The 33-year-old single mom has been bravely documenting her battle with skin cancer on TikTok, hoping to educate and warn others about the risks of ignoring subtle signs.
Rachel posted a public service announcement on the platform, explaining how what she thought was just a harmless mosquito bite turned out to be something far more alarming.
Now she’s encouraging others to stay alert, keep an eye on any skin changes, and not to overlook signs that might seem minor at first but could be something more concerning.
Her journey began with a tiny pink spot that appeared on her forehead. One day, the spot started bleeding out of nowhere.
Unfortunately, the doctor she saw didn’t take her concern seriously. He told her it was probably just a mosquito bite that had become irritated after she scratched it open.
She said the doctor even mentioned that she seemed too young to be dealing with skin cancer at all.
Thankfully, she trusted her instincts and decided to get a second opinion, refusing to let it go unchecked.
That led to her being referred for a biopsy, which ultimately confirmed that the spot was actually basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
After being diagnosed, Rachel had to go through six long weeks of painful treatment. She described the aftermath as being left with what felt like a burning hole on her forehead.
The experience didn’t just affect her physically—it’s taken a toll on her emotionally too. “I think, mentally, it’s taking a toll, just having this on my forehead.”
Now that the warmer months are here, Rachel is doing her best to remind others how important it is to use sunscreen and protect their skin from harmful UV rays.
She emphasized her point by saying: “I really think that people should get the shock value of how horrible this looks, so that it scares them into being careful with the sun.”
She’s thankful her cancer was detected early, and she considers herself very lucky to have caught it when she did.
“I hope this gruesome, gruesome area on my forehead is going to create some shock value so people are more careful in the sun.”
That said, they’re not limited to those spots—they can actually appear anywhere, which is why it’s smart to keep an eye out for any new marks. It’s also a good idea to check your fingernails for dark streaks that weren’t there before.
While they usually show up in places that get a lot of sun, don’t rule out other areas. They can develop just about anywhere on your skin.
Also, if you notice a mole or a new spot that starts to bleed or just won’t heal, that’s another red flag that it might be something more serious like skin cancer.
So don’t forget to put on your sunscreen this summer—it could make all the difference.