About me
Ooooh, never good at writing stuff like this. I’m now 24 year old “professional” web developer and designer, apparently. I was eductated to degree level at Wolverhampton university, but that means diddly squat, I have a slight tendancy to be lazy with typing, graduate you see, ocupational hazzard. I have a wide and varried taste in music, currently I’m tuning into acoustic and Jhai vocalists and singer/songwriters, a sure sign I’m getting older!!
Enjoy live music muchly as well as technology (software as well as gagdets) I love keeping up with world events. Have a keen interest in how the mainstream media operate and will over analyse anything way too deeply.
I have a great small family, living in the wonderful city of Birmingham, or Bur-min-um take your pick. I was recently diagnosed with the most dangerous form of skin cancer, Malignant Melanoma, it was diagnosed as Advanced and I’m in the “high risk” group. I hope that this blog and my experiences will help you see things from another point of view.
See told you, absolutly crap at this stuff 
Enjoy, comment, and listen to the Podcast!!
Thanks for doing this. I have a friend who was diagnosed last year so reading your blogs really has helped me understand what she may be going through. You are doing something really important by writing it down.
I wish you well.
Jo
Hi Lee
First, good luck in your battle ahead. My step dad died of bowel cancer a few years ago and my partner’s uncle is currently lying in an intensive careafter surgery for colon cancer that was followed by complications. I never take one day of my life for granted.
Anyhow, I read your story on the bbc site and was struck by one comment you made in particular. There were no sites that you could go to get personal experience about the disease, hence you started your own blog. I’m a web developer too (an amature) and my latest project is, I hope, possibly a very useful information portal that could be a stopping off point for many people looking to benefit from other people’s experiences. It’s called the WILBA database, and it is based around the simple question ‘What’s it like to be…e.g. living with skin cancer?’ I’ve been working on the site for a couple of weeks now and I reckon it won’t be properly ready for another couple of months. I’m coming to grips with Drupal and trying to get it to fit to my vision for the site.
If you are interested, you could make the first meaningful entry on health and living with cancer. Other feedback on the site would also be appreciated.
Warm regards
Mark
Hey there Lee, I saw a bit on you in the BBC and thought I’d share some info. I’m now 43, but I’ve fought skin cancer (basel cell carcinomas) for 11 years, including right now on my face, in my ear, on my forehead, etc. I’m also redheaded, blue eyes, fair complected, and got burned as a kid growing up in Central California and then later in the military while in the tropics. I’ve studied skin cancer intensely and gone through MOHs procedures, etc. The problem is one never knows if all the cancer cells are removed, or if they’ve migrated somewhere else. I have recently been using a black salve, used to be called Cansema Salve, but it was busted by the U.S. FDA..however, Bevanpotter.com (Australia) makes a similar product (only the veterninary version at this time, which is the same formula, just a bit weaker and added DMSO to help penetrate the skin). I’ve tried it and it does what Cansema claims to do. It attacks the cancers and causes an ugly volcanic looking sore as it penetrates, but..if you keep up with it, it will for an eschar, harden, and fall off leaving good skin underneath. With the veterninary version, you have to keep applying it a few times. Anyway, good luck in your fight and best wishes! Matt P. USA
Hi there Lee,
I stumbled across your website via news.bbc.co.uk. As a blogger myself, I understand how liberating it can be simply to get something off your chest or share experiences with others - however in your case, I greatly admire the honesty and down-to-earth nature of your posts.. Especially regarding your medical condition. It’s refreshing to see that there are still brave souls out there ready and willing to share their experiences, both good and bad, for the benefit of others - especially one this personal.
So, hats off to you for the website!
Hey Lee,
All my thoughts are with you. Be strong.
Ian
Thank you Lee for a fantastic and real website.
I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy future. You are right about lack of information. I remember after being diagnosed at the age of 26, I left the hospital with 1 sheet of paper describing the operation. Nothing rearding the malignant melanoma. I was completely ignorant to its seriousness. It was only by chance at a visit to the baby clinic with my newborn a week or 2 later that my GP informed me of what I really should have known.
Also, my mole was not black and crusty like often displayed on posters, but almost skin or freckle coloured. I was signed off October 2005. Hopefully my battle is over.
I’d love to help you in raising awareness, if I can in any way.
All the very best for the future.
Stay positive mate, my mother survived (and continues), part of it seems to be about taking care of your body, not hammering it, keeping a positive state of mind and enjoying life to the full. Friends and family can also be hugely supportive.
Take care you are in the right frame of mind to start with. Thanks also for informing the world, you are doing a good thing.
Mark
Hi Lee,
I went online today looking for web designers as I need a website for a business I am hoping to start up soon. Myhomepage is BBC and I read about your illness and your blog.
First of all I would like to say I send you all my best wishes and hope you recover from your illness. I have a son who was diagnosed with HIV when he was in his early 20’s almost ten years ago now. Advances in drug therapies keep him relativley well for which I am very grateful. Although it’s different illnesses I imagine there are similarities in having to face up to things that most people in their twenties arent thinking about…….
WEll Lee I dont know if this is inappropriate to your current state of health but if you fell well enough are you interested in a commission to design a website for me please? All the best, Hx
Dear Lee,
I was so pleased to find your website and blog. As someone who has had cancer and written about it I know how helpful it can be. Last year I was in hospital having reconstructive surgery and there was a girl probably about your age having a melanoma removed from her hand. I was so shocked - she was so young and her family was devastated too. Publishing your story will help other people enormously - more than you can ever ever know. I thank you from my heart for having the courage to share your story and will hold you and your family in my heart as you go into the future.
Asaya
Hi Lee,
Very interested in your story, I also was a redhead before the sun bleached it white!! I moved from Macclesfield to Barbados to live nearly 3 years ago to set up a business in tourism over here. I have 2 sons aged 28 and 30, the youngest one Andrew has a lot of moles on his back since he was young he is a sun worshipper I have told him to monitor his moles but he’s a big man now and I would hope he would check himself. I am going to get him to look at your website and see if this sparks a seed of thought in his mind. Keep up the fight mate you look like a nice lad!!! I will keep an eye on your progress.
Bye for now
Hello Lee. I am wanted to write to you as I have just seen your website. Sadly our daughter Nicola Anne Higginbottom died at the age of 24 in April 2002 from Malignant Melanoma. I was very pleased to read that you have a website warning about the dangers of Skin Cancer. It’s my bed time now so I must finish for now but I would love to hear from you.
Sue Higginbottom
Afternoon,
I am sure this is one of many comments generated from the BBC article recently
published and as it’s the first day at work since the
Christmas break i always find time for a quick read
through and your article caught my attention.
I am now 26, fair haired (Ginner) and live in Leamington Spa. I too had a dodgey mole
that was diagnosed as malignant melonoma in May 2003. The mole was removed in the July 2003.
The mole had looked dodgey for some time since 2001 but i had only recovered from two
serious unrelated operations by the time i had the energy to get this mole checked out
(It was the surviving the serious operations that prompted me to get this mole checked out).
Following the biopsy and initial is it/is it not a specialist from London finally confirmed
it as MM. It was removed with a breslows thickness of 1mm. This one was caught early and
the operation to remove it was swift and painless (It was on my lower right leg on the calf muscle).
Fortunately only 2cm of skin (down to the muscle was removed) so no skin graft was required.
The irony of it all was the surgeon that removed the mole and cancerous tissue was the same one that
had saved my life exactly 1 year earlier to the day in the same hospital. Scary eh!
I have continued with the consultations every 3 months and have recently had a CT scan (Dec 20th 2005)
from top to toe as i have suspected lump in my groin that has already been tested once mid way through 2004
(Found clear) but is still there and so maybe not just a raised lymph node. I hardly ever thought about what
i went through and what maybe to come until i read your article - especially the statistics and
longitivity associated with this type of health issue. No news is good news and hopefully i will have
my next appointment in March 2006.
I suppose i am writing just to wish you all the best for the new year and that your article is reaching out
to many people - its amasing that since i was diagnosed how many friends and family show me there moles and ask if
they are ok!
Hi Lee
Your story caught my eye on the BBC website during Christmas and really struck a bit of chord with me. I was diagnosed with a MM in 2002 and was a similar age to you - and am still here today so keep positive:)- guess i just wanted to say i wish i could have done what you are doing as it may have helped with coping as i found like you that there aren’t many people our age in the Skin Cancer profession that seem to understand! All the best with your results, i am keeping my fingers crossed
Charlie
Hi Lee,
I am a cancer survivor. Have you read Beata Bishop’s book ‘ A Time to Heal’? Beata has survived MM for over twenty years by using alternative therapies and she is alive and well today. In fact an article by her appears in the current issue of Living Earth, the Soil Association magazine. Her book can be bought through Living Earth (livingearth@firststonepub.co.uk).
Good luck. Silvana.
Hey man, im a lee jordan too! im 21 from glasgow, i am saddened to hear about your condition my friend but you have my best wishes and i hope you get through this! i dont know much about cancer but from one lee jordan to another GOOD LUCK!
Dear Lee,
I’m wishing you all your best in health.
Let me introduce myself.
I’m from Myanmar. I’m a web designer too.
I’m 30 yr.
My other professional is translated some world health news for Future Health Journals weekly from Myanmar.
I saw you on BBC and I read carefully the whole article about your health, your illness and your website. So I search your website using google search. And I got you.
I was so pleased to find your web site. Thank Lee for your fantacstic website.
First, I would like to know you I am praying all of my best wishes and hoping you recover your illness.
And I like to know your greatful mind to Myanmar people.
I’d like to make some cool interview about your illness.
Can you answer some light questions?
If you like that, you can mail me or
Let me know your mail address.
Dear Brother!
All my best wishes and prayers be with you.
Be Strong.
Never give up!
Good Luck,
Rupa
Yangon, Myanmar
hi lee
just like to say keep ya chin up mate,look ahead ,life is 4 the living to the full we never know how long we have so enjoy every minute. i cant spell by the way pretty crap sorry.I found your site by chance i had a mole that kept on growing and changing colour over a couple of years i showed my gp on 3 diffrent times who said it was ok.it was only by fate that i went to dag doc about my asthma and showed it to him that he told me to go back to my gp.who still said it was “ok” but he would cut it out if i wanted?(as if he was doing me a favor)made me feel i was being a silly cow (which iam most of the time but he dont know that)well i had it cut out off my arm which bloody hurt,had my boyfriend holding my hand.
got the dreaded phone call from the doctors to come in, i went in and he said you have a melignant melanoma your seeing the surgon end of the week. you should of seen his face? who’s a silly cow now…..lets just say he was very nice to me after that nothing was too much trouble.
i was lucky got mine early 2mm stage 2 and hasnt spread,but i think i have another 1? got this gut feeling.got 1 that keeps on crusting over and iching but my consultan say’s its fine. i do worry like you do, so i’m asking my new gp to cut it out cos my consultan wont as he says it’s fine…..feel like being pushed from piler to post .wish me luck.
keep up the good word spreading the word…….your very brave and you give hope to others.
andrena.x
Hey Andrena,
Thanks for coming to the site and leaving a comment. Sorry to hear about the experience you have been having. I guess there’s not as much focus as there should be on this cancer.
I would if I were you, print out some information on the ABC of Melanoma and take that along to the doctor. My most serious mole was crusty and itchy and had started to bleed, so it’s vital you get it biopsied ASAP as you seem to be having similar signs.
Hope all goes well for you
Takecare
Lee
This is a great blog for support! Skin cancer is not fun at all, I know from personal experience. There is a great informational site about skin cancer and natural treatments, lots of testimonials too. It is www.blacksalveinfo.com Good luck to everyone here and thanks for those of you who have shared their stories!