Always Advocate for Yourself
- Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hogue, 21, pushed doctors to examine and remove a strange-looking mole on her leg; it turned out to be melanoma.
- Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer, and can grow quickly if left untreated.
- Cancer survivors say if your health concerns are dismissed, always ask questions and push for answers.
Hague recently had surgery to remove the curious mole which her mom noticed after Hague finished competing in Love Island. She decided to visit a doctor to have it checked out after hearing about Emily Hayward, a young girl who passed away at just 17-years old due to skin cancer. However, after showing the mark to the doctor, she was told that it was fine and no cause for concern. Hague still pushed to have the mole removed. It turns out, that was the best decision she could have ever made. After the procedure, she was told that the mole was melanoma an aggressive form of skin cancer.
Read MoreHague says she will have to have another surgery in the future, and her story is the perfect example why we always need to push for answers if we feel like our health is in jeopardy. Hague herself says that if she hadn’t advocated for herself, the melanoma would have likely gotten even worse.
Related: Dramatic Improvement in Melanoma Survival Rates The Treatment Revolution is Working
“I had a feeling though and I cannot believe that I was told by other doctors that it was okay,” Hague says. “I am so upset and angry. I briefly asked this doctor, when I was walking out of the doctors, to double check this, and I was walking out with skin cancer on my leg. If I hadn't have asked, I would have still had that mole on my leg now, and I'd be none the wiser, and it could be spreading through my body. You just never know.”
Melanoma: Prevention & Self-Checks
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer, and it can grow quickly if left untreated. Surgery is typically considered the best treatment option for the disease, and immunotherapy drugs have been shown to decrease the risk of recurrence significantly.
As for prevention, it’s well-known that sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer diagnoses. That being the case, wearing sunscreen or moisturizers with SPF year-round (yes, even during winter months) is the best way to prevent a possible diagnosis. Additionally, we can take our wardrobes next level by adding hats to our outfits of the day.
Related: Atypical Moles Don't Necessarily Mean You Have Melanoma
There’s a big difference between a regular birthmark and a melanoma. In order to screen for skin cancer, it’s important to check our skin regularly and look for any moles that have appeared and look different than others. Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious. How can you tell the difference between a regular mole and a possible melanoma? Follow the ABCDE method.
- Asymmetrical moles: if you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, check if they’re even
- Borders: irregular, jagged, not smooth
- Colors: multiple distinct colors in the mole (could be shades of gray, black, brown, blue, pink, purple, white)
- Diameter: larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil head eraser
- Evolution: Possibly the most important. Anything that is changing over time (gaining color, losing color, painful, itching, changing shape)
Dr. Cecilia Larocca explains how we can all check our skin for possible melanomas
Always Push For Answers
Hague is the perfect example that when it comes to your body, you know it better than anyone else. So, if you feel like something is wrong, it’s important you visit a doctor and get checked out. However, sometimes, people’s concerns can be brushed aside and excuses are made without examining the problem even further. If this happens, pushing for answers and getting multiple opinions can make a huge difference.
While visiting her gynecologist, April Knowles discovered a lump in her breast, but was sent away after being told it was probably due to her menstrual cycle. Turns out, it was metastatic breast cancer. April was able to successfully beat the disease by being proactive after her appointment, but for other women who would have waited, the consequences could have been deadly. Now, she’s a passionate advocate for everyone, particularly women, to always listen to their bodies and ask any question they may have.
Related: My Doctor Ignored My Melanoma Symptoms and Mansplained Me, Says Actress Jill Kargman
“I think women, especially young women, are really used to being dismissed by their doctors,” April tells SurvivorNet. “Or you’re too young for this or here’s some Prozac, go home and cook dinner for your children. I think a lot of patients don’t want to hurt their doctor’s feelings either. We really do want our doctors to like us, but you have to take charge. You have to learn about your disease. You have to ask questions. Even if you can get your doctor to do a second opinion over the phone somewhere, just to get the peace of mind that you’re on the right track, I think it’s very helpful.”
Breast cancer survivor April Knowles encourages everyone to push for answers
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