Surgery Number One Done

Wednesday I saw my dermatologist for an ED&C, the procedure she uses for removal of small basal cell carcinomas. She's done a few on me in the past, including one in March on a basal cell that was near the one she removed this week on my right arm.

The procedure itself is not too bad, once you get over the sting of the lidocaine shot. The whole thing only took about 10 minutes. For me the issue is my allergic reaction to anything with adhesive. They want me to keep this covered for two weeks, and that will definitely be a challenge. I have tried every type of bandage out there, including the so-called sensitive skin ones. They all make me itch and break out. 

Last night I put on a gauze pad and wrapped an elastic bandage around my arm to hold it in place. It held up pretty well, but even the elastic bandage irritated my skin a bit. I'm going to try a different brand tonight and see if that works better.

My Mohs surgery for the basal cell on my left temple is scheduled for September 25th. That one will take several hours as they remove tissue, wait for it to be read by a pathologist, and then take more as needed. I'm definitely not looking forward to that, and pray that the doctor will get it all in one or two tries. It was really unnerving when it took five attempts to get all the cancer on my nose in 2019.

Also on Wednesday I had my annual mammogram. I had to go to a different radiology center as my insurance changed January 1. The office was very efficient, and I was in and out in no time. Now I just have to wait for the pathology report.

Biopsy Results

basal cell

The dermatology office called yesterday with my biopsy results. To no one's surprise, both of them came back positive for basal cell carcinoma. My dermatologist is quite accurate in determining which of my spots requires a biopsy. She only missed once, resulting in a biopsy that was negative. I'd rather her err on the side of caution rather than overlook something bad.

With the latest two biopsies, I have now had 22 basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas. Ugh! For the one on my arm, she can do an ED&C as she has for the last four basal cells. However, the spot on my left temple is too large for that procedure. The two options I was given for removal are Mohs surgery and radiation therapy. This is the first time I have been offered radiation. It is not done in the office closest to me, which makes this option inconvenient. It would require me to come in three times a week for seven weeks. Wow! I just don't see making that work with my schedule. I told the gal on the phone that I would opt for the Mohs procedure. Unfortunately the doctor who did my previous Mohs is no longer with the practice, so I'm not sure who will do the surgery. I will ask that of the scheduler when she calls me back to set my appointments.

More Biopsies

more skin cancer

Last week I had my six month checkup with my dermatologist, and as expected needed a couple more biopsies. At my last visit she was going to biopsy the spot at my left temple, but because I was going somewhere tropical where I would be snorkeling, she said I could wait until this visit for the procedure to be done. I also had another spot on the back of my right arm that I wanted her to look at as well. It is very near the location of my last basal cell removal.

She did both of the biopsies, and also used liquid nitrogen on a few spots both on my face and my right neck. At this visit, she brought up the option of using blue light therapy on my face in the future. Apparently at the office they apply a photosensitizing agent to your face, and then you wait an hour before placing your face in a light box. Supposedly the blue light only has an effect on sun damaged areas of the face, such as precancerous cells. The reaction is like a sunburn, and you must stay totally out of the sun for a couple of days. Healing can take 1-2 weeks, and my doctor suggested a series of three sessions spaced at a month or so apart. 

This is definitely something I will need to think about. First of all, I need to see if my insurance will cover the procedure. I suspect with my skin cancer history they will likely approve the procedure, especially if it will prevent some future skin cancer removals. But also, when would be a good time to start this process? We have a lot of activities coming up, so this may be something I put off until 2026.

Another thing that I have going on is a lump on the palm of my right hand. I have had it for quite a while, and believed that it was just a callous from my pickleball paddle. But it has been changing, and now has some lines coming off the top of the lump. So I asked the dermatologist to take a look as I wanted to make sure it was not a tumor. She immediately said, "You need to see a hand surgeon." I know I looked at her in surprise, and she added that I have trigger finger. She gave me a referral for a hand surgeon.

Dupuytren Contracture?

Monday I will call for an appointment, but I have shown my palm to multiple nurses in my community. They all said the same thing - that's Dupuytren Contracture. In looking at photos of this condition online, I have to think that my ladies are correct. We'll see what the expert has to say about it. Hopefully this will not require surgery.

In the meantime I have to wait on my biopsy results. It has taken as long as two weeks for this lab work to come back. My dermatologist has been very accurate in predicting which things on my skin are cancerous. I have no doubt she was correct on these two as well.