I had my bi-annual appointment with my dermatologist a little over a week ago. As usual, there were some pre-cancers to be treated with liquid nitrogen, and with two spots of concern I showed my dermatologist, there were some biopsies. As an afterthought, and not of any concern of mine, I showed him a small mole on my neck that hadn't been there very long. He decided to go ahead and do a biopsy, and we decided my visits need to be every three months in the future.
The day before yesterday, they called to inform me of the results. One of the areas was just an irritation from what was probably an ingrown hair. One, which was treated six months ago, and had reappeared turned out to be a squamous cell cancer (I figured it was) and another appointment was made to finish removing the cancer early next month. The mole result was a little of a gut punch. It's melanoma, which leads to an entire different approach.
My Moh's surgeon doesn't handle melanoma. I never asked why, but when asked during a visit, she told me she doesn't do them. After a referral, I was contacted by a doctor's office in Houston for scheduling a surgery. That happens next Wednesday.
So, to say I'm not a little freaked out is an understatement. My thoughts haven't been super positive; even with encouragement from my wife and family. We'll see how this all turns out, and what the future brings. I hope for the best, but other thoughts are creeping into my mind. Melanoma killed my mother three months after I was born. Of course, that was nearly seventy years ago, and treatments are far more advanced. Still, things may change rapidly, and my thoughts can shift into the darker range.
Understandably very concerning, Jess. Try to keep calm.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best.
Here's hoping you have caught it in time, and will heal quickly.
ReplyDeleteThank you both for the encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I may need them.
DeleteDitto; prayers up.
ReplyDeleteDave Drake
Thank you.
DeleteDo not forget the eyes. I used to schedule annual checkups. One year I had melanoma on left eye. Five months earlier, the checkup didn't see it.
ReplyDeleteThe eye surgeon said I would be dead with six months of I did nothing. My lil old country eye doc says he sees about 20 of these per year.
Since then I scheduled every 6 months for full exam.
I was at six months, but will now be at three months. I'm due for an eye exam.
DeleteOn a brighter note; the advances in medicine are tremendous and rapid. You're in good hands. Even in Rural, USA the Dr knows this stuff. In big city Houston you're good.
ReplyDeleteLast year I had what you're going through. All went well. Skin recovery was the most 'problematic'. It took several months to completely heal. No pain. Very little discomfort. Slight itching was all.
The nurse that called said the Moh's procedure for melanoma takes longer than for Basil, or Squamous cell. Tomorrow is the day, and what I'm dreading more is dealing with Houston traffic at rush hour.
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