ShanScan Reminder!

[winecat]

Today would have been Shanbrite's 40th birthday.  

If you're overdue for your skin check by a dermatologist, get it scheduled and get it done!  And wear sunscreen.  

Happy Birthday, Shannon!  I miss you.  

[winecat]

AND, this is really, really important, if you notice *any* changes a new mole or a change to an existing one DO NOT DELAY a trip to the derm.

[Bad Dingo]

<3 <3

[pugz]

My husband and I go yearly! I nag my friends too and I'm glad because a friend of mine goes yearly now and her derm has found some spots that needed a biopsy

[konapoppy]

Thank you. Yesterday I finally made an appointment. A place that had been recommended even had easy online booking. I didn’t have to talk to anyone, and I already feel better having it on the books.

[VillainV]

Thanks for the reminder! I went for my first check almost a year ago because of this reminder. It was so quick and easy. Time to make my next appointment!

[scribellesam]

I’m a year overdue because of Covid but I have my appointment coming up next month!

[minzy]

What a thoughtful reminder, thanks for posting.

I just went last week to a new derm - it’s easy. Go, everyone!

[TR]

Aug 19, 2021 10:51:31 GMT -5 winecat said:

AND, this is really, really important, if you notice *any* changes a new mole or a change to an existing one DO NOT DELAY a trip to the derm.

This. It can move fast. My cousin just had a melanoma and three lymph nodes removed from her groin area from something that she hadn't even noticed, but her derm caught at her latest appointment and my cousin goes every 6 months because her father had melanoma. And this should be early enough, but that is scary fast to have to take lymph nodes too.

[TR]

I go yearly and had to change derms this year and the new derm and her assistant kind of made me feel like me being there just for a skin check was overkill. I was very wtf at that. I reminded myself that it really is a good thing to go regularly.

[WOT?*]

Thank you for the reminder.
My sister just had her "sexy mole" checked last month/earlier this month. Fifty stitches later, we think they got it all. (Test results came back last Monday.)

[katyintx]

I usually only lurk on this board so I had never interacted with Shanbrite, but her story (doesn’t seem like the right word?) had an effect on me. Because of her I’ve been getting annual skin checks for a handful of years now, and just last week they removed a mole to biopsy. I never would’ve even noticed it as it was in a hard to see place, so the skin checks are definitely a must-do!

[mcppalmbeach]

This feels really eerie to me because my friend’s H was just diagnosed with melanoma.

[estrellita]

I had 2 moles removed last year. One I had been previously told was a skin tag. The other needed further removal but luckily neither were cancerous. I have tons of freckles and moles so it's hard for me to keep track! The removal sucked but way better than the alternative!

I also didn't interact with her but read her story. It definitely pushed me to get over my fear of possible bad news and get checked!

[Gato]

I am so thankful for this board because I never would have seen a dermatologist before learning about Shannon. Because of one of these posts a few years ago, I scheduled an appointment to have a red blob on my thigh checked, even though my pediatrician had said it was nothing. Well, it was something, and I am grateful it was caught early and removed with chemo cream.

Now I go every six months to follow up, and no more cancer has appeared. So thank you—for me, you really made a difference!

[Michelle]

For those who didn't know ShanBrite and her story, there is a TikTok creator who explains her fight with what is now terminal skin cancer. If you ever doubted the seriousness of getting your skin checked, her story might give you the motivation you need. www.tiktok.com/@ohhkayypee She shows what is a pretty small mole all things considered and explains through her TT account how it progressed and got to where she is now.

[NewOrleans]

That full mole excision I posted about last month takes place tomorrow. I’m nervous about the procedure (I know it won’t be so bad) but I’m scared they will saying it is melanoma after all.

I go religiously for her because her story shocked and horrified me so much.

[cinnamoncox0]

Aug 24, 2021 18:20:37 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

That full mole excision I posted about last month takes place tomorrow. I’m nervous about the procedure (I know it won’t be so bad) but I’m scared they will saying it is melanoma after all.

I go religiously for her because her story shocked and horrified me so much.

Good luck, I hope everything turns out ok.

OP thanks for the reminder. Happy belated bday Shan.

I need to make an appointment for this.

[picksthemusic]

Just made my appointment.

Thanks for the reminder!

[Bernadine]

I have a new mole, saw this post, and immediately scheduled a skin check with a dermatologist. Unfortunately, they can’t get me in until October 11. Fortunately, I have an appointment with my regular dr this evening, and I’m going to ask him about it.

[curbsideprophet]

Aug 24, 2021 18:20:37 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

That full mole excision I posted about last month takes place tomorrow. I’m nervous about the procedure (I know it won’t be so bad) but I’m scared they will saying it is melanoma after all.

I go religiously for her because her story shocked and horrified me so much.

Hope everything went okay today and your recovery goes smoothly.

[t]

I had a melanoma removed in 2007 (approximately 25 stitches) so I only recently graduated to derm visits annually. I went every 6 months for 11 years and had a ton of biopsies and re-excisions in that time. Because for that, I was able to get a lot of my family and friends to the derm for their first skin checks.

[Michelle]

Aug 24, 2021 18:20:37 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

That full mole excision I posted about last month takes place tomorrow. I’m nervous about the procedure (I know it won’t be so bad) but I’m scared they will saying it is melanoma after all.

I go religiously for her because her story shocked and horrified me so much.

If you go religiously and it IS melanoma, let's put all our thoughts toward it being in-situ. Many good thoughts coming your way. 

[NewOrleans]

Let’s hear it for everyone in here taking care of themselves! 🥳 It’s what Shannon would want.