Skin Cancer While Pregnant
- While pregnant with her third child, Nicola Orme, 33, was diagnosed with melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.
- On top of the devastating news, Nicola’s baby was born nine weeks pre-mature and had to spend one month in the hospital before coming home.
- Ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. That means you're at risk if you have spent excessive amounts of time in the suneven as a child. If you ever got scalding sunburns or were a fan of tanning salons, it's important to get your skin checked out.
While pregnant with her third child, Nicola Orme, 33, was diagnosed with melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. She had noticed changes to a mole on her arm that started bleeding, and fortunately went to go get it checked.
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“When he was born he weighed 4lb 3oz, and now he was weighs 5lb 6oz he's still tiny but the staff in the SCBU are very happy with him,” Mark told the Mirror of their newborn son’s journey. Baby Lincoln had to spend a month in the hospital and is now thankfully at home as of just last week.
Nicola was due to have surgery when Lincoln came early, so the procedure was postponed.
Related: How is Melanoma Treated After Surgery? The Landscape of Therapies Explained
"Because of the boys and all what has been going on with Lincoln we haven't had too much time to focus on what has been happening with Nicola, it's good in a way to have our minds taken away from it,” he said. "It's an anxious time as I sadly lost my mum to melanoma when she was only 48,” he added.
Mark admitted that his wife was an avid sunbather, and she now realizes she is paying the price for it, though thankfully she is responsible with protecting her children when in the sun.
Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use it Often
During this stressful time, Mark is most grateful for the staff at the hospital “who have cared for Lincoln so well and been kind and considerate to all of our family at every step of the way so far,” he expressed.
To give back to the hospitalwhere Nicola and Mark’s other two sons were born as wellthe husband and father decided that he wants to hike Yr Wyddfa, the highest mountain in Wales, in October.
“This is a difficult time for everyone with the rising cost of living, but any donation would be extremely gratefully received, to raise whatever we can for a wonderful facility and an exceptional team of staff,” the nature enthusiast wrote on his JustGiving fundraising page.
It sounds like clearing his head during a difficult time while raising money for a good cause is just what the doctor ordered. Best wishes for the Orme family as they await the results from Nicola’s skin surgery.
Protecting Yourself from Melanoma
Ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. That means you're at risk if you have spent (and spend) excessive amounts of time in the suneven as a child. If you ever got scalding sunburns or were a fan of tanning salons, it's important to get your skin checked out.
"Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body," explains Dr. Anna Pavlick, an oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, to SurvivorNet.
The Sun is Not Your FriendMost Melanomas are Caused by Sun Exposure
Melanoma can develop from an existing mole or it can appear as a dark or pink growth on the skin. That said, they aren't limited to sun-exposed areas. According to Dr. Pavlick, you can also develop melanomas in places like your sinuses, rectal area, back of the eye, and other areas that aren't exposed to the sun.
Rarely, melanoma develops from an inherited syndrome called melanoma-pancreatic cancer syndromewhich also increases the risk for pancreatic cancer. Mutations in the CDKN2A gene, which helps regulate cell growth, cause this syndrome. If you have a family history of melanoma, it's important to get screened regularly.
Treating Early Stage Melanoma
"The gold standard for treatment of melanoma is surgical treatment with wide margins," says Dr. Nima Gharavi, Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai.
In some cases of early-stage melanoma that's close to the skin's surface, Mohs surgery may be offered. This is most common in areas such as the face, ears, and nose.
Related: Mohs Surgery Removes Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a microscopically controlled procedure that removes skin cancer by conservatively cutting along the entire margin until the surgeon reaches clear tissue. It's used more commonly to remove other skin cancers like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
Surgery is the Best Option for Melanoma
During the procedure, your doctor will numb the area with anesthesia and remove the tumor using a scalpel. You'll be asked to wait while they analyze layers of the removed sample under a microscope. The procedure is done one layer at a time, analyzing each layer for cancer cells before removing the next layer.
This process continues until all cancer cells are removed from the area. Once the surgery is complete, your doctor will cover the area with a bandage. Stitches may also be required.
While Mohs surgery isn't as common with melanoma as it is with other skin cancers, it may be the best option for some patients. Talk to your doctor about whether Mohs surgery is right for you.
Bottom line: The sun can be a deadly force, but there are ways to protect yourself. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and cover up with protective clothing and a hat. If you notice any suspicious growths on your skin, see a dermatologist right away.
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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