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March 1, 2005

Skin Cancer Detection

I have a client who started coming to me over 3 years ago. One of the first things I noticed about them was two-toned freckle on their back which I mentioned and that they were aware of. They have come to me for varied reasons, from stress management to specific muscle aches and transformative craniosacral therapy. Our session are sometimes twice a week to once a month.

Over the years we have discussed life, outdoor adventure, movies and the loss of our respective parents. And through it all, I have kept an eye on that freckle. After an exceptionally long break between appointments between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I saw them and again checked out that freckle. I didn't know if it was my imagination or not, but the border between tones seemed to have blurred a little and taken on a slightly blue color. I mentioned the freckle again and suggested they get it checked out by their dermatologist "just to be safe."

Yesterday they reported back that the biopsy showed "good and bad news." It was cancerous--the second best kind you can get (probably squamous cell carcinoma)--and it is likely that the biopsy removed most if not all of the cancer.

As therapists, we have to be thoughtful about how we respond to such news, because, according to the ethics books I've been reading, we are seen by our clients as authority figures to some degree. If we respond with an "Ohmygosh!" we may frighten our clients unnecessarily.

Unfortunately, as people, we are not perfect. I have to admit to feeling a thread of fear pull through my solar plexus. Despited the fact that I know many long-term cancer survivors, my fearful self remembers a time when cancer was a death sentence. In addition to that, is the loss of my father to lung cancer.

Feeling temporarily emotional, I said "I'm really glad you got that checked out," but my voice came out high and tighter than I intended. Unfortunately, my client picked up on this, and I apologize to them for not being more professional.

Earlier yesterday, I pointed out to another suspicious area on a client's back that I hadn't noticed before. I figured it was okay, but suggested that they have it checked by their dermatologist, because "it's better to be safe than sorry."

Posted by linda at March 1, 2005 12:21 PM