Mile #10 Keeping It Simple

It is Tuesday again. Today, 10/22/13, is another surgery day. Wouldn't you know it I woke up in my sassy pants. Why does that matter you ask. My surgeon comes up to me upon my arrival and asks me to not be too bossy today as he has a resident with him. He's kind of joking but mostly serious.

For those of you who know me. I can be "interesting" when challenged. I did behave. I simply tell the doctor that from the chin up is off limits. When he asks if I want to skip a surgery all together today I tell him if that was my preference I would be home instead of driving 60 miles to smile at him. I will say it is the best time I have had on a surgery day.

Enough about me being silly. We did agree to do 4 smaller spots on my neck. Barring a catastrophe I could leave with stitches.

Right Neck Mile #10

Right Neck before sutures

 

Left Neck Mile #10

Left Neck before sutures

One stage and done on all four spots. It takes longer to close everything up (the resident gets to practice) than the rest of the procedure and pathology. I am truly thankful for the break.

Next week I consult the eye specialist. There is no denying it now. The cancer on my eyelids will be addressed in November. This is the part of this race I really never wanted to reach. Miles 11 and 12 will be my eyes if the scheduling comes together like the doctors want.

Left Neck after sutures

Right Neck after sutures

I am still beyond thrilled with the healing of previous surgeries. The previous miles disappear more every day. Both areas from Mile #9 are gellin. Like previous miles at this stage I am able to shower without bandages. Cleaning the wounds in the shower eliminates over 10 minutes of bandaging time. Both areas of Mile #9 can be covered with 2x3 inch bandages.

Mile #9 Right Side

Mile #9 Left Side

My husband is the resident photographer. He is awed at how my body heals itself and the morphing shapes of my wound sites. At least one of us is entertained. Until we meet again know that I am sleeping soundly in my own bed. Stitches are truly my best friend.

The Crawl to Mile #10

To this point I have tried to at least do weekly updates. My surgeries take place every other Tuesday.  Mile #9 kind of knocked me off that schedule.  In fact it kicked my butt!!  You saw the pictures in my 10/11 post.  This is what happened post surgery.

My surgeon and I agreed on 2 spots as we thought the left side might bless us with stitches. Once again I find I am writing the book on how Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome behaves. Nothing is as it seems. Once you meet the scalpel for the day your are committed to see it to the end.

I managed to sleep in my bed for about 6 hours. By that time any remnants of local anesthetic was gone. So off to my chair and ottoman I went. By Wednesday morning I was taking two pain pills every 4 hours to dull the roar in my head.  I thought a couple of days of this and I should pass the worst of the pain.  Wrong.

Early Saturday morning I text my surgeon. I apologize for not contacting him by Thursday. Then I essentially beg for better pain medicines. He doubles the strength I am on and still allows me to double up on those every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

Saturday evening is my first pain free night. Pain free does not mean I am able to sleep with any sort of pressure on my head. Any attempt at that and the little jackhammer gremlin go into overdrive.

Sunday morning brought another twist to the party. Pain medicine is producing nausea and sleeping upright left my ankles the same size as my knees. So I introduce an anti nausea agent to the party. Then Sunday evening I build a pyramid on my ottoman to try and keep my ankles above my heart.

Monday what relief I could wear shoes again. Still puffy but not elephant like. And by the end of the day I am on two pain pills every six hours instead of four. Thank you Jesus we are headed in the right direction.

Tuesday, and we are midway to mile 10. So here's how the previous miles looked on Wednesday 10/16/13.
 

Miles #1, #2 and #5

Miles #3, #7 and #9 left

Miles #2 and  #6

Mile #9 Right rear scalp

Thursday comes and I am down to 1 pain pill, all be it the stronger dose, every 6 hours. Still sleeping in my chair. Friday and Saturday are pretty much the same. 

Saturday, 10/19/13, I notice the little jackhammer gremlin has not made an appearance. I know a lot of people say sleep is over rated and that may be true. However, sleep in a chair for 10 days and then your bed becomes heaven on earth. I slept almost 12 hours once I got into bed. I texted my pastor between services to let him know the good news. I did not make it to church Sunday morning. I did however feel like a new woman.

Monday comes and I am only needing regular Tylenol to keep comfortable. Pray for me, Tuesday is another surgery day.  


Take away nugget: There are two things you cannot change, Yesterday and Tomorrow. Be Present in your life.

Cancer...A Family Story... Part 2

Previously you met my Uncle Don. Today I want to introduce you to my Uncle Ray, "Unc" as I call him. Yes, I am going to talk about skin cancer again.

Unc is a different breed. He's a Vietnam vet. He has lived his life with love, integrity and a take no prisoners attitude. He makes no excuses for who he is or how he lives his life. You always know where you stand with him. It is actually very refreshing. In today's America the average person is rushed, hushed and too busy trying to "get there" to stand for anything.

It has been over 40 years since he noticed the little bump on his arm. For years it stayed the same and everyone assumed it was a cyst or in grown hair. Then it started getting  bigger and got tender.

He made an appointment with his doctor. She thought it was a cyst. Unc and his doctor decided to drain it or remove it. Once the doctor cut into it, they both realized it was not just a cyst. Unc says it looked like tapioca. The decision was made to remove it flat to the surface and send the contents to the pathology lab. The local hospital was Wichita, Kansas. The lab there assumed it was melanoma. The sample was then sent to the at KU Medical school lab . That lab also assumed it was a melanoma. Neither facility could 100% verify what type, grade or stage the sample was. The sample then got a ride to the labs in Berkley. It was Berkley that diagnosed it as a rare melanoma. Unc followed up with a plastic surgeon to remove the remainder of the tumor. The tumor had grown down his arm about 7 inches and had not visibly metastasized. The doctors recommended one year  of chemotherapy as a precautionary measure. So Unc drove three times a week to Wichita for his shot. He lost a lot of weight but none of his spirit.

Yet another case of something that did not belong but had not caused concern. You know my mantra by now. ABC...Always Biopsy to be Certain.

Take away nugget: A bad attitude is like a flat tire. you can't go anywhere until you change it.

Mile # 9 with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome

I made it through another Mile. WooHoo!! All you marathoners out there should have warned me about the challenges you hit at each mile. Mile #8 was definitely a (birthday) gift.

My surgeon and I are wanting to get my face and head cleared up by the end of the year. We discuss a plan to do that.  Next year begins reconstruction and my torso.

To keep on schedule I agreed to do two spot on my scalp today.   So one on the left and one on the right it is.  My goal for now is to stop over thinking. Or even thinking too far ahead.

Mile #7 (top) Mile #3 (bottom)

Lets talk about the status of Mile #7 first. The greenish spot to the right is an area that was trying to scab over. My surgeon cleaned this off. He says it does not hurt anything but can lead to excessive scaring. Mile #7 is at the top and Mile #3 is at the bottom, loads of new skin. Yeah!! Not sure how much change there is from last post. Look through the archives of my blog if you want to compare.










On to Mile #9.  This is the left side. Before surgery the spot is a little bigger than a dime and has been aggravated.

Mile #9 Left side Before

Mile #9 Left side After

 After 5 stages this is what we ended up with. The wound is a little over 2 inches in diameter.

Hallelujah it is clear of cancer all around.










 The right side surgery site is a little over an inch long.   After three stages we opted to stop on the area for the day. There is still cancer down towards the back of the ear and along the front of the ear.

Mile #9 Over Right Ear After

Mile #9 Over Right Ear Before

 Another reason to not put off treatment, the top almost merged with Mile #7 which you can see in the upper left of the 'after' picture.

Like I keep saying, if there is something abnormal on your body get rid of it.

Take away nugget: Don't be trapped in the wilderness of thinking! Be Content, Be Happy and Be On Purpose.

Post Op with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome

It's a week out of Mile #8. More Basal Cell gone. Lots of new skin.This morning there is no sign of stitches under my eye or along my jaw. That makes me do the happy dance.


I am sorry the pictures are only ones their owner could love. Each picture represents a step closer to being cleaned up from this mess. I am truly thankful for everyone's support through this. Open dialogue has made everyday brighter. Since I first heard the words Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome times have changed immensely. The internet and social media make getting accurate information so much easier and quicker.

Mile #3 (bottom) and Mile #7 (top)

Mile #3 is surrounded with approximately 1/2 inch of new skin. Mile #3 can go naked now except while sleeping. All wound sites are covered to eliminate the new skin getting damaged from bedding. Mile #7 is finally getting to the gellin stage and I can shower without a bandage. There are at least two spots visible in this picture that still have to be removed. One is directly over the earpiece of my glasses and the other is just inside the shaved area down from the back edge of Mile #7.





Mile #2 (top out of frame), Mile #6 (above glasses) and Mile #8 (along the jaw)

Mile#2 is all new skin yet very pink.  Mile #6 is past gellin and just mildly tacky it can go naked now as well. Mile #8 is absolutely beautiful. This is why I love love love stitches. My body heals from them within seven days. It is still tight and slightly puckered. Mile #8 is naked all the time.

Mile #1, Mile #2 and Mile #5

Above my earpiece is a spot of Basal that has yet to be removed. Mile #2 is the skinny fading scar along my jaw. I still butter everything that is completely covered with new skin. Mile #1 is my nose and it is still tight and drawn up from the new skin. Mile #5 is my cheek and only two of the three wound sites are even visible. 

In my next update I will include a picture of Mile #4. My chin is completely healed  and getting buttered every day. If you did not know better you would mistake it for a dimple. My brothers have dimples in their chins. We may finally have some sort of resemblance. LOL for those who know us all.

Take away nugget:  Information becomes Revelation by Meditation. Your brain is your on-board computer. What are you programming into it for your life?