Years ago when I was prepping for my ankle surgery, my doctor spotted this black like mold on my baby toe. Each time he prep me he would say I need to do a biopsy on that toe. Didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was just par for the course. So the week before my surgery, he told me he was going to do the biopsy. So I got scared and asked why. He said have you heard of Bob Marley. I said yes, I have. He said do you know what he died from, and I said I think Cancer. He asked do you know what kind of cancer, and I said no. He said he died from Melanoma cancer. So I said are you for real. He said yes. I tilted my head to the side and said to myself black people don’t get melanoma. He told me the story of how when Bob Marley found out he had the cancer on his big toe, and that the doctors told him he needed to have the toe cut off since it was in his early stage. They advise him that he needed that toe cut off soon, so that it wouldn’t spread, and could save his life. He told them no because he says loves playing soccer and he dances with his feet. Dancing on stage was his livelihood, and he wasn’t gonna allow them to cut his toe off. You can google the rest of the story. But anyway, he went on to say that people always think that only white people get melanoma cancer. He told me that was no longer true. He told me that Black people get the cancer too, but the irony is, that many of the black people that get this form of cancer, gets it on their Big Toe.

Man, after he told me the story of Mr. Marley, I said do what you have to do. Not gonna lie I was scared. Prayed every singles day. I did a lot of praying when I got home, and weeks later when I saw him again he said it was negative. I JUST GAVE GOD ALL OF THE PRAISES AND THE GLORY.

My cousin had called me, weeks ago and she never call me out of the blue, to tell me that her husband has melanoma, and that he was doing radiation. The first thing I thought when she told me was that I should had told her the story my doctor told me. If only I would had told this story to many, maybe, just maybe. Just saying. Not Sure.

So people, check your feet, and now I hear you need to check our fingers as well. (see article). NPR was discussing melanoma cancer on ear today, and that I share. So Im sharing now.

Be Well all and stay safe!

Jerlilia



https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/07/11/melanoma-skin-cancer-black-men/