As you can tell March is turning out to be quite a busy month for me…
You know about my involvement in the campaign video for the new charity It Takes Seven.
The others in the Video are Jane, a lady with Basal Skin Carcinoma, Hermione a lady with Stage 1 Melanoma and Emma & Stephen who sadly lost their daughter Stacey to Melanoma.
Very different experiences of Skin Cancer – but a united goal to find a cure. To raise awareness.
And I am so hopeful for the potential of the campaign. Please take a look at the website and get involved.
www.ittakesseven.org.uk
I already have a couple of ideas up my sleeve for ways to raise money…no doubt I shall entertain / torture you with tales of various fund raising activities!
At the end of March I am attending a Melanoma conference in Brussels which will be a fantastic opportunity to be involved in discussions regarding Clinical Trials and Patient Advocacy.
The Conference is being organised by ESO – the European School of Oncologists & M Icab – the Melanoma Independent Advisory Board.
The only slight twist to the potential advantages of being taken to Brussels to attend the conference is that I will miss most on Mother’s Day with the little people on the Sunday & as soon as I get back I need to start taking pre-Colonoscopy medications in advance of my procedure on Tuesday.
My greatest concern is the clocks go back….in another country…with a flight to catch & an unbelievable likelihood that I will have an almighty blonde moment!
More stuff in March includes another minor surgical procedure…next week I am back in Oxford having a couple of moles taken off my back by The Surgeon (Dr Cassell ).
They are not of great concern, but because of their proximity to my main scar line & the fact they have grown / changed since the original WLE (Wide Local Excision) in June last year they are going to come off…for my peace of mind if nothing else!
The Scar subject is an interesting one….
My scars consist of several small mole removal scars on my arm, leg and torso – which will fade & in time be barely noticeable. Then there is the Scar on my leg – the one that was infected & had Cellulitis. It has finally healed – but the scar isn’t a clean line & the scar tissue is noticeable.
The main scar – my primary – is a 7 inch scar across my back.
I have a current detachment with my scars. I don’t hate them….I should….shouldn’t I???
I wouldn’t hide from showing them to people…decently of course – given the position of my back scar I can’t exactly whip off my top mid conversation….and I sure as hell don’t intend to drop my jeans outside the school gates to show my friends my leg scar!
What I mean is that I don’t feel any shame of them – Melanoma happened to me. Not of choice…and not of my making.
It is there….I see the scars every day…perhaps deep down they affect me more than I am aware…but for now they are a reminder of my survival – my current wellbeing & my fight to raise awareness about Melanoma & Skin Cancer.
We are made stronger by the challenges that life throws us…..and in my case that B£$%^*D that threw this at me needs to be signed up for a sports team quick – good throw!
So back to the scar…..March is the first month of spring….it is the point when we all think “Hurrah for the sunshine at last”…we take off our outer layers & spend time out of doors getting fresh air & much needed Vitamin D.
This last weekend my Facebook statuses were full of people thankful for the suns rays. You & me both!
A group of Melanoma patients in the UK are raising the profile of Melanoma this March by creating a campaign called March Scarch. Showing their scars as a reminder of what Melanoma means & the impact it can have. This is my back scar again…..Melanoma leaves a lasting effect.
Go out…enjoy the sunshine & warmer weather….but don’t be complacent – the UV rays are still powerful & can still damage even though it isn’t 30 Degrees or August.
1 out of every 3 Cancers currently diagnosed in this country is a Skin Cancer.
Enjoy the first month of Spring!