A common pimple had turned into a life-changing diagnosis for Rachel Olivia, a 32-year-old Australian. The red spot on her forehead had first appeared as a harmless thing. It was later diagnosed to be basal cell carcinoma, one of the forms of skin cancer. Rachel had paid little attention to the small, flaky breakout on her forehead for more than a year, considering it a stubborn pimple.

Speaking to News.com.au, Rachel said, “I left it for a year, but when it never healed, I pushed to get it reassessed by specialists. They did a biopsy and confirmed it was cancer.”

Sun Exposure in Childhood Raises Concerns

Rachel was surprised to find out that she had a melanoma, especially since she always described herself as being careful about too much sun exposure. “I‘ve never been someone to tan or sit in the sun. But I did have a few bad burns when I was younger, and that‘s all it takes,” she said.

Doctors explained that her condition is DNA damage in the basal cells of the top layer of the skin, due to those earlier burns. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and usually looks like a waxy bump, a sore that doesn’t quite heal, or a red, scaly patch. Not as aggressive as melanoma, BCC is actually a cause for great alarm when it appears on the face.

A Soothing Yet Eye-Opening Prognosis

Rachel was mixed emotion about the diagnosis. “I was relieved it was not melanoma, but also shocked to still have cancer. He told me I was young to get something like this. He also explained that Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer.”

Balancing Treatment and Parenthood

Now, Rachel is receiving treatment while taking care of her baby. “It‘s hard to take care of myself with a little one at home,” she said in relation to her experience.

Rachel‘s story has become a reminder of how important it is to have regular skin checks and to intervene early, especially in countries such as Australia, where rates of skin cancer are at their highest in the world.