Skin cancer is a very serious situation, and early detection is crucial. In fact, the latter and its aftereffects were a big challenge for Mark Lawson (Dustin Phillips, General Hospital; ex-Brody Lovett, One Life to Live), who shares that he recently had a suspicious mole removed from his back.
In an Instagram post, the actor shared a photo of some homemade crumpets with the caption, "When you can't train for two weeks (one to go!) because you had a mole removed, you start to go a little crazy. So we made these to keep the demons back."
He followed up that post with a video that gives more information about his mole removal. In it, he explains that he hasn't been able to work out like he usually does because he had to have a suspicious "chicken nugget sized" mole removed from his mid to lower back. He urges fans to get their own skin checked and also opens up about how not being able to train as usual has led to his mental health being "really challenged."
"I've never been the kind of trainer who is going to give you the best nutrition advice, who's going to tell you the insertion points of what muscles along what bone or where it connects to the tendon or any of that stuff. That's not my game," he says. "My game is the mental game and using your workouts to modulate your mental health -- which has been really apparent this week, because my mental health has been really challenged with not being able to train. So I just finished a good [workout] and feel better. A few more days and I get the stitches out."
Lawson accompanied his video with a caption that says, "All good! Mole is removed and all abnormal cells gone! Just can't wait to throw down the way I normally do! Also becomes apparent that having multiple modes of mental health care is really important! Stay Soapy! Stay Safe!"
Lawson is the latest in a line of daytime stars who have recently had issues and scares with melanoma. The Young and the Restless' John Enos (ex-Bobby Marsino) had to have surgery to remove skin cancer from his face and arm earlier this year. Days of our Lives' Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady) experienced a similar situation when she tested positive for skin cancer last summer, which led the actress to team up with Stand Up to Cancer. Sweeney's on-screen sister, Martha Madison (Belle Black), was also recently diagnosed with melanoma, which doctors found on her back.
"PSA: Get your moles checked," Madison shared at the time. "Check your skin for any noticeable changes and ask your doctor about it!! Even if it seems like nothing, let an expert decide... Early detection of skin cancer gives you the greatest chance for successful skin cancer treatment and prevents it from developing into something more complicated. And of course, use sunscreen (which I do!)."
For more information on skin cancer and to learn the melanoma warning signs to watch out for, visit the Skin Cancer Foundation.
How do you feel about Mark Lawson's cancer scare and the way that not being able to work out after his mole removal affected his mental health? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
