It’s been a whirlwind 3 weeks. I started September joyfully walking 30 miles to fundraise for Cancer Research but never thinking I would need your support. But I’m now sitting here feeling very sore and worried after having urgent surgery last Friday for 3 suspect lesions all in one go.

I had one wide local excision on my side to remove a lesion that seems to be of significant concern which I had been to the GP with over 4 years ago. At that point they had no concerns and I left feeling like I’d worried over nothing. I wish I’d worried more about it during that time. The wound feels huge - around 7cm across and it was quite a shock to see it when I was able to remove the dressing today.  It explains why it’s been so sore.  I’ve not been given any clarity on what the outcome could be. I just have to wait for results. The second excision was on a mole on my arm that had started to change during the summer. Another local excision but slightly smaller at around 5cms. And the final one, a strange mole that I’d not previously noticed in the centre of the sole of my foot. Another local excision this time with a wound thats about 4cm across on the soft, thin part of the sole of my foot. The pain of administering the local anaesthetic and the pain of walking on the wound has been really challenging.

I’m struggling with so many things. The suddenness of going from a GP appointment where I was sure that they’d just reassure me and send me home but then having surgery within 3 weeks has taken a chunk out of me emotionally. I’m a teacher and I’m used to being busy and on my feet. I’m feeling guilty and worry people think I’m a bit of a fraud because I can’t physically be at work. I’ve taken to heart comments from people when they have told me that excisions are so small and won’t stop me being able to go into work. These have probably been said to provide reassurance but I’m feeling like I need to try harder to just get over it and get on with things. But it’s only been 3 days and my wounds feel so vulnerable - I’m not sure what the average healing time is and when I can expect to be back on my feet and back to normal?

By far the hardest is the mental battle and it’s most definitely the one I feel least prepared for. I normally see a way through but I feel entirely out of my depth especially as, until the results come back, I’m facing a situation I cannot prepare for or predict.

Any advice or ideas to help face the next few days and weeks would be very much appreciated.