When I was studying for my master’s degree, life was hectic, so I began getting massages at Massage Envy Spa – Eastgate at Jungle Jim’s to reward myself after workouts and stressful weeks on the computer. Knowing I had a massage appointment at the end of a busy week motivated me to get through the chaos. Then, when I turned 53 last winter, I noticed my face had started showing lines and age spots. So I decided to take a step toward a better complexion and scheduled my first facial.
It was wonderful! I loved every minute. My skin felt so dewy and looked much brighter. But the aesthetician saw something that troubled her. She pointed out a tiny rash-smaller than a pencil eraser-on the side of my nose. She urged me to have a dermatologist check it. After examining the spot, my dermatologist was concerned, and a biopsy confirmed a diagnosis nobody wants to receive: skin cancer. The spot was a basal cell carcinoma that potentially could be deep and needed to be removed. But because the growth was caught early, it was a shallow cyst less than 1 millimeter deep. Had my aesthetician not pushed me to see a dermatologist, who knows how deep the basal cell could have been? It’s a scary thought.
Now, I have a small incision on my nose that’s healing well. I wear a hat and sunscreen. And I continue to get regular facials at Massage Envy Spa. I trust them to not only improve my skin but also act as part of my support network for better health and cancer prevention. I just graduated with my master’s degree and recently became a first-time grandmother, and I get to celebrate all of that cancer-free.
Franchesta Hammonds is the owner of Massage Envy Spa Santa Clarita on Via Princessa and Sierra Highway. For a free skin scanner consultation, please call 661-251-3689.