12/05/2025
MELANOMA.. It's a word we don't like to hear or talk about. The truth is that every 1 in 73 women and 1 in 59 men will experience melanoma in their lifetime in Canada.
I am 1 of those 73 women. When I was 25 years old, I found out I had melanoma. Thankfully, it was caught at an early stage, and it was a minimal procedure to remove. Over the last 14 years, the doctor and I have been keeping a close eye on things. I go for regular check-ups and frequently get biopsies and then further removal. Often finding ones that share similar genetic properties as melanoma, however, thankfully, they weren't cancerous.
I found out a couple of weeks ago that we found another spot of melanoma. As I prepare for my surgery today, a lot of emotions are flowing through me. There's one that's constant, though, GRADITUDE! I'm so grateful to have a supportive, compassionate, and vigilant health care team. When found at an early stage, melanoma has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers, at more than 90 per cent.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, This is a perfect time to inspect your skin, moles, and freckles. In Canada, approximately 8,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year, making it essential for us to be vigilant about our skin and aware of any changes.
One way to keep your skin in check is to remember the ABCDEs of melanoma detection. I'm not a medical professional, these are just easy things to watch for as you observe your skin. Each letter stands for a key characteristic to look for when examining your moles and freckles:
Asymmetry â The shape on one side is different from that on the other side
Border â The border or visible edge is irregular, ragged, and imprecise
Colour â There is a colour variation, with brown, black, red, grey, or white within the lesion
Diameter â Growth is typical of melanoma. It can measure more than 6 mm, although it can be less
Evolution â Look for change in colour, size, shape, or symptom, such as itching
Being proactive about your skin health is one of the best ways to catch melanoma early, when it is most treatable. Conduct regular self-exams and donât hesitate to visit your doctor if you notice anything unusual.