Inside Furman is published quarterly by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
Kelly's Korner
My Battle with Melanoma
Last spring, my husband Aaron noticed a mole on the back of my leg. At a skin cancer screening two years earlier, my dermatologist assured me that it was nothing to worry about. But something had changed.
As a lecturer in Health and Exercise Science, I was well aware of the risk factors, signs and dangers of skin cancer. I had not sun-bathed in years, but I feared that the poor choices of my youth had come back to pay me a visit. At the time, I was 27 years old and five months pregnant. Skin cancer was the last thing that I wanted to think about.
I made an appointment with my dermatologist the next day. He confirmed that the mole had changed and decided to send a sample to the pathologist for review. The shave biopsy was quick and painless. Within several days, I received the call. It was melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. I couldn't believe it. I had cancer.
The next week swept by like a tornado. I read everything that I could about melanoma. I learned that melanoma accounts for 4 percent of all skin cancer cases but 77 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Melanoma cells are very aggressive and can cause major organ failure in the brain, liver, lungs, kidneys and heart. When the cancer spreads to other organs, the survival rate is very poor. Aaron and I faced thoughts and fears of death and of losing our child.
I was scheduled for immediate surgery under general anesthesia with a surgical oncologist. The surgical team made a six-inch incision down the back of my leg to remove the melanoma and surrounding tissue. Two lymph nodes from my hip were also removed to determine how far the melanoma had spread. If the lymph nodes contained cancer, we would discuss radiation and chemotherapy. Neither option would be safe for a growing fetus.
Fortunately, the next pathology report was very optimistic. There was no sign of cancer in my lymph nodes and the borders around the melanoma were clear. I was diagnosed with Stage I melanoma, with a very good survival rate. We caught it in the early stages before it spread to other parts of my body. Early detection saved my life. It can save your life too.
I encourage everyone to get an annual skin cancer screening from a dermatologist. A free skin cancer screening will be offered at the Employee Health and Benefits Fair November 9, along with many other important health screenings. Other screenings include glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, vision and hearing.
Each screening takes only about five minutes. So take a few minutes out of your day to take care of your health. You'll be glad that you did.
Skin Cancer Facts
• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer.
• One out of five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point during their lives.
• If detected early, 95-100 percent of skin cancers are curable.
• Risk factors for skin cancer include:
• Reduce your risk for skin cancer by:
Editor's note : Each issue of Inside Furman will include a wellness-related column by Kelly Frazier. A lecturer in the Health and Exercise Science department and the university's wellness coordinator, Frazier will use “Kelly's Korner” to share personal stories and provide information about upcoming wellness programs. She may also occasionally discuss dieting and exercise trends.