Hopefully it means no one else has been diagnosed with cancer. It has been a helpful thread for me too, but I have chosen not to dwell on it anymore. Now on to my arthritis.How have you been Phil?
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I meant to share my happy news on this thread. April 2016 I went for my usual check up at the dermatologist. Dr checked me out & said all good! We still have spots that she (and iI) have to watch, but I have been moved from 3 month check ups, to 6 month check ups and finally, she said, "I will see you in a year"
If anyone here doesn't know what my celebration about, brief overview, May 2014, I had a routine biopsy done of a mole on my face. Not the 1st, and I'm told not the last. I was 43 years old and less than a week after the biopsy, they told me it was basal cell carcinoma. The dermatologist had cut off all she could. They told me I had to go asap for MOHS surgery. I quickly researched my options, the procedure, set up vacation time with my employer and went and got the surgery. Something's in life you can never prepare for. I can't convey all the images locked in my brain forever The worst is the massive hole they cut in my face & the look of panic I will never forget in my plastic surgeon's eyes when she seen the hole. She said she had never seen a patient so young and my skin was not as "forgiving and stretchy" as her typical patients as she was tugging on my check. Also the look on DHs face when they told him how the plastic surgeon had to cut me here, here, here as they drew with sharpie makers on my face. After he walked back to the waiting room, the surgeon said very sternly to "Stop crying! This is a sterile environment! " then she had her assistant change or cover my neck area again. Blood and tears.
The next few weeks the pain was excruciating, I couldn't eat, sleep, smile. The pain lasted, but eventually subsided. 2years later, I still get twinges of pain, tightness when I laugh or smile, veins shooting out, reminding me that the sun is not my friend. I know that a lot of you here have, and are still going thru far worse than I did. I do worry everyday. I have at least one "new mole" pop up somewhere every month. I wear sunscreen and hats. I am also aware that many people have no concept of the dangers of skin cancer. I am just here for support should anyone need it as well. I pray for you all and have met some friends here thru the years. Here is a pic of me days after the surgery. I never thought it would heal. People looked at me like I was a monster. I worked in the eye of the public and everyone gasped at the sight and asked what happened. I was not allowed to cover the wound because it caused excessive swelling.
This is a pic of me a year later.....I look about the same today. I am very thankful to God and the surgeons and the Cincinnati Skin Cancer Center.
and the importance of sunscreen.
@Outpost JWB I was drawn to this thread today for some reason and when I saw your post, I knew why. I found a suspicious mole on my shoulder about 4 years ago and had it checked out by the doctor, who said I can "have it removed if (I) wanted to" He wasn't overly concerned, so of course I chose the easiest path and left it. Fast forward 3 years, last year November the mole got itchy, so I checked it out, for the first time since I spotted it all that time ago. I usually had my DH keep an eye on it for changes. I was horrified to see how much it grew. Thankfully I went to a wonderful doctor this time, who took one look at it and got me an appointment with a dermatologist within days.I meant to share my happy news on this thread. April 2016 I went for my usual check up at the dermatologist. Dr checked me out & said all good! We still have spots that she (and iI) have to watch, but I have been moved from 3 month check ups, to 6 month check ups and finally, she said, "I will see you in a year"
If anyone here doesn't know what my celebration about, brief overview, May 2014, I had a routine biopsy done of a mole on my face. Not the 1st, and I'm told not the last. I was 43 years old and less than a week after the biopsy, they told me it was basal cell carcinoma. The dermatologist had cut off all she could. They told me I had to go asap for MOHS surgery. I quickly researched my options, the procedure, set up vacation time with my employer and went and got the surgery. Something's in life you can never prepare for. I can't convey all the images locked in my brain forever The worst is the massive hole they cut in my face & the look of panic I will never forget in my plastic surgeon's eyes when she seen the hole. She said she had never seen a patient so young and my skin was not as "forgiving and stretchy" as her typical patients as she was tugging on my check. Also the look on DHs face when they told him how the plastic surgeon had to cut me here, here, here as they drew with sharpie makers on my face. After he walked back to the waiting room, the surgeon said very sternly to "Stop crying! This is a sterile environment! " then she had her assistant change or cover my neck area again. Blood and tears.
The next few weeks the pain was excruciating, I couldn't eat, sleep, smile. The pain lasted, but eventually subsided. 2years later, I still get twinges of pain, tightness when I laugh or smile, veins shooting out, reminding me that the sun is not my friend. I know that a lot of you here have, and are still going thru far worse than I did. I do worry everyday. I have at least one "new mole" pop up somewhere every month. I wear sunscreen and hats. I am also aware that many people have no concept of the dangers of skin cancer. I am just here for support should anyone need it as well. I pray for you all and have met some friends here thru the years. Here is a pic of me days after the surgery. I never thought it would heal. People looked at me like I was a monster. I worked in the eye of the public and everyone gasped at the sight and asked what happened. I was not allowed to cover the wound because it caused excessive swelling.
This is a pic of me a year later.....I look about the same today. I am very thankful to God and the surgeons and the Cincinnati Skin Cancer Center.
