slowly but steadily, becoming more invasive over time. That woke me up. One Monday morning, with my husband holding my hand and wiping my tears, we went in for the Mohs procedure. It took more than three hours because they had to go back in four separate times, removing thin layers and microscopically checking until every last trace of cancer was gone. From there, we went straight to an experienced plastic surgeon who performed a very extensive three hour reconstruction to repair the area and make it look as natural as possible. The pain in the following 48 hours was overwhelming, but I knew we had made the right decision.
This is not a ploy for sympathy, but a reminder for YOU to be proactive about your own skin starting today. I’m convinced that my vanity allowed that cancer to grow much larger. When I first spotted it years earlier, it was probably small and more easily treatable. Don’t make my mistake.
Cover up with hats, protective clothing, and broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day, even on cloudy ones. Pay close attention to your skin and don’t dismiss anything, whether it’s a new spot, a changing mole, a persistent sore, or something scaly that won’t heal.
In the waiting room at the Mohs doctor’s office, I was surrounded by men and women mostly in their mid-40s and older. Several women chatted about their younger days, slathering on baby oil mixed with iodine, using reflectors to intensify the rays, and spending hours baking in the sun without a second thought. One lady was a 65-year-old grandmother who had never had a single concerning skin issue until recently. It was a stark reminder that the damage from those carefree years can show up decades later.
If you’re reading this right now, know that you are loved. Taking care of your skin isn’t just about vanity or appearance. It’s about protecting your health so you can be there for the people who need you. Be kind to yourself and them by being vigilant now.
Your (now) cancer-free sister,
Shellie