If This Mom’s Before & After Photos Don’t Scare You About Skin Cancer, Nothing Will
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This mom of two is on a mission to warn people about the realities of skin cancer with a shocking photo diary documenting her battle with melanoma.
Bethany Gambardella-Greenway, 39, from Austin, Texas discovered a dark spot on her skin while she was pregnant with her youngest child in 2015. She ignored it in the belief that it was something to do with hormonal changes, and when she finally got it checked out, the dermatologist reassured her that it wasn’t a cancer symptom. Eighteen months later, however, a painful mole appeared, and a biopsy revealed that it was, in fact, an aggressive form of skin cancer called desmoplastic melanoma. Doctors removed the mole and did a skin grafting procedure, but after learning that cancer had spread to her bones and lymph nodes, she started immunotherapy in October 2016.
“The radiation was absolutely the worst part of cancer treatment. It was hell plain and simple,” she said. “It fried the inside of my mouth. My throat was so sore. My skin was covered in sores; I lost my ability to taste the food, my voice was hoarse, at about week three my hair began to fall out on the treated area. By the time I was done with treatment I had lost about forty pounds because eating had become such a miserable chore. Now I am almost completely healed from the radiation which permanently damaged one saliva gland and altered my hairline.”
Bethany said she wasn’t surprised by the diagnosis because her mother also had melanoma at the same age, and even though she’s finished her treatment and is now in the all-clear, she’s encouraging other people to wear sunscreen so they don’t have to go through the same awful experience that she did. “Please stop sunbathing and going to tanning salons,” she says sharing her pictures of the skin cancer battle. “A tan isn’t a healthy glow — it’s damaged skin.” Wise words that everybody should pay attention to.
More info: Facebook
UPDATE: One of the photographs we previously used was incorrectly labeled as depicting Bethany in hospital for the birth of her second child. This picture was actually taken when Bethany was in the hospital having her appendix removed. Also, we’d just like to clarify that Bethany has never been a tanner and was always careful in the sun. Her story serves as a cautionary reminder for everybody, regardless of whether they like to sunbathe or not.
This mom of two is on a mission to warn people about the realities of skin cancer
Her shocking photo diary documents her battle with melanoma
Bethany Gambardella-Greenway discovered a dark spot on her skin while pregnant with her youngest child
When she finally got it checked out, the dermatologist reassured her that it was just a liver spot
18 months later however, a painful mole appeared
A biopsy revealed that it was in fact an aggressive form of skin cancer called desmoplastic melanoma
Doctors removed the mole, but after learning that the cancer had spread, she started immunotherapy
“The radiation was absolutely the worst part. It was hell plain and simple,” she said
“My skin was covered in sores, I lost my ability to taste food, my voice was hoarse”
“At about week three my hair began to fall out on the treated area”
“It fried the inside of my mouth. My throat was so sore”
“By the time I was done with treatment I had lost about forty pounds”
Bethany has finished her treatment and is now in the all-clear
Now she’s encouraging people to wear sunscreen so they don’t have to go through the same experience
“Please stop sun bathing and going to tanning salons,” she says
“A tan isn’t a healthy glow — it’s damaged skin”
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Word of caution. If you have light skin, are red headed, and get freckles easily, be very careful of the amount of sun exposure. Freckles are mutated skin cells, and sooner or later some of those mutations may well become malignant.
red head here. It just so happens that I go to the doctor today to have stitches out from where they cut out some nasties (on the inside of my arm). So take john L's advice: if you have fare skin, are a red head, have freckles etc, please don't sun bathe. It's stupid
I truly hope all goes well for you, Jamie.
Melanin is what protects you from harmful uv radiation. Dark skin people have more naturally.
This goes for ALL people, not just the fair skinned. Freckles are damage.
it's got a lot to do with where you are and how your body reacts to the sun if you are brought up in a sunny place like a lot of Australia skin cancer doesn't discriminate!
Thank you all for sharing and comments.
Red head here. I never sunbath and use sunscreen everyday including in the winter. I still have been tested 5 times for possible stun cancer. Seriously nothing to joke about.
Black people get skin cancer from exposure to the sun. Anyone with skin, including dogs, can get melanoma.
Totally agree I've grown up in the "slightly" Sunny Australia and skin cancer does not discriminate
Absolutely true. I think the point John L was making is that people like me (I'm a soulless ginger *grin*) and anyone who is fair skinned we are more susceptible to that type of damage). Now the freckles thing that was stated that freckles are damaged skin is a myth. I wanted to look it up to be certain. The reason people think that they are damaged skin is because of when they typically show up, around 7-8 years of age. Freckles are just your skin type. My 3 year old has them. Here's the source from me finding out, as well, that freckles are not damaged skin. http://www.menshealth.com.sg/health/do-freckles-signal-higher-risk-sun-damage-or-skin-cancer
Yes, my dad is that type - light skin, freckles, and was diagnosed with melanoma 6 years ago. A mole on his back start growing and bleeding - after surgery and immunotherapy for 6 months, he is fine now. But you never know whether that f***ing cancer won't come back. So stay safe, and go to dermatologist immediately if notice some change in moles or freckles.
My dad was a freckled redhead who loved golf. His squamous cell carcinoma originated inside his nostril. First he lost his nose; then about 1/2" more all around that hole. Finally, they removed the roof of his mouth and more upper lip. He isolated himself from all but immediate family for the last two years. He died at 66. Please wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and get checked annually.
I have the same complexion as this woman, light skin, freckles but I never was a sun lover, stayed out of it my entire life after a very bad sunburn at 8. I still worry about cancer, hard to see when freckled.
You don't have to worry too much, as long as you keep track of the bigger ones. If any one of them changes and/or starts itching or bleeding, that may be signs that there's something wrong. Please have it checked out then.
Go to your doctor or dermatologist and get a full skin check. They'll go over you from head to toe with lights and are able to inspect your skin far more closely than you can. Common sites for skin cancer in women are the scalp, the backs of the legs, the back of the neck, the back of your arms, the ears - especially behind your ears, and forehead and cheekbones (which is where my mother's cancer was found.
Exactly! Although funny enough, not all redheads have pale skin or freckles. My father has very pale skin and freckles and he's not a redhead, but because of his light complexion he needs to take extra care of his skin. Anyone with pale skin needs to take extra care of their skin. So damn important!
Everyone needs to avoid sun, fair skin or not.
Yep, sun = bad in high quantities. You do have to mind your vitamin D as well. About 15 mins a day should be enough for that though. It's amazing if you go on vacation to one of the canaries how many older (originally fair skinned) people are there lying in the sun looking like baked leather - or worse, sitting in the sun with skin that's already burnt! I don't understand why people are so reckless with their bodies!
Freckles are not mutated skin cells. Instead of getting an even tan, some people get small spots of Melanin instead. "Melanin helps to protect the skin from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays by reflecting or absorbing them. Freckles are triggered by exposure to sunlight. The Sun's ultraviolet radiation causes melanocytes to make more melanin, which can cause freckles to appear or become darker."
Yep. I stay out of the sun due to being pale, red-headed and freckled, and wear tons of sun screen when I go out. I just had a basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of my nose and had a hole the size of a dime cut out.
I'm a redhead too, fair skin, blue eyes. I had a melanoma removed about 4 years ago. Apparently we with red hair and my colouring have a gene which causes changes to occur and allow us melanoma. Lucky us, huh?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Downvote all you want but you really are an ignorant s.o.b have you ever tried reading an actual researched published book since google????? Freckles are caused by an increase of melanin with n the skin cells as a natural defence mechanism not a mutation,( really a mutation) ????? freckles or not you either are unlucky to get skin cancer or you don't!
Seriously good advice about not going to tanning salons. They increase the risk of skin cancer by 75%. Look it up.
It amazes me that people still go. Then again, people still smoke.
And eat junk food, drink soda, use and eat chemicals, drink alcohol, do nothing, breathe in pollution etc. Not just smoking is bad for you!
Blonds are more at risk. It really doesn't matter what color your hair is, if you have freckles are not. I've lost a sister and a brother, and some cousins. What matters is donot get a sun tan. Just darkening the skin changes the melanin in your skin. Stay shady, wear good sun screan. Just because someone from the past said it makes you look healthy and beautiful, doesn't mean you should tan.
My Aunt and Uncle died from lung cancer, they never smoked a day in their life!
If you think that's amazing, you may find this fabulous. After all the warning not to look at the sun directly during the solar eclipse without solar eyewear, a bunch of people from my work went out and stared at the sun without as much as sunglasses let alone solar ones.
Fewer and fewer smokers at least.
How is Trump still alive?
He fired cancer.
I am sure he would give cancer a high ranking cabinet office if it were rich.
For me these photos are more striking than other cancer stories. Most often you see cancer results on peoples bodies, like hair out etc. Here I saw the actual cut, and how it damaged the face + results of theraphy. It's scary. Good I don't tan *shivers*. Best wishes for her and her family, happy she healed!!!
Don't just avoid tanning. Wear a brimmed hat everywhere you go. I wore sunscreen all the time growing up (I had a prescription for it as a child before higher spf was considered safe for an over-the-counter product) but I still have basil cell carcinoma on my face. I now have scars on my nose and forehead from having it removed. Protect yourself!
Doesn't help that the chemicals in sunscreen can cause cancer either.
That because sunscreen causes skin cancer
Me too. It's not fair.
Such a scary deal. My vitamin D is low and has even gotten lower in the last year with an under the tongue spray. I religiously wear hugh number sunscreen and keep covered. I'm certainly not going to go to a tanning bed but I will try 20 minutes of sun.
@Danielle - You can get cancer from drinking too much milk, too. Or water.
You don't get cancer from drinking too much milk, but the risk increases.
Word of caution. If you have light skin, are red headed, and get freckles easily, be very careful of the amount of sun exposure. Freckles are mutated skin cells, and sooner or later some of those mutations may well become malignant.
red head here. It just so happens that I go to the doctor today to have stitches out from where they cut out some nasties (on the inside of my arm). So take john L's advice: if you have fare skin, are a red head, have freckles etc, please don't sun bathe. It's stupid
I truly hope all goes well for you, Jamie.
Melanin is what protects you from harmful uv radiation. Dark skin people have more naturally.
This goes for ALL people, not just the fair skinned. Freckles are damage.
it's got a lot to do with where you are and how your body reacts to the sun if you are brought up in a sunny place like a lot of Australia skin cancer doesn't discriminate!
Thank you all for sharing and comments.
Red head here. I never sunbath and use sunscreen everyday including in the winter. I still have been tested 5 times for possible stun cancer. Seriously nothing to joke about.
Black people get skin cancer from exposure to the sun. Anyone with skin, including dogs, can get melanoma.
Totally agree I've grown up in the "slightly" Sunny Australia and skin cancer does not discriminate
Absolutely true. I think the point John L was making is that people like me (I'm a soulless ginger *grin*) and anyone who is fair skinned we are more susceptible to that type of damage). Now the freckles thing that was stated that freckles are damaged skin is a myth. I wanted to look it up to be certain. The reason people think that they are damaged skin is because of when they typically show up, around 7-8 years of age. Freckles are just your skin type. My 3 year old has them. Here's the source from me finding out, as well, that freckles are not damaged skin. http://www.menshealth.com.sg/health/do-freckles-signal-higher-risk-sun-damage-or-skin-cancer
Yes, my dad is that type - light skin, freckles, and was diagnosed with melanoma 6 years ago. A mole on his back start growing and bleeding - after surgery and immunotherapy for 6 months, he is fine now. But you never know whether that f***ing cancer won't come back. So stay safe, and go to dermatologist immediately if notice some change in moles or freckles.
My dad was a freckled redhead who loved golf. His squamous cell carcinoma originated inside his nostril. First he lost his nose; then about 1/2" more all around that hole. Finally, they removed the roof of his mouth and more upper lip. He isolated himself from all but immediate family for the last two years. He died at 66. Please wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and get checked annually.
I have the same complexion as this woman, light skin, freckles but I never was a sun lover, stayed out of it my entire life after a very bad sunburn at 8. I still worry about cancer, hard to see when freckled.
You don't have to worry too much, as long as you keep track of the bigger ones. If any one of them changes and/or starts itching or bleeding, that may be signs that there's something wrong. Please have it checked out then.
Go to your doctor or dermatologist and get a full skin check. They'll go over you from head to toe with lights and are able to inspect your skin far more closely than you can. Common sites for skin cancer in women are the scalp, the backs of the legs, the back of the neck, the back of your arms, the ears - especially behind your ears, and forehead and cheekbones (which is where my mother's cancer was found.
Exactly! Although funny enough, not all redheads have pale skin or freckles. My father has very pale skin and freckles and he's not a redhead, but because of his light complexion he needs to take extra care of his skin. Anyone with pale skin needs to take extra care of their skin. So damn important!
Everyone needs to avoid sun, fair skin or not.
Yep, sun = bad in high quantities. You do have to mind your vitamin D as well. About 15 mins a day should be enough for that though. It's amazing if you go on vacation to one of the canaries how many older (originally fair skinned) people are there lying in the sun looking like baked leather - or worse, sitting in the sun with skin that's already burnt! I don't understand why people are so reckless with their bodies!
Freckles are not mutated skin cells. Instead of getting an even tan, some people get small spots of Melanin instead. "Melanin helps to protect the skin from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays by reflecting or absorbing them. Freckles are triggered by exposure to sunlight. The Sun's ultraviolet radiation causes melanocytes to make more melanin, which can cause freckles to appear or become darker."
Yep. I stay out of the sun due to being pale, red-headed and freckled, and wear tons of sun screen when I go out. I just had a basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of my nose and had a hole the size of a dime cut out.
I'm a redhead too, fair skin, blue eyes. I had a melanoma removed about 4 years ago. Apparently we with red hair and my colouring have a gene which causes changes to occur and allow us melanoma. Lucky us, huh?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Downvote all you want but you really are an ignorant s.o.b have you ever tried reading an actual researched published book since google????? Freckles are caused by an increase of melanin with n the skin cells as a natural defence mechanism not a mutation,( really a mutation) ????? freckles or not you either are unlucky to get skin cancer or you don't!
Seriously good advice about not going to tanning salons. They increase the risk of skin cancer by 75%. Look it up.
It amazes me that people still go. Then again, people still smoke.
And eat junk food, drink soda, use and eat chemicals, drink alcohol, do nothing, breathe in pollution etc. Not just smoking is bad for you!
Blonds are more at risk. It really doesn't matter what color your hair is, if you have freckles are not. I've lost a sister and a brother, and some cousins. What matters is donot get a sun tan. Just darkening the skin changes the melanin in your skin. Stay shady, wear good sun screan. Just because someone from the past said it makes you look healthy and beautiful, doesn't mean you should tan.
My Aunt and Uncle died from lung cancer, they never smoked a day in their life!
If you think that's amazing, you may find this fabulous. After all the warning not to look at the sun directly during the solar eclipse without solar eyewear, a bunch of people from my work went out and stared at the sun without as much as sunglasses let alone solar ones.
Fewer and fewer smokers at least.
How is Trump still alive?
He fired cancer.
I am sure he would give cancer a high ranking cabinet office if it were rich.
For me these photos are more striking than other cancer stories. Most often you see cancer results on peoples bodies, like hair out etc. Here I saw the actual cut, and how it damaged the face + results of theraphy. It's scary. Good I don't tan *shivers*. Best wishes for her and her family, happy she healed!!!
Don't just avoid tanning. Wear a brimmed hat everywhere you go. I wore sunscreen all the time growing up (I had a prescription for it as a child before higher spf was considered safe for an over-the-counter product) but I still have basil cell carcinoma on my face. I now have scars on my nose and forehead from having it removed. Protect yourself!
Doesn't help that the chemicals in sunscreen can cause cancer either.
That because sunscreen causes skin cancer
Me too. It's not fair.
Such a scary deal. My vitamin D is low and has even gotten lower in the last year with an under the tongue spray. I religiously wear hugh number sunscreen and keep covered. I'm certainly not going to go to a tanning bed but I will try 20 minutes of sun.
@Danielle - You can get cancer from drinking too much milk, too. Or water.
You don't get cancer from drinking too much milk, but the risk increases.