It’s been one year since I went through treatment for skin cancer. This is my journey.

I still enjoy a daily walk, but I always wear a hat, sunglasses, protective shirt and lots of sunscreen.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

With warm weather upon us, time spent at the pool and beach is on the agenda.

But how I approach these wonderful days of sunshine is different following last year’s skin cancer diagnosis.

My journey began in late January/early February 2025, when I noticed a small, itchy bump on my right forearm.

I thought it was a bug bite.

It was a flesh-colored, hard nodule that didn’t look menacing, so I put off getting it checked out.

When it didn’t go away and grew larger, I made an appointment with Wesley Bull at Epiphany Dermatology and one biopsy later, I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.

Hearing the “c” word at the age of 54 was a heart-stopper, but thankfully, it was caught early and was very treatable.

(You can read about that here.)

ONE YEAR LATER…

Much has changed for me since last year’s diagnosis.

I am now at risk for re-occurrence, so I am doing everything possible to avoid it.

Wearing medical-grade sunscreen every day is a non-negotiable.

I still enjoy my early morning walks, but I do it with a hat, oversized sunglasses and light-weight, long sleeve shirt with UV protection.

Baking in the sun for a natural tan is out of the picture; the only golden glow I get these days comes from a bottle.

Another non-negotiable: Daily B3.

I take 500 MG of niacinamide twice daily.

(Learn more about that here.)

I also keep a close eye on changes to my skin (mosquito bites terrorize me), and I will soon make an appointment with Epiphany for my annual checkup.

I haven’t let my skin cancer diagnosis steal my joy, but it has changed my life.

If it can happen to me, it can happen to you, so take precautions.

Wear sunscreen. Limit sun exposure.

And if you see anything suspicious that doesn’t go away, don’t wait to have it checked out.