An Ounce of Prevention

Jun 9, 2024 | by Nancy Newbrough

My father was raised on a farm in Illinois and was put to work helping in the fields when he was five or six.  Even though he left farming behind when he graduated from high school at 16 and pursued a career in business, later in life he developed skin cancer and had to be frequently checked.  His trips to the dermatologist more often than not resulted in lesions being removed.  This left scars and even noticeable areas where flesh was also removed

I grew up in Louisiana in an area with lots of water sports.  Even though my fair skin would tan, several times I stayed out in the summer sun too long swimming and water skiing -- and endured painful sunburns. How well I remember the smell of the vinegar that my mother would apply to my skin to try and relieve the pain.

When retirement age came, I decided because of my father’s battle with skin cancer that I should get checked annually by a dermatologist. The doctor would occasionally freeze some rough spots that could be precancerous, but nothing serious appeared.

Then my husband began having some serious health problems and my focus became fixed on helping him recover, regain strength and return to a better quality of life.  For several years, I seldom gave any thought to my annual dermatology checks.  I knew the wait time for an appointment was a couple of months, so chose to put it off for a time when life was not so demanding. 

Several months ago, out of the blue a pock mark appeared on my face – a small indention that was not red or discolored in any way. “What on earth?” I thought.  How could that happen when there had not been any kind of a sore or other problem?

I called and made an appointment with my dermatologist. The wait time was a couple of months as expected, and two weeks ago, my appointment came.  My doctor commented on how several years had passed since I had been in and then proceeded to give me a thorough skin exam.  Then he told me the indentation on my face looked like skin cancer and there was also a suspicious spot on my leg.  He would biopsy both places and send them off for testing.  The results would be back in ten days.

The biopsies felt like very painful pinching, but only lasted a few seconds each.  He then said if they were cancer, two to three inches might have to be removed at each spot to eradicate all of it.

As I left, the reality of what he said hit me like a ton of bricks.  Two to three inches off my face would be very disfiguring!  The place on my leg was not a big worry since it could be concealed by wearing pants, but my face … there would be no hiding that!

“Lord, please have mercy! Please, no cancer!” I prayed innumerable times in the following week and a half.  I also knew He wanted me to choose to give my anxiety and fear to Him, to trust Him with the situation. Every time fearful thoughts came, I would dismiss them and praise and honor Him instead while claiming His promises from the Bible.

During the waiting period, I did some research. Basal cell carcinoma is very common; 3.6 million Americans are diagnosed with it every year and the numbers are ever increasing.  If untreated, it can spread and become very invasive and lethal.

On the night before receiving the biopsy results, I prayed longer than ever and tried to prepare myself for the worse case scenario.  No matter what, Jesus would be with me every step of the way and I trusted His promise that He can work everything together for good.

The call came when expected, and the kind nurse said: “The place on your face is not cancer and will require no further treatment.  The biopsy on your leg had some suspicious cells, so we will need to scrape off some more cells, but that should take care of the problem.”
It is impossible to describe the gratitude and joy I experienced!  How does anyone make it through all the trials of this life without our Lord? He is so faithful and true, never leaving or forsaking us, the solid rock on which we stand.

I am gratified that following recommendations for avoiding skin cancer seems to have been effective. For years I have been wearing a daily moisturizer with 30 SPF, trying to avoid the sun (especially during the hottest hours of the day), and wearing a hat and sun protective clothing and sunglasses with UV protection when I have to be out in it.  The annual skin checkup will be at the top of my list from now on!    

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. 
Psalm 62:8