” I’m an actor, my name is James, whose career is now in limbo after I discovered I had Basal Cell Carcinoma, tumor in my right cheek. The tumor had been there, for about 15 years, before had it removed just before Christmas. I had naively, used tanning beds for a few weeks in 2005 and I was advised, not to swears sunscreen! I stopped after notching skin peeling into two tones on my hip and being young, I assumed the little lump on my face was scar tissue from acne. It was only in 2018, when I had cuts on the top of that lump, that didn’t heal, when I actually grew concerned and visited my Doctor. Initial shock, fears for my career and time spent seeking second opinions delayed my biopsy for almost a year. Then all, non-essential surgeries, in the UK (were I live), was cancelled, as the health service focused on Covid-19 pandemic, so I had to wait a year for the surgery. I underwent MOHS, micrographic surgery to remove the tumor and due to my career, I was offered a plastic surgeon to close the wound. Both surgeries were carried out within 3 days of one another and it was the facial reconstruction surgery, that proved most difficult. The recovery’s been long and tedious. After 2 months, much of the tightness in my face, has gone. It was the extremely tight, with no movement initially. I also have to massage my scar 6x’s a day, which means, I have to plan everything around it. On paper, my acting career remains in doubt but I’m refusing to acknowledge that. I won’t let this beat me! “

Quote James lives by: “The heart is a bloom, it shoots up through the stoney ground” -U2, Beautiful Day

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