Biopsy Results

basal cell

The dermatology office called yesterday with my biopsy results. To no one's surprise, both of them came back positive for basal cell carcinoma. My dermatologist is quite accurate in determining which of my spots requires a biopsy. She only missed once, resulting in a biopsy that was negative. I'd rather her err on the side of caution rather than overlook something bad.

With the latest two biopsies, I have now had 22 basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas. Ugh! For the one on my arm, she can do an ED&C as she has for the last four basal cells. However, the spot on my left temple is too large for that procedure. The two options I was given for removal are Mohs surgery and radiation therapy. This is the first time I have been offered radiation. It is not done in the office closest to me, which makes this option inconvenient. It would require me to come in three times a week for seven weeks. Wow! I just don't see making that work with my schedule. I told the gal on the phone that I would opt for the Mohs procedure. Unfortunately the doctor who did my previous Mohs is no longer with the practice, so I'm not sure who will do the surgery. I will ask that of the scheduler when she calls me back to set my appointments.

More Biopsies

more skin cancer

Last week I had my six month checkup with my dermatologist, and as expected needed a couple more biopsies. At my last visit she was going to biopsy the spot at my left temple, but because I was going somewhere tropical where I would be snorkeling, she said I could wait until this visit for the procedure to be done. I also had another spot on the back of my right arm that I wanted her to look at as well. It is very near the location of my last basal cell removal.

She did both of the biopsies, and also used liquid nitrogen on a few spots both on my face and my right neck. At this visit, she brought up the option of using blue light therapy on my face in the future. Apparently at the office they apply a photosensitizing agent to your face, and then you wait an hour before placing your face in a light box. Supposedly the blue light only has an effect on sun damaged areas of the face, such as precancerous cells. The reaction is like a sunburn, and you must stay totally out of the sun for a couple of days. Healing can take 1-2 weeks, and my doctor suggested a series of three sessions spaced at a month or so apart. 

This is definitely something I will need to think about. First of all, I need to see if my insurance will cover the procedure. I suspect with my skin cancer history they will likely approve the procedure, especially if it will prevent some future skin cancer removals. But also, when would be a good time to start this process? We have a lot of activities coming up, so this may be something I put off until 2026.

Another thing that I have going on is a lump on the palm of my right hand. I have had it for quite a while, and believed that it was just a callous from my pickleball paddle. But it has been changing, and now has some lines coming off the top of the lump. So I asked the dermatologist to take a look as I wanted to make sure it was not a tumor. She immediately said, "You need to see a hand surgeon." I know I looked at her in surprise, and she added that I have trigger finger. She gave me a referral for a hand surgeon.

Dupuytren Contracture?

Monday I will call for an appointment, but I have shown my palm to multiple nurses in my community. They all said the same thing - that's Dupuytren Contracture. In looking at photos of this condition online, I have to think that my ladies are correct. We'll see what the expert has to say about it. Hopefully this will not require surgery.

In the meantime I have to wait on my biopsy results. It has taken as long as two weeks for this lab work to come back. My dermatologist has been very accurate in predicting which things on my skin are cancerous. I have no doubt she was correct on these two as well.

North Myrtle Beach Part 3

The last part of our North Myrtle Beach vacation was just the two of us. We played quite a bit of pickleball, finding the people and level of play to be quite good at Central Park. The four courts are located on an old ice skating rink, which was interesting. It brought back memories of early days in Webster Groves when our outdoor courts were also on the old ice/roller hockey rink. It was a little tight, but doable.

One day we took a drive to Conway, SC as I had read there was a pretty walk along the Waccamaw River there. The drive wasn't too bad until we got near Conway, and then the traffic crawled along. We never did see what the issue was. We did have a nice hike there, and the boardwalk was lovely.

Conway, SC

Probably our favorite part of the whole trip was going to see Brookgreen Gardens. The sculpture park, preserve and low country zoo are located on 9,100 acres. It took us about 45 minutes to get there, and we arrived just as the gates opened at 9:30. The day was pretty hot, which was unfortunate, but we so enjoyed exploring the gardens, seeing all the phenomenal sculptures, and visiting the zoo (which was comprised of animals native to the area who are being rehabilitated). We miss the Missouri Botanical Gardens so much, and these gardens brought a little bit of home back to us.

Brookgreen Gardens

We wrapped up the rest of time in North Myrtle Beach by visiting another preserve, going to the Cherry Grove Pier and taking in one last concert the night before we were heading back to Charlotte. Overall the trip was great, but I would avoid going back there during the summer due to the crowds and the heat.

North Myrtle Beach scenes