Laura Slezak is a mum, a teacher and a melanoma survivor. This is her story:
"Back in July 2019 while recovering from some unrelated surgery my Mum and husband noticed that a mole on my neck looked a bit different (I think it was normally hidden by my hair, but while wearing my hair up they had noticed it). As I was off work convalescing, I immediately went to get it checked. The GP said it was fine but asked if I was concerned about any other moles. I paused and then realised that I had been scratching a mole on my upper arm but had been too preoccupied to actually realise. The GP referred me to the local hospital and I was seen within two weeks. The consultant suspected melanoma, in fact he seemed pretty confident, and so the decision was made to remove the mole.
Four weeks later I had the mole removed and, if I’m totally honest, the thought of it was much worse than the actual procedure, it was over relatively quickly and healed within a few days. Then the waiting began, time felt liked it slowed down and the next two weeks felt like an eternity. The phone call finally came while I was shopping with my two young children, ‘we would like you to come in a discuss your results’, the words that no one wants to hear. I somehow held it together long enough to get the kids home, fed, bathed and into bed before breaking the news to my husband.
I vividly remember sitting in the waiting room reading all the signs relating to support and treatment for Cancer (a word I still prefer not to use) and feeling like I was in a dream. We were called in and it was confirmed that I had Melanoma - it had been caught early and was stage 1a. I sobbed, tears of fear and relief, while my husband sighed with relief.
I feel extremely lucky to be telling my positive story, but I certainly don’t feel that it has ended. I’m optimistic for the future, yet realistic that Melanoma will always be part of my life.
I am supporting Skcin's Giving Tuesday campaign to reach more schools and protect future generations from skin cancer.
I would love it if you joined me. "
Donate here: justgiving.com/campaign/pre...
