Tania's Race for Life

At the age of 32 nearly 33 in April 2007 who would of known that my life would change so quickly. I had a mole on my right leg that kept itching and had changed colour so my partner paul at the time was worried and told me to go to doctors to get it checked out...so i did The doctor took one look at it and got me an appointment with the consultant pretty much straight away. The consultant removed the mole and sent off for a biopsy and was told i would find out in the next few weeks. Those few weeks were awful for me not knowing but i had to be strong. I was in dentist with my son who was 9 at the time and my phone rang...it was the consultant and he confirmed what i was dreading...a melignant melanoma...never heard of it but knew wasnt good. I went to see him few days after the call to discuss what it was and what had to be done...i was listening but didnt quite know how to react As he explained i needed a skin graft and had to be done as soon as possible...i asked him what it was and there i heard the dreaded words CANCER...i got in the car to go home and tell my family...my partner looked at me and we both burst into tears i was so scared as i had lost my dad to cancer at a young age and did not want to do the same to my children. I had the appointment booked for the first week of june 2007... I got home told my kids and my mum..brothers etc they were devastated as much as we were but i knew i had to be strong.... June 4th 2007 came and i went in to the hospital ready for my op...the consultant came round to me drew a circle on my knee and a arrow...i assumed this was where he will be doing skin graft. I had the Anesthetic was told to count down backwards 10 to 1..i dont remember anything after 8. When i woke up i had a big bandage and half a  plaster cast on my right leg and a bandage on my left leg to...this op saved my life.they took skin from the left leg and put on the right leg...very clever operation. I found it difficult to walk at home so had to use a wheelchair as had to keep leg straight....went back to the hospital to get staples removed from the sponge that was in my knee...my 6 year old was with me at the time and it wasnt a good experience for him... After monthly checkups everything was going great until February 2011 aged 36...sadly i found another mole on the same leg as previous one and the biopsy was done. 8th March i heard those words again Cancer...this time i only had a scar so wasnt as painful but was still heartbreaking. 5 years went by and after more monthly checkups... on April 26th 2016 aged 41 i heard the words All Clear...my new partner cried as he was so happy that after 9 long years i was cancer free. Im still clear and i do race for life every year to show my support i have even shaved my hair off back in June 2012. Please please stay protected use suncream no one deserves to go through what i have been through and if you are worried about any moles or unusual markings on any part of your body please get them checked...it could save your life..