For years I have been fighting basil cell carcinoma on various places on my body including shoulder, leg, arm and most recently on my ear. This ear lesion has been surgically removed and chemically removed 3-4 times and still continues to return. Recently it has become very red and sometimes bloody. Last week the dermatologist I've been going to for several years biopsied it and sent me to a specialist in Oakbrook to remove the cancer with a special Mohs process.
Mohs Mocrographic Surgery is a state-of-the-art treatment for skin cancer in which the physician serves as surgeon, pathologist and reconstructive surgeon. It gives the highest potential cure rate - 99% - for skin cancer. If you are interested in more details you can go to www.mohscollege.org.
It was quite a deal. He used a local anesthetic, then began cutting away the tissue which he took to the lab to analyze. Came back about 45 minutes later and said he didn't get it all so he'd have to do more. Again 45 minutes or so, he came back and said he had to get more. I was getting a little tired by that time. Anyway, third time was good and they went on to the next step.
He took a strip of skin from the backside of the same ear and stitched up that wound. That piece of skin was put in some kind of solution while the nurse practioner prepared the top of my ear for the skin graft. She was also the one who actually attached it to the ear. Several times through these processes, the nurse injected more "numbing juice" in my ear. I really never felt any pain although was very aware of activity going on - some pressure and some ugly grinding/scratching noises.
The final step was to bandage the two areas - behind the ear, and the top of the ear. Two separate areas with different type of bandages. I will go back to my Dr. in Bloomington next week to remove the bandages and take out the stitches. They warned me it will look "awful" at first but not to be alarmed because within a few weeks it will be beautiful!!
There were three participants in this surgery. A nurse prepped me, administered the anesthetic, and explained what would be going on, generally kept tabs on me during all the waiting time, and applied the bandages when it was all over. The doctor did the "cutting" and analyzing. He was a very friendly man whose mother had spent her last years in the Meadows Nursing home so he actually knew where Gridley was. The third person was a Physician's Assistant and she applied/stitched the graft to the ear.
It is mildly uncomfortable today. Now I'm taking an antibiotic pill as a precaution, and tylenol for pain. The tylenol works for several hours before the light throbbing begins. One thing I'm not supposed to do is let the bandages get wet or the graft will fall apart!! So guess my hair will be pretty gross by next week!
Jerry was with me in the little room for the entire 5 hours. Janice came after taking the kids to school and was able to stay until we left. So . . . if it all works as it's supposed to, I should be all better in several weeks. They were tempted to take a picture of me in my helpless situation, but actually decided on their own that that might not be very nice! Sorry if this was way TMI. I'll let you know in a couple weeks how it's doing.
9 comments:
Glad it's all over and now you will be beautiful to go to Florida. Just take it easy as the Dr. said. Happy Thanksgiving!
Glad to hear it's over and now you can recuperate. Praying for you that the healing is quick.
Ooooh, what a procedure! I had something removed behind my ear once and I can relate to that scraping/grinding noise. Not painful, but very disconcerting. It is a blessing that they analyzed the tissue as they went so you didn't have to wait days for the pathology report. Hope all heals well.
Hopefully this will finally solve the problem! Perry has a basal cell cancer on his nose and is scheduled for a similar ordeal November 29th in Springfield. Then he has cataract surgery scheduled in December. I'm hoping he'll be in great shape by 2012:)
Carol, that's interesting. Perry and I can compare nose vs ear problems. Is he having the Mohs process also? Is Lucy Wisdom his referring doctor?
So far I'm doing well - it hasn't been bad at all. Except that I can't sleep on my right side, and I never sleep on my back or stomach - so that just leaves left side and I star to get "achy" and have to get up. The joys of growing old.
Your account was definitely NOT too TMI. I read with interest, as I, too, have had 2 procedures - on face and back. I'll be putting the Mohs site in my file.
Interesting -I had never heard of that process and the same day I read your account I heard from another friend who had the same procedure done. Hope you continue to heal well.
So sorry you've been through that. Did you have to do any cooking yesterday or did you have a good excuse to take it easy?!!
I made two pies and the dressing for Thanksgiving dinner at Jason's house. Had a good time with the whole family. Otherwise I just sat and enjoyed the activity.
However I was quite tired and went to bed as soon as we got home at 9 pm. Today Jerry helped me wash my hair at the kitchen sink. I have strict orders not to get the bandaged ear wet or the graft won't stick. After four days, I couldn't stand it. So we put plastic wrap over my ear, secured it with a rubber band, and Jerry used cups of water to control the water. Worked great and feels so good. He's the greatest!!
You young people just don't know what you'll have to do for each other some day . . .
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