Tuesday, February 8, 2011

SPOTS by Cathy Jeffery

Of all the cancers that humans can get, skin cancer is the most common.  People with light skin who sunburn easily have a higher risk, but anyone can get skin cancer.  Some of the risk factors are:  sunburn, exposure to x-rays, weakened immune system, scarring caused by a disease or burn, exposure to cancer-causing compounds such as arsenic, using indoor tanning beds or sunlamps and in my case a family history of skin cancer. 
Since almost everyone in my family has had it, I thought it was best that I get checked.  So off I went to my friendly family dermatologist.  I didn't know what to expect on that first visit.  I was thinking it can't be that bad.  Boy was I wrong.  The doctor proceeded to freeze 30 spots all over my body with liquid nitrogen.   He could tell just by looking that these were places that could turn into cancer.  One of the spots, however, was suspicious to his talented eye.  He numbed that spot and cut it out for biopsy.  The results were Basal Cell Carcinoma.  I was lucky to have caught it before it grew into something bad.
On my second visit he found 18 more spots.

Of course, being a fiber artist, I am inspired to make a piece about this experience. 
So I dug out some of my spotted fabric.

I have a plan and I will share on this blog as I progress.
.......to be continued........

1 comment:

  1. Cathy, you have beautiful spotted fabrics. Can't wait to see what develops.

    ReplyDelete