Tuesday, June 23, I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my nose. I was lucky that this kind of cancer is very common, and usually is easy to stop. I went to the dermatologist's office around 2 p.m., filled out the usual medical history forms, and waited for my turn for the 'consultation.' When my turn came, it was decided to use the 'mohs' method to remove the growth from the outside of my right nostril. The assistant put about three shots into the area to 'deaden' the feeling there. Then, the doctor used a scalpel to remove a thin layer of tissue around where the biopsy had been taken. While that tissue was examined, I rested on the exam table. It took just about 30 minutes for the lab in that office to look at the tissue and decide that all the cancer cells had been successfully removed. So, the doctor came back and put several stitches inside the incision area, cauterized a few blood vessels that were bleeding, trimmed some uneven edges on the incision, and put in two stitches to close the wound. The area was cleaned and a bandage was applied, and I was sent on my way.
I didn't really feel like doing anything else that afternoon, so I drove on home to begin recovery. The bandage is supposed to remain in place for 48 hours, and I was given instructions as to what I should do if the area began to bleed profusely (it didn't...) The instructions also said that I could remove the bandage and gently wash the area around the stitches after that period of time, so today I will clean my face, and put a bit of ointment on the incision site, and apply a new, nicer-looking bandage. Hopefully, the stitches won't extend over an area that is larger than the cute little bandaids I bought to use, but I do have a couple of sizes. At least, it won't be the big white 'look-at-me' bandage that I am presently wearing!
Tomorrow I will meet three of my high school classmates and the sisters of two of them, and we will all enjoy lunch in my old home town of Toledo. There is an all-school reunion in a couple of weeks, but this luncheon will give us a better chance to visit without all the confusion of so many people around.
I told the dermatologist that I might glue a rhinestone in the center of the bandaid to dress it up for the wedding I will attend on Saturday. Might as well spice things up, since people are going to 'notice' the bandaid anyway...
So, I am healing and am grateful for skilled surgeons, and for the fact that current treatments seem to give an excellent prognosis for this kind of cancer.
Wear your sunscreen, folks...
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