I like facts.
Feb. 8th, 2007 04:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lhskarkaThis is the definition of malignant melanoma skin cancer as listed by the American Cancer Organization on their official website.
I have copied the text of the first paragraph below, which states:
Cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers, probably accounting for more than 50% of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for about 3% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.
On January 22nd,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gmskarka had a T3 3.9mm thick malignant melanoma removed from his leg, leaving a 6-inch diameter, 1.5-inch deep crater in his upper thigh. (A T3 rating means the melanoma is between 2.01 and 4.0 mm thick with or without ulceration.) His doctors treated it from diagnoses to surgery as exactly what it was: a potentially deadly cancer requiring immediate removal. He is very fortunate to have a strong, healthy, highly-effective immune system that managed to keep it from retracting into his body, but that did not make it any less serious, lessen the potential for greater harm, or leave a smaller gaping hole in his leg.
If I have not said it before, I will now. Do not sit around wondering if your weird-looking mole that has started to change shape is cancerous - go and get it checked by a doctor. You might end up saving your own life.
Really.
I have copied the text of the first paragraph below, which states:
Cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers, probably accounting for more than 50% of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for about 3% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.
On January 22nd,
gmskarka had a T3 3.9mm thick malignant melanoma removed from his leg, leaving a 6-inch diameter, 1.5-inch deep crater in his upper thigh. (A T3 rating means the melanoma is between 2.01 and 4.0 mm thick with or without ulceration.) His doctors treated it from diagnoses to surgery as exactly what it was: a potentially deadly cancer requiring immediate removal. He is very fortunate to have a strong, healthy, highly-effective immune system that managed to keep it from retracting into his body, but that did not make it any less serious, lessen the potential for greater harm, or leave a smaller gaping hole in his leg.If I have not said it before, I will now. Do not sit around wondering if your weird-looking mole that has started to change shape is cancerous - go and get it checked by a doctor. You might end up saving your own life.
Really.
