Melanoma March

The month of March is known as the month for Melanoma awareness, so it seems appropriate that we share our personal experience with this skin cancer.

February last year (2025) I (Nicole) had a freckle removed from the left side of my face for a biopsy. This biopsy came back to say that it was an intrusive melanoma which required further removal to ensure that all was taken and that it had not spread to the lymph nodes. It was only small and didn't appear to be spreading quickly but Melanoma is not something to play around with, so I was booked into the Melanoma clinic in Sydney and on the 6th of March 2025 I had surgery for further incision around the area plus removal of 2 lymph nodes to be sure. Surgery went well and despite coming out unable to feel the left half of my face and finding eating difficult for a couple of weeks it healed up well. I have always used the emu oil to help with inflammation and scar healing and so it was an important part of the recovery process for me.

                    

Emu oil is very high in Vitamins A and E which are well known for their skin repairing properties along with the inclusion of Vitamin D and omegas 3,6,9 fatty acids that offer inflammatory reduction capabilities. This makes it a great skin moisturiser but also fantastic for skin and scar tissue healing. Also as a natural pure animal fat it is similar in our skin composition which allows it soak into the deeper layers of the skin healing not just the superficial layers, which when considering how deep the cuts were particularly for the removal of the lymph nodes was a great relief post surgery.

Three months after the surgery I went back for more skin checks and another biopsy (this time in the middle of my back) came back positive for Melanoma, this one was caught even earlier so fortunately could be done using local anesthetic and required no lymph node removal. Being on my back it didn't get as much attention with the oil post surgery but I do try or convince my husband to rub some oil around the scar to keep the skin healing and scar tissue down.

Needless to say I am a big believer in getting your skin checked and having the biopsies done. It is the best way to catch these early and treatment on early Melanoma is far easier and better then letting it spread. And as someone who is not as good as they should be with the old 'Slip, Slop, Slap, Slide' sun care routine I do try and take care as best I can and am grateful that I have access to a wonderful natural skin repairer product that helps with healing as needed.

So Melanoma March is quite personal to our family now, but we are very grateful for our Doctor who is passionate about doing a biopsy on anything suspicious and that so far we have managed to catch them early.

Nicole