get my skin checked

Every six months now.

and as I was sitting in the waiting room I thought about my poor pale skin covered in freckles and thought I bet they’ll say I have skin cancer. Then they found a suspicious looking mole on my back and freaked me out because I’ve sun burnt myself there numerous times, some times so badly I peeled. They removed the mole and it turned out to be harmless.
I will douse myself in sunscreen from now on.

Well, the dr. gave me a thorough visual going-over, and remarked that although I have a lot of moles on sun-exposed areas, I honestly don’t have a lot of sun damage (heh, she should have seen my skin BEFORE – there is SOME) and there were no spots that seemed concerning to her.

It didn’t take long – had a nice chat with her for a bit afterward, since I really didn’t have any further health concerns.

I feel very reassured.

Let’s hope it’s good news.

I’ve been feeling increasingly less anxiety over this ever since I made the appointment. I now worry that it is nothing and I’m overreacting! Sheesh. Well, it can’t hurt to have everything checked out. I’m sure the doc will be impressed that such a young person as me is thinking in terms of prevention and proactivity.

I was able to get an appointment with my physician this Wednesday. I have only been to her twice for yearly physicals, so I actually don’t know how well-versed she is regarding dermatological issues.

But at least I will be able to talk to a PHYSICIAN and get a referral to a dermatologist who can look at my skin and either assuage my fears or do something constructive about them.

Whew. I’m still scared. But a bit less freaked.

I’ve worked outdoors. A LOT.

I have a fair complexion.

I have lots of moles/freckles.

Apparently I am at high risk for skin cancer.

Furthermore, I have some spots on my upper arms/shoulders that are kind of freaking me out.

I’m sick of worrying and putting this off.

I might as well get a full physical while I’m at it.

Off to make an appointment with my primary physician – possibly get a dermatologist referral.

I really hope it’s nothing.

Great, the suspicious bumpy mole on my arm is just unsightly and not a melanoma. No skin cancer for me!!!

I live in a tropical climate. We have the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world (there are scary bus-shelter ad campaigns going on at the moment saying things like,”two out of three people who walk past this sign will be affected by skin cancer”).

On top of that, I have a weird mole-freckle thing which is changing colour and shape on my arm.

I must, must, must get it checked!