Melanie Williams initially mistook a suspicious black mark under her thumbnail for a troublesome wart or fungus infestation. She was taken aback when she learned it was a cancerous tumor. She was able to remove cancer before it spread throughout her body, but she lost half of her thumb as a result.
The mother-of-three is now using the image of her thumb to warn others to be wary of any suspicious areas.
Melanie said on Facebook just before her surgery:
“Do you see what’s on my thumb? Do you have any idea what it is? It’s a form of skin cancer. In a couple of weeks, this grew from nothing. I’ve been fortunate in that cancer hasn’t spread, and it will be removed along with part of my thumb next week. If I hadn’t checked it out and left it, this might not have been the case. I’m not looking for compassion; I’m just for more awareness. As a result, please have any changes or growths on your skin looked out, and please advise others to do the same.”
Melanie, who is a full-time mom of an autistic son, continues: “Make no excuses or leave it to chance! I’ll be fighting fit in no time, but if I’d waited any longer, I might have lost more than a thumb.”
“So, instead of leaving comments about how courageous I am or how sorry you are, please take the time to share this, tell someone they need to get tested, or call the doctors yourself.”
“P.S. Please let me know if anyone knows where I can acquire a small hook attachment for my stubby thumb!” she joked.
Her article, which has been shared approximately 100,000 times, is already reaping rewards, with nice feedback coming in.
Melanie is completely taken aback by the outpouring of support.
“Totally speechless (an uncommon occurrence for those who know me),” she wrote. “I’m happy of everyone who has shared and taken notice of the increased awareness! You’re fantastic!” “If I’d known how much it was going to be disseminated, I would have at least put some makeup on,” she continues.
You have to admire her sense of humor.