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  1. #1
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    You're no better!

    Went to the dermatologist today. I have a persistent thing where blood comes through in spots on my face. It's a pre-cancerous condition. My nurse practitioner freezes the spots and they go away. This has been going on for four years. Yay for growing up in Arizona without sunscreen.

    Today, however, the spot that started bleeding a week ago is the same spot from last year so she wanted to do a biopsy. To give you an idea of what the consequences of a biopsy on the face is, she asked, "Do you want to wait until after Christmas?" No, no I don't. Because I don't need that kind of stress over the holidays.

    I don't want this to seem more dramatic than it is. The fact is that if this is cancer, it is on such a superficial level that it is treated with a topical cream. I found this out because I immediately grilled her on the treatment plan. Rip the band-aid off. Inquiring minds want to know. Like, right now.

    However, the biopsy process is not the funnest thing for people who don't want needles coming at their eyes. This thing is one inch from my eye. I measured it. So this is a trust exercise. As in, I closed my eyes because who wants to see that. She marks my face with a permanent marker, pokes me and it takes about 30 seconds to get all of the numbing agent in then she scrapes an entire layer of skin off about dime size and I'm bleeding all over the place because I'm a bleeder. Then we have this conversation:

    NP: Are you OK?
    Me: Yes. I went to the dentist yesterday so I'm in the mindset of stuff happening to my face.
    NP: Oh! I hate the dentist!
    Me: I love my hygienist but . . .
    NP, interrupting, incredulous, making a face: You do?
    Me: Well yes. But she has to do certain things.
    NP goes off on going to the dentist.

    It was so weird. All I could think was, you just injected my face near my eye! How is that any better? I almost started laughing.

    That's all right. I still like you. But do put some thought into that.

  2. #2
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    Good luck with the biopsy....mojo for the worst being over!!!

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    janedoe (12-07-2018)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    I would have been a nervous wreck. I also would have chosen to do it right then. Hoping for the best on the test results.


    Not much better than the dentist but at least the tools don't shriek at you.

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    janedoe (12-07-2018)

  6. #4
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Hope this heals up quickly.
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  8. #5
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
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    Good luck to ye.👍

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  10. #6
    Senior Dog coopersmom's Avatar
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    Hoping the worst is over. Best of luck with the biopsy results.

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  12. #7
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    So glad you opted to get the biopsy done now, waiting is too much stress. Was chuckling at your description of the procedure and discussion with the NP. Maybe she was just trying to get your mind off what she was doing to you.

    Sending healing thoughts and prayers.
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  14. #8
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Yeah, they don't always tell you that for skin, "biopsy" usually means "I'm going to scrape that whole little sucker right off". Hope the results are reassuring.

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  16. #9
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    Yeah, they don't always tell you that for skin, "biopsy" usually means "I'm going to scrape that whole little sucker right off". Hope the results are reassuring.
    Yep. It's not looking so good. On the other hand, people were really nice to me today. Nobody recoiled but it was clear that they wanted to help in their own way. Very sweet.

    I'm not really concerned about this. The only course of treatment she talked about was the topical cream. It's just not that deep and we've been on it so worst case scenario is that I go through this again in a few months.

  17. #10
    Senior Dog Sandra's Avatar
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    Best wishes to you on the results. I have had several spots of Basal-cell carcinoma removed in the past few years (didn’t wear sunscreen in my teen years back in the 70s).

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