I haven't posted on this page for a few days. It has been a little to 'real' for me lately. I got a report about the biopsy of the little bump on the side of my nose, and it was not a happy result. Apparently all those summers in the sun at Potato Lake were not kind to my northern European skin. So, now I get to go to the more 'serious' skin doctor who will give me directions on the path we will take to get rid of these errant skin cells that are lurking on my face. I will undergo a procedure where miniscule layers of skin will be shaved off, and checked individually to see if there are any cancer cells still embedded in each layer. When there are no longer malignant cells present, the surgeon will stop 'shaving.' Hopefully, that will be before I need a skin graft to heal the spot. I am fortunate that this is basal cell carcinoma, and not the more deadly melanoma.
So, after mulling over the potential for disfigurement, I have come to terms with what I must do, and will keep my appointment, and forge ahead with the treatments. I am so grateful that this is where it can be easily accessed, and that this form of malignancy is common and most often easy to stop. But, nonetheless, it gives one pause, and makes you have thoughts of your mortality, and of the long list of things I still want to accomplish. I think I was quite lucky to have made the original appointment to have these little blemishes checked.
But, a bit of time, and some beautiful weather, plus the necessity of getting ready for a party, and the joy of spending time with family...makes all the black thoughts seem less threatening. Plus, after sharing my situation with a couple of family members, I found out that two of them have had similar issues, and they are still healthy and thinking of future trips, gatherings and enjoyable times. I tend to get easily depressed, and it sometimes takes me awhile to get a better perspective on the true situation. It's just some sun damage, and not an aggressive form, at that. So...on with the necessary steps, and doing what needs to be done. (You can be sure that I will be wearing sunblock in the future!)
I am just vain enough to be concerned that I will be slightly disfigured when I have a wedding and an all-school reunion to attend. But, I guess those who value me for reasons other than how 'lovely' I look will not mind if I sport a bandage on my face, and those who base their attachments on looks will just gossip a bit and go on with their less-than-happy lives. Or, perhaps I will be lucky and the wound will heal quickly enough to be easily concealed. (How terribly self-important I am...and it's not a very nice feeling. What must it be like to have a limb missing or have your face burned terribly? This is such a minor thing in comparison. Please, let me think in gratitude for all the goodness I do have in my life!)
So, after a stormy, restless night...thinking about the safety of our ducks and geese in their new pen, outside of the safety of the garage, I am determined to make every effort to maintain a positive attitude. Life is way too valuable to waste a single moment wallowing in self-pity over a small, 'fixable' thing....
On a much brighter note, we have our deck stained, and I have planters filled with beautiful flowers decorating it. So, the only big project outside we still are waiting to get done is the patio, which will be completed in July. Life is so good, so much of the time...
Later, folks...
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