When a Mole Isn't A Mole #LIFE

Beauty marks, moles, blemishes... Whatever name you give them, a mole is not always just a mole.  I have lived with moles my entire life and don't worry too much about them. Until now.  A recent physical resulted in my doctor flagging one of my moles as "suspicious".  It's been a whirlwind of referral appointments in a matter of days, and the final verdict is that it needs to come off my body now.  I was faced with a few questions- "Why did you wait to get this checked?" Honestly, I had it checked in 2005, a biopsy suggested it was benign, so the remainder was left.  I forgot it existed and only just realized that it has changed and even grown. A 5x7 mm portion of my ankle is not on my visual radar so it was easy to ignore.

Have you had serious sunburns in the past?  A weakened immune system? A fair complexion? Know your risks and check out all suspicious skin patches or moles.

I don't know yet if the mole is a result of skin cancer, but have been advised to do a skin check every month and consult my doctor with any skin changes or concerns. And to be aware of the risks with my family as well, to help prevent the same thing happening to my daughter.  I don't know where this journey will bring me, but I want to be as informed as possible.

Disclosure: All opinions are honest and my own.  This post is not intended to replace professional medical advice.