The bad news is that I have a skin cancer. It’s a basal cell carcinoma.
From everything I read, this is mostly good news, if you consider anything about cancer to be good news. Although I won’t really jump for joy until the thing is removed, the tests are done, and it’s shown that it’s really nothing more than one small spot… I’ve been more cautious about being in the sun these past few years, since my father had a melanoma removed. That’s the skin cancer word you DON’T want to hear. Basically, if they catch that one early enough, you’re perfectly fine. If they don’t you’ll probably die. Nothing like clear choices in life.
They caught my father’s early, and he’s absolutely fine. But it was a terrifying thing to
Several months back, I noticed a spot on my cheek, just about a half inch from my ear. Frankly, I thought it was a zit, and didn’t think about it much more. Sure enough, it seemed to heal up and go away for a time. Just a zit, right?!
Then, about two weeks ago, two things happened. First, it came back and I cut it shaving. Second, my good friend Rick’s father had a pretty serious skin cancer surgery, involving grafts to his face. (Rick, some of you will remember, is
a part of my band) Both these things drove me to make an appointment with the dermatologist.So now, in retrospect, I’m glad I made the appointment, but now I’ a little nervous that perhaps I waited longer than I should have to make the appointment. My doctor did call it a “little” spot when he looked at it…so maybe it really is.
Like I said, I won’t be really relieved until the surgery’s over (next Tuesday) and the tests come back and show that there’s nothing more. Don’t want to make too much of a big deal about this. I would be really freaked out if it’d been a melanoma. And they still may find it more than I hope it is.
So, between now and pathological certainty (pun intended) I’ll covet your prayers and happy thoughts, and I’ll keep you posted….
WhenEFTalks 