I have learnt a very valuable lesson this week. I am not – contrary to my delusions – a superhero. I can & unfortunately do feel pain.
I had an appointment at the Churchill Hospital yesterday to get 2 suspicious but probably harmless moles removed. I was expecting them to do something very similar to the last mole removal I had done at that hospital….you know…the apple corer!
Not so. I was on a theatre list. I had a sexy surgery gown…..I had hospital wrist tags!
You know the impression we all have of a Matron in a hospital…the Carry on Film style of strict, scary, tubby lady……? Well I was looked after by the complete opposite. I lovely lady called Sue Fletcher who is an absolute credit to the care services on the Cancer wards at the hospital….she was kind…caring…friendly…funny. It was like being looked after by your mum…she even sent The Mr to the shop to go & buy chocolates!
So I am seen by her…and prepared for Theatre….!!!! I am consulted by The Surgeons registrar…a leggier & blonder version of Meredith Gray called Sally Jay…I am escorted to theatre when I lie down on an operating table. The ipod in the corner kicks out tunes…the team of 4 ladies gowned & masked perform the operation. We listen to Freddie Mercury’s Radio GaGa…..and babble away together, talking about the sandwiches at the hospital canteen & what fat looks like under the skin. It was surreal…I felt like I was on Grays Anatomy…the only thing missing was a Mc scrummy…and a hair swoosh or two!
Before Thursday I was frustrated that the minor op would mean I wasn’t going to be allowed (protective Mr!) to go out for my running club on Thursday night…..I have/had gotten Blasé about pain….I can cope…I am indestructible. BUMP. And Imogen has landed back in reality. It hurts….there are 2 new scars…with stitches…more than a few stitches….I definitely can’t dig my Veg garden this weekend.
Melanoma impacts my life in so many ways….& this time I can’t run away from it because I am not allowed to go running!
So instead I shall sit & watch everyone else do the work & take photos!
But I won’t be taking a selfie of myself.
I have been nominated (thank you x) & I think that what you have all done is an amazing achievement – awe inspiring! You also all look amazing make up free & that campaign not only boosts awareness of Cancers, raises money…it has in my opinion a far better result – it shows women that they do look great without makeup…a natural beauty.
My reasoning for not taking part is this :
Firstly whilst I think Cancer Research UK is a great charity that does a lot of good…it doesn’t recognise many of the “smaller” or less important cancers….for example my Mother in Law has Neo Endocrine Tumours – they do not get any of the split…..more importantly for me the amount that Skin Cancer – in particular Melanoma – gets is marginal.
Very selfish of me I know….the other cancers are extremely important – can be just as life threatening…but they are supported by so many charities – so many different campaigns …everyone knows about Breast Cancer or Cervical Cancer….they don’t all know about Skin Cancer….they don’t all understand Melanoma.
I do have another reason…..the money.
You see I am – as previously explained – very cynical about charities & where money goes.
The amount of money raised from that Makeup Free Selfie campaign has far exceeded £2 Million – which is phenomenal.
However….only 80p from every £1 actually goes towards research or the projects they fund such as screening programs.
So out of that £2million….£400,000 disappears!
My support goes towards a charity that will give 100% of the money raised directly to research. No bells…no whistles…no strings attached….
Melanoma needs attention….it needs support….we (the patients)…need you to understand what causes melanoma, how you can protect yourself better & how great an impact it will have on your life and those of your family should you get it.
1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed in this country today is a Skin Cancer & yet hardly anyone knows what they are.
Having stitches…having another surgery….just makes me realise that this journey I am on has no end…not a good one anyway.

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