Important info. - Eyelid Cancer

I have just read a post on 2 Peas by a pea named Debbie (ScrapHappyDeb). She has recently discovered that she has eyelid cancer. In her post, she has asked to help her spread the word about this to as many people as possible. She even asks us to post this on our blogs, etc. I have copied her orginal post from 2 Peas here for you to read.

Original post:

I have EYELID CANCER. I am posting on the scrap message boards I frequent as a way to let my scrap buddies know about this rare disease in hopes you don't wait too long to seek help for yourselves or love ones.

Readers Digest Version: I had a stye on my left eyelid that would come and go over the past two years. Mentioned it several times to both my General Pracice Doc and when I had my eyes checked for new glasses. No one ever seemed concerned about it. A month ago I had a bad sinus infection that wouldn't go away and then I had what looked like conjunctivitis. Went back to the doc. He sent me to see an ENT, ENT sent me to opthamologist, opthamologist sent me to chief of the opthamology department who diagnosed me with EYELID CANCER.

You can only imagine how shocked I was to hear this. Yes it is rare, but the oncology specialist I saw said that the occurance is increasing as our population ages and many people don't even know about it.

I have since had a biopsy to confirm, moh's surgery to remove it and plastic surgery to completely rebuild my lower left eyelid.

Today is the first day I have felt up to being on the computer long enough due to the surgery and the first thing I wanted to do was start letting people to know about this disease and not to ignore it.

Please share this message with others. We caught mine in time to not loose my vision but if left unattended it can metastisis and grow in your lymph nodes and cause lots of other problems.

Some of you may recognize my scrap name here so you know this is legit, others can check out my blog to know I am a real scrapper and just concerned about getting the word out.

Thanks for Reading This ...

Updated Post:

Type of Eye Lid Cancer?: Mine was basel cell carcinoma. It could also have been sebaceous cell which would have been much nastier to deal with.

How do you get this?: The doc said it most likely from a sunburn I had when I was a kid....I am now, 49. He said it takes years for those "over exposures to the sun" to start showing up but when they do you are in high risk for atleast 5 other spots of cancer on your body.

How do you prevent it? Stay out of the sun! That is hard for an outdoor girl like me who lives along the coast and loves the sunshine. The #1 thing to do is wear sunglasses while outside to protect your eyes. That also goes for your kids too! For years I have worn plenty of sunscreen and hats and glasses when outside...in fact I am a little on the pasty side considering other friends of mine but it was damage done when I was a kid that is catching up to me know.

GO GET YOUR KIDDOS SOME COOL SUNGLASSES AND MAKE THEM WANT TO WEAR THEM!!!!

Help Me SPREAD The WORD....tell your friends, neighbors and family, talk about it at work and church, post it on your blog, or where ever you think people would read and heed the warning.

I have already made an appointment with a dermatologist to check out the rest of me on a regular basis. Being forewarned is wise !