surgery update

My surgery went very well!

Only two excisions were needed.

The cancer had gone quite deep and some

precancerous cells were also found.

My scar is about an inch long.

But the doctor was able to sew me up, which isn't always the case.

So I was happy.

There was some swelling for the first several days, but

icing every hour really helped.

I still cannot exercise or do any lifting until next week.

I am having the stitches removed on Tuesday.

And we will talk about when to begin

treatment for the precancerous cells.

Which will include chemotherapy cream.

All in all, I am happy with the results of the surgery!

Now if only people would stop staring at me in public.

One guy even asked me what happened while I was with my husband.

He looked at me with a "likely story" look on his face.

I get so many stares!  What do they think happened, I wonder?

 

Thanks, Nicola for your concern!!

 

 



skin cancer

So... I have skin cancer.

I have one on my face and one on my arm.

They are both basal cell carcinoma.

The one on my arm is not very deep.  I am having it

removed July 12.

The one on my face is a different story.

I have had it for several years and that is not good.

It was just a flesh-colored bump with an indent in the center.

No strange color or texture.

I had no idea it could be skin cancer.

Basal cell invades other tissue under the skin so we won't

know where the cancer has travelled until they perform the surgery on

August 21.  It is a special surgery for skin cancer called

Mohs surgery.  Layers of skin are removed one at a time and checked by a

pathologist in the office until there are no more cancer cells

visible.  It can be an all day procedure.

But, there is a 99% or above success rate of removal.

I am terrified.

I am trying to stay upbeat.

I found out last Tuesday, my poor husband's birthday.

I got the call about an hour before his family was coming over to

celebrate.  It was not fun. 

So, for now I wait for my surgeries.

That will be the hard part.

Waiting...