Surgery Number One Done

Wednesday I saw my dermatologist for an ED&C, the procedure she uses for removal of small basal cell carcinomas. She's done a few on me in the past, including one in March on a basal cell that was near the one she removed this week on my right arm.

The procedure itself is not too bad, once you get over the sting of the lidocaine shot. The whole thing only took about 10 minutes. For me the issue is my allergic reaction to anything with adhesive. They want me to keep this covered for two weeks, and that will definitely be a challenge. I have tried every type of bandage out there, including the so-called sensitive skin ones. They all make me itch and break out. 

Last night I put on a gauze pad and wrapped an elastic bandage around my arm to hold it in place. It held up pretty well, but even the elastic bandage irritated my skin a bit. I'm going to try a different brand tonight and see if that works better.

My Mohs surgery for the basal cell on my left temple is scheduled for September 25th. That one will take several hours as they remove tissue, wait for it to be read by a pathologist, and then take more as needed. I'm definitely not looking forward to that, and pray that the doctor will get it all in one or two tries. It was really unnerving when it took five attempts to get all the cancer on my nose in 2019.

Also on Wednesday I had my annual mammogram. I had to go to a different radiology center as my insurance changed January 1. The office was very efficient, and I was in and out in no time. Now I just have to wait for the pathology report.

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.

ED&C Number 4

basal cell removal

On Wednesday I had my fourth Electrodesiccation and Curettage (ED&C) performed to remove the basal cell carcinoma from my right arm - my 20th skin cancer surgery to date. As I have posted in the past, the dermatologist scrapes off the top layer of cells with a curette until healthy cells are revealed. Then an electrocautery device is used to apply small amounts of electricity to the treated surface to burn away any remaining cancer cells. This is performed as a less invasive cancer removal option.

As with every time, they bandaged the spot before I left. And as with every time, the skin in the area broke out in a rash due to my adhesive allergy. You technically don't need a bandage for the wound, but since I have to keep vaseline on it for two weeks, the bandage protects my clothes and sheets.

Today my arm is feeling sore and a little warm in the area of the excision. I have it totally uncovered except for the vaseline. I am a little concerned that it is getting infected. I'll keep an eye on it and call the doctor if necessary. Only once before has a skin cancer surgery resulted in an infection, so I guess I have been pretty lucky. I pray that my luck will hold in this case as well.

feeling lucky

While at the office I had the doctor treat two sun damaged spots on my lower lip with liquid nitrogen. She had done this once before in July of last year, but the spots came back. Does that ever hurt when she zaps them! So far they have not turned into large blisters like they did last time, but instead have gone directly to the draining stage. Hopefully this time will do the trick. 

Skin Cancer Number 20

skin cancer biopsy

Tuesday was my six month checkup with the dermatologist. Since I have had so many skin cancers, she has me come in every six months for a full body review. There was a pre-cancerous spot on my left arm that she zapped with liquid nitrogen, but also a spot on my right arm near the shoulder that she was concerned about. It looked suspiciously like the squamous cell she removed from my left arm last March. She removed a small piece for biopsy.

Surprisingly I received the path report this morning. That came back fast! It was indeed cancer, only this time an early basal cell. The doctor cannot fit me in until March 5th for removal of it. Because it is so small and a basal cell, she will again do an ED&C procedure to take it off and I won't require Moh's surgery. This makes skin cancer number 20, of which 4 were squamous cell and 16 basal cell. Early detection is the key here, but holy moly that is a lot of skin cancer!

What's Up, Doc?

biopsy

Yesterday was my regular six-month checkup with the dermatologist. She froze one spot on my right cheek that has been continually peeling. Unfortunately, she also saw a spot on my right shoulder that she felt should be biopsied. That wouldn't have been too bad except it is right where my bra strap sits. I am highly sensitive to any adhesives, and I've yet to find any bandage that does not make my skin break out in an itchy rash. While the wound doesn't necessitate a bandage, the fact that I have to keep it smeared with vaseline and its location make it impossible not to keep it covered for a few days.

But I was most interested in hearing what the doctor thought about my lip situation. I showed her a photograph from when it looked its worst, and she does not think it is due to cold sores. She believes it is severe lip damage. I don't know what caused it to react so extreme as I wear a big-brimmed hat if I am going to be outside, as well as Z-Block on my lips. 

She wanted to use the liquid nitrogen on my lip, which she said would hurt and look bad for about a week. As we have company coming today, I did not have her do it. She said just schedule it when it's convenient for me. When would that be? When is it convenient to have your lip look awful for a week, and have issues eating and drinking??? In the meantime she called in a prescription for an ointment that should at least make the lip feel better until I can get that done.

Our community brought in a gal from the Carolina Raptor Center yesterday afternoon to talk about their organization as well as raptors we might see in our area. She was great and very enthusiastic about her job. What I wasn't expecting is that she would bring three birds with her. She also had talons, a small skull and bird wings to show us. It was a wonderful presentation, and well worth missing our normal Wednesday pickleball session.

Carolina Raptor Center

Another ED&C

squamous cell carcinoma

Yesterday I had another Electrodesiccation and Curettage (ED&C) performed to remove the squamous cell carcinoma from my left arm. Basically the dermatologist scrapes off the top layer of cells with a curette until healthy cells are revealed. Then an electrocautery device is used to apply small amounts of electricity to the treated surface to burn away any remaining cancer cells. I believe this also helps to stop the bleeding.

ED&Cs are used instead of Mohs surgery when the basal or squamous cells are smaller, newer growths. The procedure has a 96% success rate. It only took my doctor about fifteen minutes, and because no stitches are needed I don't have to go back until my next regular checkup, which is in four months. The downside of having no stitches, though, is that it will not heal as quickly. 

While I do not have to keep a bandage on it, obviously I don't want to get the vaseline and/or any drainage on my clothes or sheets. However, I am allergic to every bandage out there, and they make me itch and break out in red dots. The paper tape does the same thing, so I can't even cover it with gauze and use tape. I am compromising by keeping a bandage off while I am in the house and wearing a short-sleeved top. Hopefully this one will heal quicker than the ones on my neck did so I can forgo the bandages. 

Squeamish over Squamous

squamous cell carcinoma

My biopsy report came back Wednesday, and as expected the spot on my arm was positive for cancer. This time it is another squamous cell. Of my 19 skin cancer diagnoses, 4 have been squamous cell and the rest have been basal cell.

Dr. Seminara offered me two choices for taking care of this spot. The first is to do an ED&C like she did to the two basal cells on my neck in April of last year. That was no fun since the cells are just scraped off and no stitches are given. They took quite a while to heal, and as I am allergic to the adhesive in bandages that made dealing with open wounds problematic. The second choice is to do a deep burn on the spot with liquid nitrogen followed by a topical skin cancer cream. The success rate is in the 96th percentile with the first option and in the 84th percentile with the second. 

On one other occasion I was prescribed a topical cancer cream to use on my forehead. Let alone making my forehead swell so much I could barely see, it burned a lot and made me sicker than a dog. I thought I had the flu until my husband pointed out that I was sick on each day I used the cream, but started feeling better on the off days of usage. Based on that experience, I am opting to go with the ED&C again. I am waiting on the dermatology scheduling department to call me and set the appointment.

In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy watching the sun from the shade of my back porch.

Mountain Island Lake

The Dark Side of the Sun

sun damage

When I was growing up we played outside all the time. After all, there was no air conditioning in the house, so at least being outdoors with friends made us forget the heat. There was also no sunblock available, at least at my house. Through the years my skin has had a lot of exposure to the sun, and I have been paying for it since I got my first skin cancer diagnosis in 1992. 

Last week I went in for my six month checkup. One of the spots the doctor had frozen at my last visit has disappeared, which was great news. I pointed out some trouble spots to her, and she froze four on my right hand and one on my left temple. The temple one will bear watching. But she took a biopsy of a spot on my left arm above my elbow. 

I should have gotten the results by now, but I guess the lab is backed up. I'd like to think no news is good news, but she has been spot on (pardon the pun) when it comes to calling what she thinks is a skin cancer. But I can still hope she is wrong, I guess.

Though I am diligent now with applying sunscreen and wearing a big hat, I can't undo the damage that was done in the past. I just have to accept these continuing skin cancers as a part of my life. And hope that this one isn't number 19 for me.

More Basal Cell Surgery

basal cell surgery

Yesterday the dermatologist performed an ED&C to remove the two basal cell carcinomas they found on my neck last month. Basically this involved them numbing the two spots, and then using a tool to scrape off the skin cells. She performed this procedure three times on each spot, using a cautery machine between each scraping to stem the bleeding. It really didn't take her too long, and the worst parts were the shots to numb the areas and the smell of something burning when she used the cautery machine.

The two spots were bandaged when she was done, and I reminded them that I have an allergy to the adhesive on bandages. This time they used gauze and some non-latex tape. I'm supposed to keep Vaseline and bandages on for two weeks, but I doubt I'll be able to tolerate that even with the new tape. She said as long as I keep the spots moist with Vaseline, the bandage really doesn't matter. I suspect they are really to protect my clothes from the ointment, as well as the sores from being rubbed by my clothes.

I haven't removed the bandages yet as I am going out to dinner and to a play with a few of my female pickleball players from the neighborhood. I wasn't sure I would be able to secure the gauze as well as the nurse did. I'll definitely do it when I get home tonight though. It will be interesting to see what the wounds look like since I haven't had this procedure done before.

Keeping me in Stitches

This morning I made an unplanned visit to the plastic surgeon. The smaller of the two basal cell surgical spots in my scalp had begun to bleed. As I am 8 weeks post surgery, this is really surprising. The wounds had been healing nicely, and I even colored my hair with no problem a couple weeks ago. The only thing that had been bothering me was the dissolvable stitches that were popping up through my scalp.

I called the office when I noticed the discharge, and they told me to come right in. The technician clipped the stitches, and then took a scraping of the head wound. It will be sent to the lab to check for signs of infection. When the doctor was able to see me, he cleaned the wound up but didn't seem overly concerned. He said that because of my hair, it's likely that one of the hair follicles formed a pustule due to the dissolvable stitches and that it has erupted. He gave me a prescription for a topical antibiotic to put on the wound, but didn't want to start me on an oral antibiotic until the lab results come back. That might not be until next week, so I'm sure that's why he went ahead with a topical in the meantime.

By the time I got home, the wound was bleeding quite a bit. I know that head wounds have a tendency to do that. So I put a cold compress on it until it slowed, and then put an over the counter ointment on it to help stop the bleeding until my prescription is ready. This is the first time in the 15 skin cancers that I've had removed that there has been an issue, so I guess I can't complain. Hopefully the lab result is negative, and the topical ointment does the trick. 

Granddaughter is here!

Our granddaughter was born Monday evening! She is little, but mighty. As I'm not sure how much the kids want me to share, I'll just say that we are thrilled that everyone is healthy. We can't wait to get our hands on that baby!

My Mohs surgery to remove my latest two basal cells has been scheduled for December 1st. I pray that Dr. Mu will be able to get clear margins after the first cuts. When she did my nose three years ago, it took five tries before she finally got it all. Hopefully that will not be the case this time.

The Mount Holly Lantern Parade took place last month, and our community won First Place in the Group Category for the second year in a row. We are two for two now, and that puts a lot of pressure on us for next year's entry. The theme was Written in the Stars, so we decided to up-cycle our minions from last year. We added space helmets, rockets and stars, and created a girl minion. We weren't sure if the judges would approve of us reusing lanterns, but I think we made enough changes that they could tell the amount of work we put into them.

2022 Mount Holly Lantern Parade

The theme for next year's parade is Heroes and Villains. We are already brainstorming on what we might like to do. Due to the large number of children in the audience, it's important to pick something readily recognizable to them, I think. The minions were a huge crowd pleaser, so we need something to generate that kind of enthusiasm from the crowd. We just had a wrap up celebration party with our team of volunteers. I made sure the minions had one last hurrah by bringing minion cupcakes.

minion cupcakes

More Skin Cancer

The dermatology office called to say that both of the biopsies taken last week are basal cell carcinomas. These are my 15th and 16th skin cancers. Ugh! We do not have a family history of basal or squamous cell carcinomas, and I was not out in the sun more than any other kids growing up in the 60s and 70s. I always say I wear my Irish heritage proudly with the red cast in my hair and my freckles, but it stinks that my skin has to suffer for it.

Now I have to wait for the scheduling office to call and see when they can get me in. With our granddaughter making her big debut next week, it will take some planning to coordinate when I want to have the surgeries done. Since these are very slow growing cancers, it won't be a huge rush. Celebrating my first time as a grandma is going to take precedence for sure!

Taking Care of Business During COVID

 

It was time for my six month skin cancer appointment, and I greatly debated whether or not I should go. After all, I wasn't seeing any new spots that I was concerned about. But with my history of basal and squamous cells - 14 of them to date! - I was justifiably concerned about putting it off. And frankly, as I mentioned in the last post, there is no end in sight for this pandemic. So I kept the appointment, keeping in mind that if I did not feel the waiting area was being handled safely, I would just leave.

Arriving at the office a few minutes early, I was immediately greeted by a masked nurse. She asked me a few pointed questions about whether I had tested positive for COVID, had I been around anyone who had the virus, was I feeling sick, etc. She then took my temperature before letting me further into the waiting room to sign in. Only four patients were allowed in the room at a time, and we were all more than 6 feet apart and appropriately masked.

Any additional patients who arrived were handled the same way by the nurse, but then were asked to remain outside until they were called. One older woman did answer affirmatively to the question about having COVID, so she had followup questions. How long ago did she test positive? Answer, July 2nd. Was she recovered? Answer, yes. Did she have a followup COVID test done? Yes, July 16th and it was negative. Whew, she was safe to be in the building!

The nurse who came to get me was masked, as was the doctor when she entered my exam room. She asked that I leave my mask on until she told me to remove it. The last thing she did was check my face, and I removed my mask and held my breath as requested while she did this exam. With my mask firmly back in place, I got the good news that she didn't see anything suspicious. Woo, hoo!

Another piece of business that has been hanging over us is getting North Carolina titles, registrations and plates for our vehicles. You must first get your drivers license before you can take care of the rest. We did that in June. The governor had issued five month extensions on all licenses and plates due to COVID, so we were not in a rush to get the plates. They do not issue appointments for plates, unlike for drivers licenses, and we had heard tales of the long lines at the DMV offices.

We first had to get the change of title forms notarized, which is tricky as banks are not allowing customers inside their buildings and that is where we normally would go. Luckily a UPS store near us offers that service for $5 per document signed. We did that last Monday, and then Tuesday headed to the closest DMV office, which is in Huntersville. We arrived at 2:25 to find about 20 people in line ahead of us. Everyone was masked and maintained 6 feet of distance from each other.

It was sunny and hot, but fortunately after 15 minutes we moved enough to be in the shade of the building. It took 30 minutes to get into the building, as they took about 6 people at a time. Once inside, a lady ran through the now-familiar questions. Are you feeling sick? Do you have a fever? Have you been around anyone with COVID that you know of? Then we were directed to the appropriate line as they separate regular plate renewals from those who need titles and registrations as well. 

We ended up with a kind, patient woman who didn't get annoyed at the fact that we had two cars and a motorcycle she needed to process. She did look relieved by the fact that we had our titles already notarized, however. That saved her a step with each vehicle. We had everything we needed to get the job done, and were back at our car, new plates in hand, by 3:30. Not too bad!

Jim put all the plates on right away, and I have to say we now feel like North Carolinians with our Real IDs and appropriate license plates. 

More Skin Cancer

skin cancer removal

To add to the list of medical procedures I'm having done this week, yesterday I went to my plastic surgeon to have yet another suspicious spot removed from my forehead. It's one we have been watching for a bit, but as it has not responded to liquid nitrogen (it should blister and then peel, but it does nothing), the dermatologist said to was time to have it removed.

In checking my records I realized that I had not been to the plastic surgeon since September of 2016, so that actually is not too bad for me. Unfortunately this is my 14th skin cancer, if indeed the biopsy comes back positive. I have resigned myself to the fact that this is my life from now on, but I have been taking extra precautions with my skin so hopefully I won't have too many more that will need to be surgically removed.

I did not sleep well last night as the doctor told me to keep my head elevated to lesson the risk of bleeding. It hurts today, but not as much as yesterday. It should feel much better by tomorrow, which is good because I am volunteering at the Michelob Ultra Pickleball Tournament in the morning. It was supposed to be outside at Forest Park, but because rain from the hurricane is headed our way, it has been moved indoors. Unfortunately that means a 45 minute drive for me in the morning, and I have to be there by 7:00 a.m. It is the first sanctioned tournament to be held in St. Louis, so I am eager to see the 4.0 and 5.0 players in action once my volunteer work is finished.

On a more fun note, last weekend was Paint Louis 2018. This was an organized event allowing graffiti artists to legally spray paint the flood wall that runs along the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis. Hundreds of artists came from mostly around the Midwest, with live hip hop music adding to the party atmosphere. By the time we got down there Monday morning, most of the artists had packed up and left. But there were a few remaining, and it was interesting to talk to them about their work and the process they use in creating art to cover such a large space. Sadly, it won't last for long as other graffiti artists will come along and paint over what is already there. It is a constantly evolving work of art.

Paint Louis 2018

Burn, Baby, Burn

thermos

Yesterday was my semi-annual visit to the dermatologist for skin cancer screening. Since last year was a banner year with four basal cell carcinomas having to be surgically removed within a six month time frame, I wasn't sure what kind of report I would be getting. My doctor, ever optimistic (not!), always enters the exam room with a red plaid thermos filled with liquid nitrogen in hand. I'm old enough to remember the plaid metal lunchbox that came with this exact thermos. What a way to spoil a childhood memory!

The procedure is known as cryotherapy, because liquid nitrogen is extremely cold - at around negative 328 degrees Fahrenheit. Using an extra-long, cotton-tipped swab, the doctor places the liquid nitrogen for ten seconds or so on each spot on my skin that he deems suspicious. The affected skin is frozen, and forms a blister which eventually dries up and falls off. The hope is that all the pre-cancerous cells are killed, and that the remaining cells underneath are healthy. Yesterday I had 25 spots frozen. Yikes! But the good news is that only six of those were on my face, and the doctor was not alarmed by any of the spots that he saw. I'll take that news.

As someone who grew up before the advent of sunblock and spent long, summer days playing outside with my friends, I've had lots of exposure to the sun. Add in my light skin, blue eyes and the fact that I wear my Irish heritage proudly, and I am the poster child for skin cancer. As my doctor says, "You shouldn't walk from the house to your car without wearing sunblock". I try to be vigilant about this.

Onto a happier topic...This weekend we were blessed with incredible weather, particularly on Saturday. I knew that my husband would go out for a motorcycle ride, so I left the house early and drove to the Audubon Center at Riverlands. Many migratory birds stop here during the winter months, and January is usually a good time to see the trumpeter swans. I wrote about visiting the center last January (you can read the post here), and mentioned that there were way fewer birds on site than in 2015. This year I think there were less birds than in 2016. I'm not sure what that means, but it may have something to do with the fact that the weather has been a little milder. Maybe they just don't have to travel so far south to survive the winter. It was a little disappointing, though the sixty plus degree weather helped me get over it.

Audubon Center at Riverlands

Continuing on my drive, I crossed over into Illinois to travel on the River Road. I was hoping to spy some eagles. I saw one swooping down overhead as I was driving, but none in the trees. Normally drivers are pulling over to the side of the road to take photographs or look through binoculars, but that didn't happen either. Driving through Grafton, I saw several cars turning down a side street. Following them, I finally saw an eagle high in a tree. The other photographers there said the eagle had been in the same spot for at least an hour. I snapped off a few photos of the eagle, and then caught this unusual bird formation in the sky. Doesn't it look like a fish?

eagle

The Loading Dock

As luck would have it, my husband and his friend were also traveling on the River Road, so we were able to meet up at The Loading Dock for lunch. It is located right on the river, and has a wonderful patio area. It was nice enough for us to sit outside while we were eating. Following lunch, they continued north and I headed south for home.

On Sunday, Jim and I took our first walk around the neighborhood together since losing Kirby. It was strange not to have him with us, but as each "first" passes, things get easier and easier. I'm sure he walked with us in spirit.

Kirby

Skin Cancer Strikes Again!

When I saw my dermatologist (Dr. S.) in late July for my normal (if anything about my skin can be considered normal) six month check-up, I mention that a spot on my upper right chest had not responded well to the cryosurgery he had been doing on it each time I came in. He said it was time for me to see the plastic surgeon again. I would say it was past time, actually. I rely on him to tell me when it is time to get things surgically removed, but in light of recent developments I can see that I will have to be more assertive. Dr. S. then proceeded to burn about 13 spots on my head, chest (including two above the spot I believed to be skin cancer), back, shoulders and arms, and I booked an appointment with the plastic surgeon (Dr. R.) Between his schedule and the trip we had planned to Seattle, I could not get the surgery done until September 16th.

When I arrived at Dr. R.'s office, I also asked him about a tiny spot on my shoulder that had also not responded to the liquid nitrogen. Typically, a benign area will crust over and peel following treatment, whereas skin cancer spots essentially stick their tongues out at the doctor and do nothing. Dr. R. agreed that the small spot looked like a basal cell to him. But he was also concerned about two other spots above the growth on my chest that he was going to remove. He referred to it as a multi focal cancer, meaning the additional two had popped out as a result of the first one. He did not use the word "metastasis", which was somewhat comforting. But this was certainly a first for me. He decided to take all three of the spots in one incision. Needless to say, that was a little more involved than I was expecting, and will result in a longer scar. After that procedure, removing the one on my shoulder was a piece of cake. That made me realize I need to get into the plastic surgeon much sooner than my dermatologist is referring me. Dr. R. also suggested that I might need to go see Dr. S. more often than every six months. Yippee...

There was some pain that afternoon and a little on Saturday, but nothing like when I had the two removed from my forehead earlier this year. In fact, I felt good enough to go and photograph migrating pelicans with my friend Sunday morning.

Unlike any incisions Dr. R. makes on my forehead, these two incisions were covered with bandages so I didn't need to worry about clothes rubbing on them or dirt blowing in them. I have to wait for the bandages to come off on their own, and am not supposed to be doing any exercise or movement that may stretch the incisions. The biopsy reports came back that the ones on my chest were basal cells, but the small one on my shoulder was just a mole. That surprised me, as I have many moles and none of them look like that one did. But I would rather err on the side of caution at this point.

Silver Games pickleball

In light of the exercise restrictions, it was a good thing that I scheduled my surgery for after the Silver Games in Washington, MO. I played in my first pickleball tournament on September 14th, playing ladies doubles with my friend Audrey and mixed doubles with my friend Leon. In both cases we only won one game out of three, but we had a lot of fun despite the disorganization of the tournament. We arrived at the sports center at 12:00, and games were supposed to begin at 12:30. In fact, they did not begin until 1:00, and Leon and I did not finish our last game until 10:00 that night. Frankly, by then we did not really care if we won or loss. But it was still pretty fun to hang out with many of my pickleball friends for the day.

me & Leon

Audrey & me

Mini Facelift for a Cause

March 7

On March 7th, following two weeks of celebrating Jim's big milestone with a cruise and company, I went under the knife to remove the two skin cancers on my head. The plastic surgeon began with the one on my temple as he deemed it the "simpler" of the two. For whatever reason, it takes a lot of local anesthesia to numb anything on me. The shots to deaden the area are no fun, but they beat the alternative. Except that I felt him cutting the first spot. Yelping in pain, he quickly gave me another shot. Yay. The removal went quickly, but the stitching seemed to take forever. Why does it feel as though your skin is being pulled 10 inches away from your face? It doesn't hurt, exactly, but it kind of makes me sick to my stomach.

Moving on to the second one, which was centered on my upper forehead but extending into the hairline, he commented on the amount of nerve endings in that part of your head. "This will be painful," he predicted. I could tell the second cut was larger than the first by the amount of stitches he put in. How does that old song go? "The first cut is the deepest?" Not so, mister songwriter.

Things didn't look or feel too bad when I first got home from the doctor's office. But then the anesthesia began to wear off, and boy howdy! I was allowed to take Extra Strength Tylenol, but not aspirin. And then the cuts began to bleed some. Because they hurt so much, I did not touch them. The post-op instructions say to wash the wounds with soap and water several times a day. No way was I touching them. Needless to say, I did not get too much sleep that night.

March 8

The next day I attempted to wash the wounds despite the pain, and honestly I thought I was going to pass out. I had to lie down between each one. As I mentioned these are my 9th and 10th skin cancers, but I have never had any that hurt me this badly. It may have been a mistake to have both done at the same time as they were competing for the same skin on my forehead, which was stretched super-tight. I think that combined with the swelling added to the discomfort. There was little sleep on night two either.

It took several days before I was no longer taking Tylenol every four hours. The surgeon actually called me on Thursday the 10th to let me know that he had the pathology report. Both of the lesions were basal cell carcinoma, and he had gotten clean margins on them. I was so concerned that he would have to go back in, but this was overall really good news. If you have to get skin cancer, at least basal cell is the least invasive. He asked about the pain level, and I told him it was still pretty bad. He said he wasn't a bit surprised because of all the nerve endings he disturbed.

March 16

I did not even leave the house except for small walks with the dog until Friday, and then only because I needed food. Jim's aunt had died earlier in the week, so he drove up to Iowa to get his dad and sister to take them to the funeral in South Dakota. He wasn't home to help me out, so if I wanted to eat, I had to go to the store. I slapped a bandage over the most offensive looking wound so I wouldn't scare small children, and headed to the grocery store. It was so sweet because the bagger was all concerned about what had happened to me. I suppose I looked like I had been in a car accident or something.

By the end of the weekend I was able to take long walks with the dog again as my face didn't get jarred with every step I took. But it took until the next Saturday before the rest of the dried blood came off and I could use my bangs to cover up the surgical sites.

March 20

At the end of the day, I am grateful that this is only basal cell carcinoma and that I have health insurance and the means to be able to get rid of the cancer. But like Cher says, "If I could turn back time...", I'd erase the time I spent playing outside in the sun as a kid. All these cancer surgeries are a tough way to get a facelift!

Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Have Skin Cancer

When I was little, we played outside all day. Like many kids, we only had to be home when the street lights came on as the sun set. There was no such thing as sunblock and no one wore hats, so sunburns were a likely, if unwelcome, consequence of playing foursquare, hopscotch, and jump rope under the hot summer rays. I remember one summer when my arms burned so badly that my mom took me to the doctor. My second and third degree burns were coated in ointment and wrapped in plastic wrap. Can you imagine? The heat was trapped inside the plastic, and my skin continued to cook. That was the way burns were treated back then.

When I was a teenager I wanted to look cool like the other girls, so I spent my fair share of time baking in the sun in pursuit of the illusive tan. How silly was that for someone with blue eyes, pale skin, and Irish heritage? Burn, peel, repeat... I never got tan, so you would think I would have learned my lesson.

While I'd had a couple of suspicious moles removed in the mid-80s, it wasn't until 1992 that I received a diagnosis of skin cancer. CANCER - a word that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone who hears it uttered by their physician. I was 37 years old, and the first in my family to get skin cancer. The basal cell on my forehead was surgically removed in August of that year, with a second one (also located on my forehead) removed three months later. That was just the beginning, and through the years I have had six basal cell and two squamous cell carcinomas removed. All but one of those were located somewhere on my face.

Basal cell carcinomas are the most frequently occurring form of all skin cancers. More than one in three new cancers is a skin cancer, most frequently basal cell. About two million new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. The second most common form of skin cancer is squamous cell, with about 700,000 cases reported each year. Then there is melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Around 74,000 new cases are reported each year, along with 10,000 melanoma deaths.

three of the twenty burn spots

Every six months I see the dermatologist, and without exception there are always pre-cancerous spots that he treats with liquid nitrogen. This week there were a total of twenty locations that he burned. While it is not a pleasant experience, it beats the heck out of going to the surgeon to have them excised. Unfortunately, two spots on my forehead have not responded well to this treatment. It did not come as a surprise to me that the dermatologist referred me to a plastic surgeon for removal. I have seen enough of these to know that these are skin cancer. The only surprise is that I have managed to go ten years without having any growths removed.

The earliest the plastic surgeon can see me is the beginning of March, so I am scheduled for the surgery on March 7th. I wanted to get through Jim's big birthday weekend before having it done. I know that I have been phenomenally blessed that so far my skin cancers have only been basal cell or squamous cell. I am pleased that the same surgeon who removed the last three is still practicing. He does such a nice job, and people do not notice my scars unless I point them out. Here are the two bumps he will be removing.

skin cancer on center forehead

skin cancer on right forehead

So while it won't be fun, I hope and pray that these are the more minor forms of skin cancer. And that this is the only type of cancer that I ever have to deal with in my life.

To the parents and other child care providers out there, don't skip the sunblock on your wee ones. I know it takes time to put on and that they really just want to get outside to play or jump in the pool, but it is worth it if in the long run you can prevent them from having to go through what I and many other Americans suffer through with our sun-damaged skin. Don't let your babies grow up to be like me!