“I discovered my first skin cancer at 11 years old” testifies Magali

At 45, Magali has already had 5 skin cancers. “I had my first skin cancer at age 11. A itchy mole on my forearm right so my parents took me to the dermatologist for an annual visit” does she remember. The surgeon analyzes Magali’s mole and the verdict is in: it’s a carcinoma. “My parents didn’t tell me about cancer at the time.” adds the Marseillaise. Surgery alone was enough to eliminate it. “I was followed regularly and I was particularly aware of the harmful effects of the sun. I have very fair skin, with freckles and lots of moles. I even have it in my scalp and in my eye, which I get checked every three months.”. At 32, he was diagnosed with skin cancer in the corner of his eye, at 42 on his nose, at 43 an infiltrating carcinoma in the neck and at 44 behind the head near the ear. For each, a biopsy is performed because this cancer is located in the deep layers of the epidermis. Doctors dig a small, fairly deep hole that they then fill with stitches to determine the type of cancer: Infiltrating or non-invasive melanoma or carcinoma and its stage.

“Carcinoma on the nose is so rare at my age that the doctors couldn’t believe it.”

“I am much younger than the average age of skin cancer patients on the tip of the nose. Carcinoma on the nose is so rare at my age that the doctors didn’t believe it. I knew a medical wandering for two years. It is the obstacle course for the young woman. Four doctors refuse to perform the biopsy. Magalie demands a fifth opinion and a biopsy. “Diagnosis: a superficial vasocellular carcinoma and four suspicious lesions“. At this moment, a multi-disciplinary consultation meeting (RCP) with a head of dermatological oncology, a dermatologist, a surgeon in particular, is looking into Magali’s case. “They took pictures of my nose. Two days later, it was necessary to “cross-check” to find out if the four suspicious lesions are linked to an extensive tumor or if each is a localized tumor. Magali underwent four more biopsies. It is processed by local chemotherapy for 12 weeks (twice 6 weeks of treatment). “I applied a cream dosed and formulated to measure every evening, with the aim of destroying the tumor cells. Cream burned my nose, mouth and eyes. It caused inflammation of the gums and I had to have my teeth removed. Doctors practice excision (amputation) of the tip of Magali’s nose. The operation shows two scar balls. “I started the first part of the reconstructive surgery which erased the first ball. The hospital needs to contact me to tell me what will happen to this remaining bump on my nose. The surgeon suspects a recurrence and recommends a sixth biopsy.

“I pay today for sunburns taken in adolescence”

Magali’s grandmother had several skin cancers including one on her nose, her father too. “When the dermatologist saw my skin cancer on my nose, like my father and my grandmother, she sent me for genetic testing and I met a geneticist. I should receive the results in July. The doctor suspects a genetic defect. “It won’t change anything for me but I do it for my daughters, so they know if they need regular follow-ups with the dermatologist“. But genetics is not the only cause in Magali’s skin cancers.”As a teenager, I wanted to tan like all young people my age at the beach. I was surrounded by friends who overexposed themselves, but none had the same skin as me. Instead of putting on SPF50 cream as I should have, I borrowed milking fat and monoi from my friends. It was fashionable to be tanned and I wanted to take color so much that I bought self-tanning capsules, being convinced that it would protect my skin. Today I pay for the sunburns I got as a teenager. These tanning capsules should be banned for people with the same skin phenotype as me“ believes Magali.

“I live with a sword of Damocles on my head”

“It’s almost impossible to avoid the sun when you live in Marseille. However, the sun is my worst enemy. I live with a Damocles sword over my head. My surgeon advised me to go live in Normandy but i’m a real southerner” confides Magali. So she redoubles her efforts to protect themselves from the sun. At the beach, she wears UV protective clothing, does not leave the shade of its anti-UV parasol and avoids exposing itself between noon and 4 p.m. “When I go for a drink with friends on the terrace, I look for the table that will be the most in the shade and that is not likely to be sunny. When I’m shopping I change the sidewalk to put myself in the shade, I always wear wide-brimmed hats and SPF50 sunscreen on the face, neck and ears“. Magali also benefits from a psychological help to face this ordeal. “I see my psychiatrist every 10-15 days“. She can also count on the support from her husband and two daughters.

Thanks to Magali for her testimony. Interview on May 10, 2022.