Dr. Von Nostrand, I presume?
Posted on 05/08/2017 3:04:10 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Kelsey-Seybold Dr. Steffanie Campbell and her husband Matt, married 10 years ago, and she still has all of their photos on her phone.
It was when they were expecting their first child, flipping through photos and reflecting on their relationship, when she saw something alarming.
"Looking at pictures I had taken when I was pregnant and through our wedding and we noticed there was a spot on his cheek that continued to become more prominent and we noticed it had actually changed over time," Steffanie said.
The tell-tale signs of skin cancer: change in shape, size, color, was an indication that her husband (who is also a doctor) had the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.
"I had to go through two procedures on my face," Dr. Matt Campbell said. "They then took skin from behind both my ears and made a skin graft."
Both doctors were shocked at how skin cancer had been staring them in the face and was not that easy to recognize, especially since the spot grew extremely gradually.
"If you look at your face every day, multiple times, it's hard for you to pick up changes that are happening very, very slowly," he said. "I think that's the case with a lot of patients... they've had these changes occur subtly over time and then when they reflect back over the last year it becomes much more obvious to them."
Steffanie Campbell said the subtle mark was not noticeable until comparing photos years apart because it blended in with her husband's freckles.
"I think the way the flash hit his face made it more prominent and it was far more noticeable," she said giving credit to the photo for revealing the disease.
Matt Campbell's cancer was caught early and he is doing fine now.
Thanks.
Interesting.
I guess it’s the frog in the pot thing. Turn up the temperature slowly enough and the frog will cook before he knows what’s happened to him.
Glad they caught it before it was a real problem.
Dr. Von Nostrand, I presume?
Ugh! And, timely! Going through this with Dad, right now. He has one of the two skin cancers that won’t kill you, so that’s good. (Basal Cell) We’ve had a sample tested, and they want to do the, ‘Mohs Procedure’ now to get the rest of it. We have an appointment in early June - IF I can talk him into it. *SHRUG*
It’s a race to the finish for Dad. He’s 80 and in poor health - Diabetes, high blood pressure, overweight, smoked & drank for-ever (no longer, though - I’m SO MEAN!) Glaucoma, Cataracts, Mac-Degen, COPD, is on oxygen, bad liver, skin cancer and BIG kidney stones that I pray every day don’t come loose from their moorings, LOL!
So, this skin cancer is the LEAST of our worries - BUT, this is a great article, and a good warning to all, so thanks for sharing!
P.S. Wear your sunscreen! Do it! NOW! ;)
I’m only here for that picture.
My Doctor’s Son recently joined him in his practice. They must have divided the patients between them as I now always get the young one.
Not too long ago, he removed a small skin cancer from my neck. It is probably the 30 or 40th one I have had in my life. Most have been basal cell and a few were squamous cell.
This one turned out to be a melanoma. He told me it was in the very early stage but still did another surgery and removed a large amount of skin.
I do wonder if the old Dr. would have ever noticed it.
I had surface skin cancer in the same area but on the opposite cheek. The doctor took a biopsy and fortunately it had not progressed that much. So far the treatment is liquid nitrogen in the area. Check back in 6 months.
They can ALL kill you. Some just quicker. I have had them all.
MOHS for the face is they way to go.
I had a similar situation and now get a check up from my dermatologist every 6 months. Better to get a clean bill of health than to worry about it.
I had Basal Cell skin cancer on my face when I was 23. The youngest my dermatologist had never seen - had plastic surgery to reconstruct my face and am doing fine.
I hope your dad’s health gets better!
Also, check the bottom of your feet for melanoma.
My new dermatologist told me that Bob Marley died from melanoma - it was on his feet. I had never thought to look there but do now.
Yep. It’s in the middle of his cheek, under his left eye. He’s not vain, but I still want the best outcome for him.
Thanks! :)
Glad you had a good outcome. I’ll bet you’re an advocate of sunscreen these days!
I think of all the times my High School friends and I would slather ourselves in baby oil and lay out in the sun BY THE POOL all day! Yeesh!
What idiots.
And, Yes. I have a Dermatologist of my own to keep an eye on me. She has a picture of every square INCH of me. I’m hoping it doesn’t end up on the Internets, LOL! ;)
Maureen Reagan died from skin cancer that was on the bottom of her foot, on her toe I think.
I did and it was basal cell crap. Ended up carving a BIG hole to remove it all and needed a plastic surgeon to pull the mess closed.
GP's are not the best at skin cancer spotting.
FYI.
MOHS is for appearance which is why its used on the face.
If cost is an issue opt for another destruction method as it doesn’t sound like Dad is into cosmetics these days.
You beat me to it. Interesting, my wife and I have been watching Malcolm in the Middle. Daniel von Bargen plays a great role as Commandant Edwin Spangler. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. Good character actor.
Find a good Dermo and keep em on hand as some take months to get into see.
I make and appointment for every 6 months rolling and if nothing appears I cancel about a month before.They don’t mind.
After working outside in S Fl for 40 years something always pops up.
I have had 4 close friends die from skin cancer and one was “Not the bad kind”
It show up under toe nails on elderly X sun worshipers
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