Lindy's Story - Malignant Melanoma

I was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma in February 2004. I was 49. I am now 56! I have been very lucky.

As a child born in the 1950's it was considered healthy to be outside, we played out a lot, I don't remember sun cream, just calamine lotion if you went  'red'.
As a young woman in my 20's it was fashionable to go on holiday abroad to places like Spain, and sunbathe.  I went to Majorca with a friend once.  On return everyone would say "You look really well with a tan".  I also worked in Italy as a teacher for 3 years, Rome. and did spend time on the beach at weekends, again people would say how 'healthy' I looked with a tan. I don't think I sunbathed anymore than others at the time, less than many I know. My mum was English and my dad Italian - I had inherited my mothers pale skin!  I did also use sunbeds in my early 30's, everyone did, again it was the fashion to go swimming or to aerobics and then have a sauna/sunbed.  We were not aware of the dangers at that time.

I had a mole on my left thigh which was not painful but seemed to change in colour and spread at the edges, so, not wanting to make a fuss over something small, it was not until I went to see my G.P. for another unrelated reason that as I left I asked “Would you have a quick look at my leg please? Within minutes I was on the couch with my leg being examined by 2 G.P’s. I had a call from the hospital the next day and was with the Consultant within 3 days. I was told that it was 99.9% certain, even before tests, that I had the most serious of skin cancers – malignant melanoma. It was removed there and then. This was in February 2004.  The lesion did turn out to be malignant and I returned to hospital to have a further operation – to ensure a safe area around where the melanoma was removed. 

I attended regular appointments for the next 3 years   during this time I had cryosurgery on another small mole and had 2 others removed – none of which were malignant.  I know that I have been very lucky.  I would encourage everyone to go to the doctor if they are concerned about changes in a mole, the sooner the better.