Positive

Thirty-two years ago, I was the mom of a toddler and a baby. I’d found a spot above my left eyebrow that hadn’t healed and that was itchy. I went to a dermatologist (that’s another story) and had a biopsy. A couple of weeks later, a message was left on my answering machine: The biopsy was positive; the lesion was skin cancer.

I called the dermatologist’s office and told them that I thought leaving a message about a positive biopsy result on a machine was, at best, bad practice. Later that week, at 6:00 a.m., my phone rang. It was the dermatologist, asking why I was complaining and noting that, due to my light blue eyes and early sun exposure, I’d have more cancers within the next ten years. Period.

I went to a plastic surgeon and had the lesion removed.

I’ve had yearly skin exams ever since (by a different dermatologist) and no recurrences.

Debra Bures
Hinckley, Ohio