My Skin Scare

Sorry for lack of updates lately but I’ve been a little distracted with a minor health problem. A few weeks ago I went to the dermatologist for a routine health check and had her check a couple of spots on my back. I’ve got a small mole on my back that looks like a freckle and it’s been there my entire life. Certain that I was in perfect skin health, I asked her to check out just in case of the rare possibility it might be dangerous.

Well, she was a little concerned and took a biopsy of the spot. Last Friday I found out that spot is the most severe form of atypical skin before it becomes cancerous. Being the procrastinator that I am, I decided to try and set up an appointment to have the spot removed in November because I’m kind of a big deal and my schedule’s very packed with hot dates and traveling around the world. Actually, I hate needles and didn’t want to deal with it. My doctor pooh-poohed the November thing and now I’m getting this spot on my back removed on Wednesday.

It’s scary to think what might have happened if I’d waited a few months. I could have been one of the many people diagnosed with skin cancer. For some reason, people tend to ignore the notion of skin cancer as they lather their bodies with baby oil and fry in the sun. Skin cancer isn’t biased and can attack a person of any race, gender or age. If you haven’t had your body checked for abnormal spots, you need to do it NOW! Remember the ABCs of moles and melanoma:

A – Asymmetry
B – Border
C – Color
D – Diameter
E – Evolving

For me, the mole had evolved over time and the border was jagged, a clear sign of the possibility of melanoma. For more information, visit the Skin Cancer Foundation.

In the meantime, I’m catching up at work in preparation for my undesired break. I will be sure to stock up on lots of movies and a wide variety of diet sodas! Also, I’m loving this low-calorie treat from hungry-girl.com. It’s delicious!

HG's Cookie-rific Ice Cream Freeze

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Dreyer's Slow Churned Light, Vanilla
5oz. 8th Continent Light Vanilla Soy Milk
1/2 pack of 100 Calorie Packs Oreo Thin Crisps
2 Splenda packets
1 cup of ice
1 tsp. Coffee-Mate Fat Free French Vanilla Non-Dairy Creamer powder (dissolved in a small amount of warm water)

Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender. Blend on high for 45-60 seconds. Pour and enjoy. Mmmmmm!

Serving Size: 1 shake
Calories: 158
Fat: 4g
Sodium: 234mg
Carbs: 24g
Fiber: 0.5g
Sugar: 15g
Protein: 6.5g