A TINY pimple sat on her forehead for nearly two years, until it suddenly started to bleed.
The scab kept coming back, and the pain became harder to ignore.
Rachel Archer lived with what she thought was a pimple on her forehead for almost two years[/caption]
Archer was initially told by doctors that she is ‘too young’ for skin cancer[/caption]
By then, it had been six months since the spot changed, and something felt off.
Rachel Archer, 33, was told the small bump on her forehead was a simple mosquito bite.
But a biopsy later revealed it to be skin cancer.
The North Carolina mom said she was stunned by the diagnosis, especially with no cancer in her family history.
“Especially at my age,” Archer told Newsweek, calling the discovery “surreal.”
Doctors confirmed it was basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of skin cancer in the US.
She said she didn’t take it seriously at first because she always had acne-prone skin.
But when the blemish wouldn’t go away, she pushed to get answers.
The first doctor dismissed the mom-of-three’s concerns by saying she was too young to have cancer.
The next time she saw a medical professional, however, Archer advocated for herself and insisted on further testing.
It was only then, at her own insistence, that a biopsy was ordered.
According to the American Cancer Society, around 5.4 million basal and squamous cell cancers are diagnosed in the US each year.
Archer has since shared her story on TikTok under the name @racheltemac, hoping to raise awareness.
Her post received 1.3 million views, and over 30,000 likes.
Skin Cancer Facts
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in the US
- The American Cancer Society reports around 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year
- Warning signs include sores that don’t heal, bleeding spots, scabbing, itching, or changing moles
- The ABCDE rule helps spot melanoma: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over 6mm, and Evolution
- Early detection saves lives – see a dermatologist if a spot lasts more than 4–6 weeks without healing
In the caption of one of her videos, Archer urged viewers to “be careful in the sun” and issued a “warning for this not to happen to you.”
“If you have any weird spots that you have had for a while, especially if they are randomly bleeding – go get them checked out and be your own advocate if you feel like something is wrong!” her caption continued.
Archer also noted that she didn’t begin wearing sunscreen until her late twenties and used tanning beds a few times in the past.
“When you are younger you don’t think about the risks of being in the sun too long and getting sun burnt,” she said.
“I believe seeing a video of what it would be like to get skin cancer would be helpful for younger people, so they are more careful!”
In the viral clip posted on June 15, she shows a large scab on her forehead during treatment.
Doctors prescribed Imiquimod, a chemotherapy cream used to trigger the immune system to destroy abnormal cells.
She underwent weeks of chemotherapy cream and now warns others to take sun safety seriously[/caption]
She said she didn’t begin wearing sunscreen until her late twenties and used tanning beds a few times in the past[/caption]
The American Cancer Society says it’s often used on early-stage BCC.
Archer explained that her cream was “applied multiple times a week for six weeks” as part of her treatment.
“The treatment caused my skin to react by bleeding and scabbing up. It felt like my skin was being burned off,” she said.
She now wears SPF every day and urges others to do the same.
“There’s no excuses to lay out and get burned,” she said, referencing the many sunscreen options now available.
On July 6, she shared another update on TikTok, revealing her scab was gone and she was finally feeling like herself again.
Archer said she will return for a follow-up checkup in six months to ensure everything is clear.
WARNING SIGNS
Skin cancer doesn’t always look dangerous, Dr. Hannah Kopelman, a dermatologist trained in cutaneous oncology, told Newsweek.
“It can start as something that seems harmless, a tiny pimple that doesn’t heal, a rough patch that keeps coming back, or a mole that slowly changes over time,” she said.
She advises looking out for the ABCDEs: asymmetry, irregular borders, color variation, diameter, and evolving shape.
Dr. Kopelman said any spot that bleeds, crusts, itches, or lingers more than a month should be checked.
She also warned that age doesn’t protect anyone.
“I want to be very clear: skin cancer does not discriminate by age,” she said.
“I’ve diagnosed aggressive forms of melanoma in patients in their 20s and even late teens.
“If you feel like your concerns are being brushed off, please don’t give up. Seek a second opinion and keep pushing until you’re heard.”
On July 6, she shared another TikTok update, revealing her scab was gone[/caption]
