F@&k Cancer

17 June 2015

Warning! 

Graphic Content!

A couple of weeks ago I went to the dermatologist to have a few moles removed. I have made a habit of so doing about every year. I had four spots removed this time. They always test them for cancer and I didn't think much of it until I got a call two days ago. The nurse on the other end of the line said that one of the moles came back as testing positive for melanoma cancer. She said that we were lucky to have caught it so early. That I wouldn't need chemo or any other harsh treatments but that we would need to remove the surrounding skin from the area to make sure that all of the cancer was removed.

Even though I know its just the early stage of cancer, that I am almost guaranteed to be fine. It still has kind of freaked me out though. It's melanoma for hell sake, the type of cancer that kills. The only people I told right away were my wife and my boss. I hid my true concern from my wife because I didn't want her to freak out. Her mother has battled breast cancer for over 15 years. It has come back three times. However, being the trooper that she is, she went through with the treatments and to date, is doing fine. She is the most inspirational, hard working and patient woman I know. This is why I played it down to my wife, as I know its not that big a deal, especially compared to what her Mom went through.

So, I hid my true concerns:

• I have cancer!? WTF!

• That if I have melanoma, it is most likely what will eventually take me. And knowing how I'm going to die, doesn't make it any better. 

• That for the rest of my life, I will have to answer that I have had cancer. No more cheap life insurance. 

• The state has a melanoma cancer registry, on which my name will now be listed. 

• My genetics most likely played a roll in my getting this type of cancer. The same genetics my siblings and children all share. One of my sisters has had a type of skin cancer removed before, but I had simply attributed it to her always hitting the tanning beds. This is now solid proof to the rest of us that it is indeed in our genetics.

Flash forward two long and thoughtful days. They made a special appointment for me early in the morning, to remove the affected area as soon as possible, since the dermatologist is usually booked out at least a month. I went in and the doctor explained to me how the surgery was going to take place. That he would have to take a much larger swath of flesh than one would typically think. The incision would be eye or diamond shaped and be a little more than two inches in length. So that the skin would heal without any bulging lumps off to either side.

Two inches?! Externally I remained calm, internally, I had a mini freak out. That is way more than I had imagined!

They set everything up and had me lay down on my stomach, cleaned the area, draped the cloth, cleaned the area, numbed it up, cleaned the area and dove right in. The cutting only took a matter of about two minutes. I watched. Although I couldn't see much from that angle, all I could really see was when he would tug at the flesh, testing where his next cut needed to be, until it was fully removed and finally plopped it down onto the tray. That is when I got a clear view of just how much had been removed. Wow, that was a big chunk of flesh! They had an interesting tool they used next, it was a cauterizing tool. He began cauterizing the flesh to keep it from significantly bleeding. When he would cauterize some areas I could feel a light shock, that I'm thinking was my nervous system. They also used a vacuum to suck up the smell. The rest of the time was spent stitching the hole. Did the procedure hurt? No, not really. I have regularly felt far greater pain at the dentists office. The only thing I felt at all were the initial shots and that weird shocking sensation from the cauterizing.

They were kind enough to take pictures for me. I know some people might find it gross. But to me it is very intriguing. How often do you get to peek inside your own body? Warning, these pictures aren't for the faint hearted, and when I say graphic content, I MEAN IT!








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Graphic Content!

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The artists rendition of what was to be removed. (The blood spots were from the numbing shots)

Ready?

There is no going back after you see this!

Almost down to the last layer of epidermis.

The chunk of flesh containing the cancerous flesh removed.

Held open for dramatic effect. Why take these pictures? How often do you get to see inside your own body?

All stitched up. And, (crosses fingers) Cancer free! Biopsy results pending.

The Doctor was kind enough to explain to me the different layers. The top layer, the leather/hide type layer and finally, the fatty layer.

I am lucky. 

Lucky they caught this in its early stages. Lucky I live in an area that has very good medical facilities and Doctors. Lucky to live in a time when we have the technology that allows us to detect these things early. And lucky I went in for a check up. When is the last time you had a check-up? Go ahead, pick up your phone and call the friendly neighborhood dermatologist and make your own appointment today!