30 Comments

  1. Thank you for this post. My father had skin cancer on his lip, a place you just don’t associate with skin cancer. He had a sore that would not heal. Thankfully they could take care of it, removing a portion of his lip. Dad was fair complected with strawberry blonde hair and loved to sit out in his boat fishing in the sun. Our vacations always included sunburns and we thought nothing of it back then, just a part of the fun in the sun summer. Now we schedule dermotolgist appt. regularly.

    1. I’ve visited the dermatologist yearly since I was a young teenager. I’ve always been really aware of this and I’m not really that fair skinned and have dark hair. All these rules and then at the end it doesn’t matter. I’m glad your dad is ok.

  2. wow! that treatment worked wonders!!!!! what a great difference and i am sure you feel a million times better and more confident. that is also great news about the treatment for your spot!!

    1. Yes it did and if you consider how much money you spend on creams and makeup to cover this stuff up, then it certainly is cheaper to do this treatment.

    1. Hey there Krystine! Do you mean acupuncture? Or is there a different needling too? There are so many things I want to try but such a small budget 😉

  3. I’m heading to a dermatologist in a month to start being proactive about possible sun damage from my teens. My grandfather who has red hair and fair complexion like myself had some on his face that needed removal. I don’t want to go through that! Also, I notice in some of the photos you have what appears as slits for earring holes and in some of the photos you don’t. Did you have them repaired? I wore heavy earrings in my teens and don’t really have “holes” more like “lines” in my ears that hold earrings and I’ve heard people can have them repaired. Just wondered if you did that at the same time.

    Staying on top of your health is non-stop. Keep up the great work.

  4. Catherine says:

    Julia your face looks fab thank you so much for sharing this, I might be tempted to give it a go. Thank goodness your skin cancer was caught early and hope the procedure isn’t too grim. Big hugs x

    1. Thank you Catherine. I’m now scared when I look at my body and it is an odd feeling

    1. I certainly do not regret trying this one.

  5. As I read this I this I thought “wow I could be writing this almost word for word!” I too have done the laser treatment and I had basal cell carcinoma on my nose. I had in removed in the same manner using the MOHS treatment and my scar is very minimal thanks to a great dermatologist. I am very religious about sun screen now and I visit the dermatologist ever six months. I have had a few more pre cancerous lesions appear elsewhere on my body that have had to be burnt off and I was told as you get older the will continue to appear. Thank you so much for sharing your story with others, not only to educate, but also to show the real side of aging and sun damage that can affect all of us in a world of photoshopped selfies!

    1. Thanks Vicki! Did you have the treatment before or after they removed your basal cell carcinoma? I’m so scared to find more now when I look at my body.

  6. judyincarefree says:

    I am having MOHS surgery on a basal cell carcinoma in the fold of my right cheek tomorrow morning. I’m a little nervous about how it will look when healed,but the doctor says it is in a spot that will heal beautifully. I will keep you updated!

    1. Oh best of luck to you. I’m nervous too! And yes, please keep me updated on how it goes.

  7. Wow Julia, what a transformation! I had no idea about this laser treatment. Definitely saving this post and praying for you!! Glad it’s not a terrible form and you caught it!

    1. Thanks so much Summer. I’m so thankful for what type it is! It could be so much worse for sure

  8. This is so interesting, Julia. I’ve never heard of this procedure but it worked beautifully for you! Sorry to hear your news but so glad you caught it early, I know they’ll take great care of you. 🙂

    1. Thanks Jennifer, I really wish it would be more common knowledge that these types of treatments can help prevent skin cancer or help to discover it early.
      I’m lucky and still terrified of melanoma. It’s so scary.

  9. Thank you for this post. I have been putting off a visit to the dermatologist for a couple of suspicious spots on face. I haven’t been to see mine for about a year and a half but your post has encouraged me to go ahead and make that appointment. I also love your design.

    1. Yes, please make sure to go and have them checked out. I go once a year since I was a young teenager and it is so so important. Keep me updated!

  10. I had been having my skin checked yearly by a dermatologist for the last eight years. This past year they felt like I should have the laser treatment on my chest and neck. After having the treatment there was an area that looked suspicious. Evidently it was easier to see following the laser procedure ( 3 treatments) They did the biopsy and it came back squamous cell. The dermatologist plus a pathologist were in the office when I had my surgery. They had told me to plan on possibly spending a good part of the day there. They removed the lesion and did a frozen section. The pathologist checked the borders and they were clear so they didn’t have to remove any more tissue. At our Cancer Center each year they offer a free skin cancer screening and I would advise anyone reading this to see if this is offered at their hospital. It is worth checking out. Thank you for posting this about your experience. Let us know what you decide and again thank you.

    1. Hi Betty, how come you had three treatments? I’m so new to this. I thought the standard procedure is one? I had one and then a free follow up with some spots they went over again. And I agree, people should check to see if they have free skin cancer screenings at their hospitals it’s so important.

  11. aussiebushgirl says:

    Hey Julia. What a nightmare time for you! I’m just so happy that it was found in time, and that you’ll soon be on the road to greater improved health.

    Have you had your cold sore examined? Cold sores are usually the result of Herpes virus Type 1 (HSV 1), and are highly contagious. They’re also easy to contract via indirect contact with people who have it. Invariably the partner of someone with HSV 1 can contract it, but usually in the form of genital Herpes Type 2 (HSV 2), which is why great care should be taken not to infect your partner! Herpes HSV 1 can be contracted via handshakes with an infected person, or when change (for example) is being handed over from someone who has just been ‘playing’ with a cold sore on their face, or from kissing a person who carries the virus. We are all at risk! A very large portion of the population is carrying the Herpes virus unknowlingly, and oftentimes will not present with any symptoms in their life time. The virus tends to pop out during or following great stress, and may only do so as a one-off, but the person remains infected with the virus for the rest of their life and can transfer the virus during or directly after an outbreak. I’d be inclined to get your blood work tested just to make sure you aren’t carrying the virus. By the way Herpes and Hives tend to go hand in glove! I only discovered I had Herpes Type 2 when I broke out in Hives about 7 years ago! I didn’t actually have a Herpes outbreak following this for about another year. Now I have several outbreaks every year, mostly on a monthly and sometimes weekly basis! We have no idea where I contracted this from, or how long the virus has been laying dormant in my system, but it’s a living nightmare to be inflected by something like this at this time of my life. If you’ve had one or two cold sore outbreaks, then the chances are that you may be carrying the virus. Contrary to belief, ‘cold sores’ are not the product of colds or flu or being run-down, but are usually the signs of the virus. Please do have it checked out so you can take necessary precautions not to infect your friends or family. For all you know, it may be sun-related blistering in which case you’ll have dodged the Herpes “bullet” and can be very thankful for that!

    Big hugs and lots of strength coming your way!
    Heather xo

  12. Trish rodriguez says:

    Thank you for sharing this very personal side. Knowledge is power????

  13. Julia, I am blown away by the amazing difference the laser treatment made! I refuse to spend money on lotions and potions that claim to help wiht aging skin, etc. But this I would consider as I age. I’m now 38 and I’m starting to see how the sun (and my cavalier attitude about it) has damaged my skin.
    My mom and her mom both had skin cancer spots that had to be removed – it happened to them a lot as they got older. Newer studies are indicating it may not be sun exposure always, but sometimes just plain genetics that causes it. I hope it goes as well as possible for you – what an awful place to deal with it though.
    Regarding cold sores, I applaud you for talking about it. Ever since I was a child I get them when I’m in the sun without using sunscreen chapstick, or after I’ve been really sick or not slept enough. And I get so embarrassed about them, even though they’re common. My doctor said I could use Zovirax cream which makes them almost not happen at all, but after insurance it was still $400 for a tiny tube. Then I found out it’s less than $10 over the counter in places like Italy, so next time we go there I am stocking up. Passing this on just in case it is helpful!

    1. Hi Jane,

      I’ve had the cold blisters aka herpes simplex since I was a child too and so has my son. My daughter and husband don’t have it. It comes out when I’m stressed, in the sun and have my period combo. Annoying!!! There is a medication too to suppress the virus but I’ve heard it’s bad for your kidneys so I don’t even want to consider taking it.

      I wish instead of pushing drugs and potions that the medical community would educate more about the procedures you could do to prevent the cancer from forming. And that also the insurance would cover these procedures should cancer have been found once on you already. Now that they found it on me, the insurance should cover the “cosmetic” (what they are considered) procedures to prevent more.

      I’ve been fed up with how things are done here in the US. Like I mentioned I’ve been getting my moles checked since I was a young teenager and in Germany they cut out a mole immediately when it looks strange and send it in. So if it’s cancerous then you are most of the time already done if they got it all and the scaring is minimal.
      Here they shave it off, send it in and if it’s not cancerous then you are left with this ugly scar from the shaving. If it is cancerous then you have to go back to get it cut out and my neighbor had to go back two more times after that to get more cut out because they didn’t get it all. I feel like they want to get the most visits possible out of you to make the most amount of money. Same when I had a mammogram. When I went, I had to go back two more times and finally get an ultrasound because then they sent me to the specialist. The correct doctor and equipment should be present from the start. All the waiting and worry just angers me.

      I’ll look into that lotion too when I’m home in Germany.

  14. That IPL is amazing! Now I want it! I’m glad you caught the cancer early Julia and know you’ll be ok!

    1. Thanks Kelly and you should get one. I’m definitely a fan now.

  15. wow! What a difference. I have very fair skin, so I’m becoming more and more paranoid about sun damage. Thanks for sharing!

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