10/04/2026
Yep this is from the heart, transparent, no fluff, real deal life kind of stuff and that’s why am I sharing, because I am an health educator and if this can help someone else along the way physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically it’s worth the share. Like I said before too many of us share the polished versions of ourselves- well this is the raw deal here and I hope my story helps others along their journey as well. Thank you Laura Bubla Nelson whose story inspired me to share mine as well. Knowledge is power and also knowing that you’re not alone in our journey is helpful as well.
Here is it the uncut version of my Basal Cell Carcinoma Journey…
I never expected skin cancer to become part of my story.
In the summer of 2026, I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) underneath my left eye. What began as a concern about a spot on my skin eventually turned into a diagnosis, Mohs surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, and a healing journey that affected me physically and emotionally much more than I anticipated.
I’m sharing my experience not to create fear, but to create awareness.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, and hearing the word carcinoma was still incredibly unsettling.
Mine was located directly beneath my eye—an area where preserving as much healthy tissue as possible was especially important. Because of the location, Mohs surgery was recommended. Mohs surgery removes the cancerous tissue layer by layer while examining each layer for cancer cells. The goal is to remove the cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, which is especially valuable in delicate areas of the face.
What I Didn’t Fully Anticipate however…I knew I was having skin cancer removed what I wasn’t fully prepared for was what could come afterward.
After the procedures, I learned that I would need reconstructive plastic surgery beneath my eye. That news caught me completely off guard.
Suddenly this wasn’t simply about removing a spot from my skin. There were stitches, swelling, a patch over part of my face, restrictions on my normal activities, follow-up appointments, and a period of looking in the mirror and seeing myself differently and too many multiple trips to Oshkosh, Green Bay and Kaukauna within a month timeframe and I cannot thank my AMAZING husband Aaron Mancl for being my chauffeur amongst many other kind titles I have for him- he was my leaning post in all of this 🥹
For someone whose life revolves around movement, yoga, wellness, being outdoors, and staying active, being told to slow down became its own lesson.
My body needed time to repair, restore and heal.
And then I experienced the emotional side of Skin Cancer- This is something I don’t think we talk about enough.
Even when you’ve been told that basal cell carcinoma is highly treatable, having cancer removed from your face can be frightening.
There was relief that it had been treated, but there was also anxiety.
Will it come back?
Will I develop another one?
What will the scar look like?
Did I spend too many years in the sun?
How do I protect myself without becoming afraid of something—being outdoors—that brings me so much joy?
Healing wasn’t only about the incision underneath my eye. It was also about learning how to live with greater awareness without allowing that awareness to become fear.
I Still Want a Life Outdoors and one of my biggest realizations was that protecting my skin doesn’t have to mean disconnecting from nature…Nature is a HUGE part of who I am.
I still want to walk outside, be near the water, hike, travel and enjoy sunshine. The difference now is that I am much more intentional about protection—high-SPF sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, shade when possible, protecting healing skin and paying closer attention to changes in my skin. The goal isn’t to fear the sun. The goal is to respect exposure and protect the skin I’m living in.
There was so much to learn about from this experience and what it taught Me
-Pay attention to your skin.
-Don’t dismiss a spot simply because it’s small or doesn’t hurt.
-Schedule skin checks and keep your follow-up appointments.
-Protect your face and body consistently—not just when you’re spending an entire day at the beach.
-And if something doesn’t look or feel right, have it evaluated.
-I also learned that recovery isn’t weakness.
There was a point during this journey when I couldn’t practice yoga or exercise the way I normally would. Instead, healing looked like gentle walks, breathing, grounding, reading, journaling and allowing my body to do what it needed to do.
Sometimes wellness isn’t about doing more.
Sometimes wellness is allowing yourself to heal.
Where I Am Now… My scar is part of my story.
It reminds me of something I probably understood intellectually before but understand much more deeply now: our health can change quickly, and caring for ourselves includes paying attention to the little things.
Basal cell carcinoma became an unexpected chapter in my life. I wouldn’t have chosen it, but I can choose what I do with the experience.
And if sharing my story encourages even one person to notice a changing spot, schedule a skin check, wear the sunscreen, put on the hat, or stop postponing an appointment, then something meaningful can come from it.
Know your skin. Protect your skin. Pay attention when something changes. And don’t put off getting something checked because you think it’s probably nothing.
Early attention matters.
Man August felt like it was way too much to handle with everything that happened but now moving into October it’s another part of me that because of it all I am stronger and more resilient than every before. This is my refinement era in more ways than 1 💪
