Update to Scar

I have been using Vitamin E oil everday and keeping the scar out of the sun.   Here is the scar after two weeks.  The brown stuff around it is where I had a band aid over it.  It is looking really good for only two weeks and so many stitches.

Stitches Out

So got my 14 stitches out yesterday.  They stated the ones that are underneath may still come out based on if my skin rejects them or not. So now a year of rubbing vitamin E oil on it every day.  Below is a picture of what it looks like without stitches.

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Update

Yay, my dermatologist office called yesterday and I am cancer free.  That was exciting to hear.  I caught it early.  I just have to go back on Monday and get stitches and then every 3 month checkups for the first year.

Melanoma Situ - First Diagnosis

All,


I wanted to create this blog for those people out there who wanted to know about Melanoma Situ and to get an update on the process and the surgery that will occur and the progress of this surgery and the scar that will be left.


FYI, I am one of those girls who really hate getting in the sun.  Most of it has to do with the issues with skin cancer and also because how it ages a person.  So I am very adamant of staying out of the sun.  Now, I enjoy having fun with friends on boats, going to beach, etc.  But I am good about wearing hats, sunscreen and being aware of this.


So all of the following was much to my surprise...


So, I went to the dermatologists because I had actually gone to a spa for a spa treatment. I had a mole on my lower back that never gave me problems but popped up last  year.  I am not sure if it popped up after being in the sun a couple of times on a boat throughout the summer of 2010. 

 When I went to get the spa treatment, the lady noticed the mole and said I should go see a dermatologist.  Where this mole is, I could never really see it.  So I couldn't tell it was abnormal.  So I made an appointment.  I had to wait over a month for the appointment based on availability but did not think it was a rush to do the check up.  I usually get checkups each year and really try to stay out of the sun so I really didn't  have any new moles except this one on my lower back in the past couple of years. 


I am always the girl that puts on sunscreen, wears a hat, does not soak in the sun and would rather do mystic spray tan rather than lay at beach or pool.  


So my appointment for the dermatologist was on July 13, 2011.  The dermatologist suggested that I get a sample of the mole and to send to a pathologist.  So he basically shaved the mole off and left a little almost like cigarette burn on my lower back.  I had a mole removed over ten years ago so I knew the procedure.  My other mole was good on the pathology report so I just assumed this would be the same process.


Well, much to my surprise, the doctor's office called me and I was assuming it was to tell me the pathology report was fine.  However, when the receptionist answered, I stated my name and she asked me please hold to speak to the doctor.  Now, I was in a rush because I was at work so I was a little shocked when he told me I had melanoma (skin cancer) and that I needed to come in as soon as possible to get it removed.  Took me by complete surprise.  He told me not to worry a lot because it was a Melanoma Situ which was stage 0 skin cancer.  And he told me not to go google this as soon as I get back to work to get really scared because I caught it really early and to just get an appointment scheduled as soon as possible.  So I made an appointment for 2 days later. 

Above is the picture of the surgery that occurred.  They have to take 5MM full length around the mole to make sure that they get all of the skin that could possibly be skin cancer. 

I have 14 stitches on the outside and I have stiches that will dissolve on the inside.  I will get my pathology report on Thursday or Friday of this week.  So I will update the blog with the results.  The doctor told me he feels good that they got everything.  I cannot exercise or do any crazy stretching and bending and have to keep the cut bandaged and cleaned every day and of course it will take a good year to get the cut and scar managed. I will have to stay out of the sun in this spot for at least a year.  I could not bath for the first 36 hours so that was not fun.  It did hurt really bad the first day when the numbing wore off but I just took ibuprofen and midol to help with the discomfort.  The doctor prescribed me percoset (sp) but I thought that was a little much for a small surgery like this.  I think the major discomfort is the location of the incision.  It is hard to sit and clothes can be senstive of where it hits the top of my pants.


I am just praying everything comes back good.  My heart goes out to those who have this type of cancer in the more advanced stages.  You have to literally cut until it is gone from your skin or go into advanced stages such as chemo and so on.  It is really sad..And mine was very small and see how much skin I got removed.  I could not imagine.


Wow, it really sucks what the sun can do to us and how we do not realize this when we are out enjoying the sun.  We all just want that golden tan when we are wearing those cute dresses or shorts, but wow, going through this has really made me not like being in the sun at all.  

So go get checked if you lay out in the sun or have anything looks abnormal is my advice to you all!  Below are atypical moles.

Also, I didn't get a picture of the mole before I removed it, so here is a picture of what it sort of looked like.    It was sort of like the A second picture (one on the right) and then B picture, the one on the left.  But it still didn't look completely irregular.  So definitely go get checked out.