Ear Cancer Surgery Complete

 

Early this morning I arrived at my dermatologist's office to have my sutures removed. 

Looks like I have to seriously trim my ear hairs

Last week at this time my dermatologist cut out a part of the top my left ear and replaced it with a skin graft from my left jaw line. Sounds painful? It was.

All this week I had to be very careful with treating the wounds (the skin graft area plus the "donor" area). That was an especially challenging task given that I have to wash my hair (what's left of it anyway) with a tar based shampoo because I have seborrheic dermatitis my scalp. If I don't white scales (dandruff) produces quickly and my head is itching like crazy. Since I found a solution to my condition when I was in my early twenties, I haven't had dandruff since or an itchy head. I don't want to go back there. So it was quit a challenge to cover up my operated on ear with plastic so it wouldn't get wet when I shampooed my hair with my coal tar based shampoo (I smell like a railroad tie after I shampoo). 

I was eagerly looking forward to today because those stitches were starting to itch.

I thought this procedure this morning would be a quick nip and tuck to pull out those stitches. That didn't happen.

Seems where I had the skin graft the skin had grown over the sutures. The sutures still had to come out, and out she (the dermatologist's assistant) took them.

The whole procedure took about fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of torture. 

The dermatologist's assistant was very apologetic but it still hurt.  Finally, she got them all out. 

How would you like to have her job?

I'm home now, recovering. Whining and complaining but ready to start a new day.

By the way, Bill's doing fine. Weak but still with me.

Ron's Health Update

 

Me at Herring Cove beach, Provincetown, Mass 1988 - working on developing my future skin cancer diagnosis - fool that I was. Should've listen to all those skin cancer warnings Ron.

Wednesday I received a call from my dermatologist's  office.  She was calling a out the results of the biopsy of that painful "pimple" I had taken off the top of my left ear last Friday. The fact that I was receiving a call was bad news. Yes, the biopsy indicated that I have skin cancer. 

There are three main types of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma

Melanoma

My biopsy came back as shamus cell carcinoma. 

I've been going to a dermatologist since 1988 every six months for checkups. Almost every time they find something to burn or cut off my skin. All so far have been actinic keratosis, which are precancerous skin lesions. It has been very routine to have those precancerous skin cancer lesions removed from my skin, mostly my face. 

Where I am now folks is a results of my foolish hunt for that perfect tan when I was young. Oh sure, I heard all the warnings about skin cancer. I ignored them. That is until one day when I decided to go to a dermatologist because different parts of my face hurt when I shaved. My dermatologist discovered that I had numerous spots of actinic keratosis. So many the best way to remove them was a topical form of chemotherapy which was Efudex. I had that applied all over my face which burned off the top layer of my skin. Folks, that was one of the most painful episodes I've ever had in my life and warned me away from my "lying on the beach baking in the sun in search of that perfect tan" days. 

It's ironic that I live near Rehoboth Beach for the last fifteen years and have never played on the sand at the beach in pursuit of that tan. Nope, I don't do that these days folks. So far I've been lucky not to have developed skin cancer but that chicken has come home to roost now. 

Next Friday at 6:30 AM I have an appointment with my dermatologist to have the top part of my left ear removed. It's my cauliflower ear that my father used to mock me so much about and for which I was so ashamed when I was younger. I don't care now, just as long as I've caught the cancer in time.

Me, third grade (1951) my cauliflower ear on the right. 

Visit To My Dermatologist

That time again folks, a visit to my dermatologist to remove a precancerous growth from my face.  I continue to pay the price for the Folly of my Youth, baking myself on the beach seeking that ever elusive tan. 

Of all the dire warnings we received in our youth from going straight to Hell if we smoked weed to the perils of unprotected sex perhaps the most accurate is the danger of baking oneself on the beach.  Oh yes, I was one of those fools, who early spent the morning lying supine on the beach, baking my supple bod under the ultra violet cancer causing rays of the Sun. 

Me, foolishly baking tanning at Rehoboth Beach 1964 - yes, I am THAT old!

Thirty years ago this year (yes, it was THAT long ago) I first visited a dermatologist.  That was when I worked at a big bank in Philadelphia.  During my lunch hour I took a walk down to Thomas Jefferson University for my doctor's appointment. Coincidentally, my doctor at that time was also of Chinese ancestry as is my doctor now.  What are the odds?




I had arranged an appointment because I noticed that every time I shaved my left cheek would hurt.  The doctor examined my face and told me my face was covered with actinic keratosis lesions.  "What in the world is actinic keratosis?" I thought.  Well, he old me they were pre CANCEROUS lesions.  

There is was.  The dreaded "C" word.  I was so taken aback that I had to sit down.  He explained to me that while actinic keratosis lesions are not cancerous they could lead to cancer.  He also told me that, for the rest of my life, I would have to see a dermatologist every six months.  This was thirty years ago folks. And with few exceptions, I have been seeing a dermatologist.

Me this morning after the biopsy was taken from my left cheek

But first he had to treat all the lesions, most of which were not noticeable to the casual eye, with a topical chemotherapy treatment.  Basically, this was a chemical skin peel of my face.  And folks, I'm here to tell you that was one of the most painful procedures I've ever had in my long life.  The only medical problem that has been more painful was my passing of kidney stones and folks, NOTHING surpasses that pain level. But this topical chemical skin peel was pretty painful.

That's part of my left cheek in the little vial next to the forceps

I had it done over the New Year's holiday.  My face looked like raw hamburger.  I was scaring folks with my appearance.  I remember standing on the platform at Suburban Station and people would take one look at my beet red face and give me space, like I was contagious.  

It took about two weeks for my face to heal.  The good news was that I had all new skin on my face, felt like a baby's ass (not that I would know).  The bad news was that I could never lay on the beach again.  Come to think of it, that wasn't really bad news.  I was always bored laying on the beach anyway.  The bad news was that I would always have the cost (and there were years that I didn't have insurance so all those dermatologist visits came out of my shallow pocket) and inconvenience of finding a dermatologist for the rest of my life.  Another chunk of my freedom gone.

Most visits to my dermatologist over the years I've managed to get out of their office without having chunks of my flesh either being burned (dry ice) or cut (for biopsies).  However, in recent years I almost always have another piece of flesh taken off of my once prime bod.  These days this old bod gives up a little more sun baked flesh to the dermatologist's laboratory.  And this morning I was asked if my damaged skin could be on my doctor's new website warning of the danger and damage of prolonged sun exposure.  Of course I gave my permission.  Just another instance of my image living on long after I'm gone (this along with my brief appearance in the audience of "The Price is Right!")  

My good doctor dug out a piece of my left cheek this morning for a biopsy.  I'll know the results in about a week and a half. Been here before folks.  Always got a pass from the cancer.  Hopefully I'll get another pass. 

Afterward, to cheer my spirits we stopped at the local Walmart.  Shopping and watching Walmart People always cheers me up.  I'm never disappointed when I slum it up in a Walmart (listen to me, like I'm NOT one of THOSE people). 

Another Visit to the Dermatologist

Another day and another visit to my dermatologist.  A few weeks ago I had an uninvited guest pop up on my left cheek.  It looked like a wart.  I suspected it was something other than a wart.  However, even if it was a wart, I didn't want to spend my remaining years with a wart protruding from my left cheek.  Hey, I know I'm no beauty at 72 and my face is starting to crumble but I do have my limits. So, last week I called and arranged a visit with my dermatologist.

I used to go to the VA for my dermatology appointment but I'm sure by now you've all heard how long it takes to get into the VA.  My dermatology appointments were taking up to four months at the VA.  Like all my medical appointments at the VA, once you get there, they take great care of you but it's the getting there.  And by the way, I'm glad Eric Shineski, the current VA administrator resigned today.  

Don't let the door hit you on the way out

The VA needs a complete overhaul but first they need a leader who looks and sounds like he's mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.  The bureaucratic nightmare that is the Veterans Administration. From a president (Obama)

Hey prez, at least act like you give a damn

who doesn't give a shit to the members (mostly Republicans) who consistently underfund and ignore the needs of our country's veterans, it is time to end this injustice and neglect of those who served so valiantly this nation.  And I'm ranting again.  I am so angry about this whole mess, from our president who at times seems more concerned with Shinseki's feelings than recognizing the real problem to the politicians who take our veterans for granted like they're getting free medical care and should be grateful for whatever dollops of care they get.  I am so angry about this whole mess and especially at those venal Republicans who are now trying to score political points over this real scandal.  I thank God (or whoever) that I now have Medicare and can go to the doctor of my choice and mostly avoid the delays of trying to get VA medical care that was promised to me when I signed up January 27th, 1960 and joined the Army and put my life in their hands for this country for three years. 

Pvt. Ron Tipton, potential cannon fodder

My dermatologist stuck a needle in my face to numb the area and scrapped off the offending "wart" which turned out to be a keratosis growth.  Keratosis is a pre cancerous growth.  I've been having them for over thirty years now, no skin cancer so far.  But of course you all know I have a cancer already, prostate cancer.  No one gets out from this trip (Life) alive.  I am just so thankful I'm one of the lucky ones who isn't caught in the web of dysfunction and deceit and ineptitude which is the Veterans Administration Medical system.  And I am also thankful that I have regular visits with my VA doctor to check on my health.  That's one thing I never had in the private medical system, preventive health care.  During a routine blood test (every six months with the VA), my prostate cancer was discovered.  I also use the VA for all my prescription medications.  They are very efficient (and cheap).  No waiting at Walgreen's for my prescription to be filled for this vet.

Have a great day everyone and try not to let the bastards get you down.

Slice and Dice

This morning at the Medical Arts Building

7:15 a.m. this morning, slice and dice time for Ron.  Yes folks, this morning I continued to pay the price for all those years of baking on the beach working on my tan.  

7:15 a.m. was the time of my appointment with my dermatologist.  During my full body scan two weeks ago he found two suspicious spots on me.  One on my right cheekbone and the other on my right knee.  This morning my dermatologist sliced off both of the offending patches of skin for a biopsy.

The first part of the procedure are needles in the offending patches of skin.  This is the part of the procedure that really hurts.  And hurt it did. 

This is when I show my age, right before a medical procedure

I also had a keratosis patch burned off of the tip of my nose.  That hurt too.  I know I know, I'm a pussy. Looks like I need a haircut too.

The first biopsy taken

Next up, the knee.

I have my running shoes on.  Can't run away from this.

My dermatologist, the best!  

He's done a lot of slicing and dicing on my since I've been in Delaware.  This morning's procedure was done because he was concerned that the offending patches of skin were uneven and could be a precursor to melanoma.  That's one cancer you don't mess around with.

This is as close as I get to looking at my own blood

After the doctor stitches me up (yes, both cuts required stitches), Tammy comes in for the cleanup.

Tammy gets ready to clean me up and give me instructions - no bath for 24 hours - I'm gonna smell ripe this time tomorrow

I've had more work done on me these past 12 months than I've had the entire previous 72 years of my life - I may be falling apart - I feel like an old car that has to keep being patched up to keep it running

I'm done now.  Bill was waiting for me downstairs in the lobby.  He never goes into the dermatologist's office with me.  We head out in the cold (9 degrees) frigid air and home and warmth.  Another hurdle accomplished.  What's next?

Procedures done, I can smile now

This and That and This

Am I laughing or crying?

No overall theme today folks.  I think I ruffled enough feathers with my "Do Bisexuals Exist?" blog.  Probably needed to ruffle those feathers and I'm glad I did, that is one of my goals in life, to tell  the truth.  Remember the fable of the "King Has No Clothes"? I know I will upset some when I dare to offer my opinion, from my life experience, but I have no regrets.  Like most of you, I want everyone to like me but we all know that is impossible.  Another fact of life folks. That post didn't win me any friends but I expected the "shoot the messenger" response.

Now to other Ron Ramblings:  

Chris Christy is finished.  The Republicans can go on the attack and try to equate Christie's bullying to the made up "scandals" of the Obama administration but it just isn't going to work.  Christy is done.  The only question now is who is the new Republican front runner.  Stay tuned.

Chis "I am not a bully! Christy - the man who will never be president

After a whole month of no doctors' appointments I was back at the doctor's this past Friday.  This time to my dermatologist for a full body scan.  Yes folks, Ron Gets Naked For the Doctor Again. I think about half of Rehoboth has seen me naked since last year, mostly women.  I wonder how many of those women who shop at Walmart see me shopping there fully clothed and tell their friends "He was in the office last week……"  
Here is my question, where are the male nurses and assistants?  What do young men do for a living?  They can't all be in construction.  

As a result of my full body scan my dermatologist removed one actinic keratosis spot from the left side of my back.  He froze it off.  He noticed two discolorations with uneven edges; one next to my right ear next to my cheek and the other on my right knee.  He's concern they might be the beginning of melanoma so he wants to take a biopsy of those.  I have an appointment on the 24th of this month for those biopsies to be taken.  Back on the medical treadmill folks.

Me in Provincetown, Mass 1980 - working on setting the basis for my future skin cancer

My prostate cancer treatment update:  I'm into the eight month of my radiation seed implants to treat my prostate cancer.  My PSA score has gone down (thank God) from 8.4 to 1.9.  My urologist said my PSA should go down further.  The side effects of my brachytherapy surgery (seed implants) continue.  I don't want to go into too much detail on this family orientated blog but I will say that I don't have urinary incontinence, which was what my oncologist and urologist were most concerned about.  However, I do have some occasional other uncomfortable side effects including a burning sensation (anal - from the continuing radiation), ED (look it up), anal discharge (no nice way to say it), and fatigue.  I cannot get through the day unless I have at least an hour's nap in the afternoon, usually more (two or more hours)  I'm told by my doctor's that these side effects should eventual dissipate 18 or more months out.  That's a long time folks but better than the alternative of knowing a cancer is growing inside of me.

A funny story.  Last time I was at my urologist's office I casually mentioned that I might like to try some Cialis for my ED "situation." Hey, I'm not dead yet folks.  His office called in a prescription for 18 Cialis pills for me at the local drugstore.  The next day I get a call to pick up my prescription at Walgreens.  When I went to pick up my Cialis prescription I was asked for my prescription insurance.  I told her "I'm paying for it myself."  I was told the charge was $711!!!!  That's $39.50 a pill!! Well folks, this was one of those rare jaw dropping moments in my life. I said "I can't afford that" and I walked away.  

What was it Forrest Gump said?  "Life if like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."  Indeed.  

Skin Cancer Redux

Another week, and another visit to my dermatologist.  Seems like these days I can't go a week without visiting my dermatologist for yet another "procedure." Yesterday's procedure was to take a bigger chunk of flesh from my left forearm.

A few weeks ago a wart-like growth appeared on my left forearm, almost overnight.  During one of my regular visits to my dermatologist I ask them to check it out.  They determined it was actinite keratosis, which a precancerous skin anomaly.

Two weeks ago they removed the growth and sent it out of a biopsy.  Last week I got the news, the actinite keratosis was "medium" which meant it was "moving."  "Moving" meant that it could change into real skin cancer.  Thus I had to schedule yet another visit to my dermatologist for have a larger chunk of meat taken out of my forearm.

My doctor came in with a student (why do I almost always have a student observer?)  Injected my forearm four times with a needle (it hurt) to numb up the area designated for surgery.  He left, giving time for the anesthetic to take hold.  He returns, puts a towel on my lap, and paper over the top of the area to be cut, with a hole cut out in the paper for surgery.

He begins his incision. I look away because I cannot abide the sight of blood (I faint).  I feel the pressure of his cutting into the flesh of my arm.  He continues to cut, and cut.  Finally he finishes.  He tells me his assistant will be in to "clean up" and bandage my arm.  They (the doctor and the observer) leave).  I wait for the assistant, feeling no pain but woozy just the same.  I get that way when I am cut upon.

The assistant comes in.  She removes the paper towels and clothes and discovers I have blood on my pants (near the crotch area...of course) and on my shirt.  She complains that the doctor didn't place the surgery papers properly.  I got the feeling he's done this before.  I don't care.  I just want out of there.

She cleans me up, bandages my arm.  She gives me instructions how to bath (showers are all right but don't soak my arm in water).  Before I leave I make an appointment for next Friday to have the stitches removed.  Yet another weekly visit to my friendly dermatologist.  I notice the now drying blood on my pants, near the crotch (naturally).  I don't care.

I leave and meet Bill, who was waiting for me in the lobby.  He looks at my pants and says "It looks like you peed yourself."  I don't care.

On the way home I stop at the thrift store looking to check out any new books.  I know my crotch looks bloody.  Again, I don't care.

I then stop at the grocery store to stock up to prepare for Frankenstorm (the subject of my next blog post).  With my bloody crotch in full view, I must have looked like a deranged escape from the local prison.

I returned home and removed those bloody pants.  I sprayed the bloody area with "Spray and Wash."  I'm washing those pants (and shirt) now.

My arm didn't hurt yesterday but it is hurting now.  Yep, it's hurting and I'm feeling a bit woozy.  I don't know if my wooziness is from my bloody episode yesterday or the knowledge that Frankenstorm is on it's way to cause major disruption here on the east coast of Delaware.  Yes Virginia, we are the entry point of this Storm of the Century.  Oh joy.

"Frankenstorm" on its way

Medical Issues

The view from my doctor's office

I just can't seem to get off of this medical treadmill.  It seems like the past three months I can hardly go a week without a visit to the doctor.  This morning I visited my dermatologist to have a stitch removed from my left forearm.  Last Friday I had a small, wart-like growth removed from my arm.  Turns out that the growth was yet another case of actinic keratosis.

I've been going to a dermatologist at least once a year, sometimes twice a year since the early nineties when I first discovered a painful scaly patch on my face when I was shaving.  Turned out that my whole face was full of these little small keratosis spots.  To treat it I had to undergo topical chemotherapy which meant that I had to have the top layer of my facial skin burned off.  I remember that time well.  The treatment was VERY PAINFUL and I ended up with a red, RED face. I looked like I had the worst sunburn, ten times over.

I was told at that time by the dermatologist that I would have to be checked the rest of my life for this pre cancerous skin condition, every six months or every year.  Over the years I have had a lot of small patches of keratosis removed.  All those cases were mild cases.  This year is different.  I have had several cases of "medium" keratosis instead of the lightest cases I had in the past.  When that happens the doctor has to take out a bigger chunk of skin/meat.  The doctor said "something is going on."  Something ominous that I did not want to hear.

This was the information I received this morning.  It was not information I was expecting.  So I now have another appointment next Friday with my dermatologist to take another chunk out of me.

So what are we looking at here folks?  Three things:

• High PSA count - monitoring
• Irregular heartbeat - monitoring
• Pre cancer skin condition - treating

Sorry for the down posting.  Just reporting things like it is today in the Life of Ron.  

I'll try and think of something more upbeat in my next blog posting.  No more political rants for a while. 

Mitt Romney, GOP Convention, Skin Cancer, and Hotel Work

Today's visit to my dermatologist

A warning right up front faithful readers, this is NOT a focused posting.  I'm all over the place on this one.

Well folks, I have a lot to say about the final night of the GOP convention last night, especially the DISASTROUS appearance by Clint "The Hollywood Icon" Eastwood.  WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?  Also more to say about the Mittster.  I don't think he made the sale that he's warm and fuzzy and cares about the Great Unwashed like you and me but then again I am very prejudiced since I don't like plutocrats who take advantage of the country to amass a vast fortune but doesn't feel the obligation to pay his fair share of taxes or even, and this really galls me, have any of his five sons volunteer ONE SECOND of their time in the service of their country (all about defense Mittster) as in joining and serving in one of the branches of our armed forces.  There, that was a horribly long sentence but I told you I had a lot to say. I will say it in my next blog posting.

Methesula..er Clint Eastwood

I don't have enough time this morning because I just got back from my dermatologist.  Yep, I had a couple more chunks of meat taken off of this old frame.  Paying the piper for all those years I laid out on the beach and "maximized my tan", as New Jersey governor Chris Christy so aptly put it last year when he was trying to clear the Jersey beaches of sun worshipers before the hurricane hit.

The cancerous parts of Ron that was removed this morning were below my right ear and on my right clavicle.  Uh huh, the Ronster is slowly disappearing, one chunk at a time.  I'll tell you what hurt this morning, was when my dermatologist stuck the needle in the affected area that were to be removed.  Had to numb the area  up since he was going to slice and dice.  Once the needles were in (which seemed like a LONG TIME),  there was no pain when he got his scalpel out and dug out the offending skin (with my flesh attached of course).  I'm still numb, it will be interesting to see how I feel when the anesthetic wears off.  One thing I know, I have a headache now.

I am so glad I'm not working at the hotel this weekend.  The last four nights in a row I worked.  And of course, this being the end of the summer season and Labor Day weekend this weekend, I got all the call "You have a room this weekend?"  Then when I tell them I do and how much it costs, they go into their bargaining mode "Well, we were ONLY going to sleep there and we didn't want to pay THAT much."  Yeah, uh huh.  The rate is still same.  Remember Lily Tomlin and her character Ernestine the Telephone Operator?  "One ring dingy.  Two ringy dingies, snort!"  Except for fondling my cleavage (which I have very little of), that was me these past four evenings at the hotel.  One after another folks.  Then last night I had to clean a room that the guest forgot and left the "No Service" tag on the door knob.  They call down and say "Is housekeeping still here?"  Yeah, right.  We have housekeeping here 24 hours.  You're talking to housekeeping.  So I go up and the room looks like Hurricane Isaac hit it.  Is it me or do most people when they check into a hotel turn into pigs?  I know when I use a room I always make my bed, put the used towels in the bathroom and the trash in the trash cans.  This rooms had wet towels all over the place, trash on the floor including a cookie or two that was stepped on and sand on the glass topped desk.  SAND?  Oh, was that FROM THE BEACH TOWEL THAT YOU THREW ON THE DESK WHEN YOU FLOPPED IN YOUR ROOM?  I really don't want to go on a riff about SOME hotel guests but I wasn't ready to clean that room last night, ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, while guests were ringing me from the first floor to check in and the phone was ringing from people wanting to know "DO YOU HAVE ANY ROOMS THIS WEEKEND?"  

The new guy started yesterday.  He's retired like me so, hopefully, I won't be getting calls at the last minute to come in because he's having a panic attack (like the previous part-time person) and could I come in AT THE LAST MINUTE and take her shift.  Nope, he's an old, steady guy like me.  We are the dependable ones, us old steady guys.  I know that's not politically correct to say but basically my whole work career has been filling in for women who were either absent, on maternity leave or just didn't show up for work.  Sorry ladies, that's been my experience.  Reality bites.

Right now I'm going to have a little lunch, watch some TV, especially the rehashing of the DISASTROUS appearance my Clint "The Hollywood Icon" Eastwood at last night Repug Convention.

Hey, by the way, is it me or did the Mittster seem especially creepy last night with those low eyebrows and spacey, dead eyes looking right into the camera whilst he was giving his speech from his ever present teleprompter.  Be honest now, do you really want to look at those dead eyes and listen to his ever present lies for the next four years?  Just saying.

Mr. "Warm and Fuzzy" .....yeah, RIGHT! I ain't buying your latest lies Mittster.

My Visit to the Dermatologist

Me all patched up out in front of Casa Tipton-Kelly

Just got back from a visit to my dermatologist.  Had to have a little patch and repair work done on the old puss.  All those years of laying on the beach "working on my tan" are coming back to haunt me now.  Yes folks, I'm one of THOSE OLD GUYS who has to visit his dermatologist every six months (or less) to have removal done of suspicious spots on my skin.  So far, no skin cancer but I do have the pre cancerous condition called keratosis.  Lucky me.  Foolish me.  Paying the price me.

So this morning Dr. Ellen removed four spots from my bod.  "All on the right" as she said, which I think made it easier for her.  First she had to put a needle in each suspicious skin lesion to numb it.  The first on on my upper right chest didn't feel too bad.  But then the one right below my right ear...OWWWW!  Man did that hurt!

Next up a spot on my right cheek.  That Mother hurt too!  Then the best, the keratosis "horn" on the tip of my nose.  OUCH!  Man oh man!  YEW OW!

She removed three of the lesion by "punching".  The last one (on my nose) she had t o shave off.  All will be sent out for biopsies.

Ron patched up

Next up, an appointment with a new doctor to check out what is the matter with my right leg.  I think it is arthritis, because I can hardly bend my knee.  My knee cap is swollen.  It hurts like a bitch whenever I stand up.

I'm telling you folks, I'm falling apart!

What was it Bette Davis said?  "Getting old isn't for sissies."  

Return Visit To My Dermatologist

"I got a hole in my back!"

First of all, apologies to the readers of my Word Press blog because I'm going to do a repeat here, I also posting a this story to my Word Press blog today.

This morning I returned to my dermatologist to have the one stitch removed from my forehead.  Remember that wart like growth that popped out of my left temple a few weeks ago like a volcano?  I worry about these things, could be cancer.  Well, I have good news.  It wasn't cancer.

My dermatologist told me it was "only" keratosis.  Not even actinite keratosis, which is a pre cancerous condition.  For the past twenty-five years I have had numerous actinide keratosis spots removed from my face.  This was only a benign growth, my dermatologist said. I dodged another bullet!

His assistant removed the one stitch that was in my forehead the past week.  Didn't hurt at all.  She was good.

My doctor told me to take off my shirt and tee shirt and lay on my stomach on the pummel horse bench that is the common fixture in all doctor's office. Oh the stories that contraption could tell if it could talk.

The pummel horse bench was covered in that crinkly butcher type paper (how appropriate) and was cold!  I took off my clothing and rather awkwardly tried to position myself (what do I do with my arms?) on the bench.  It was cold.  Oh, I said that already.

He then gave me a needle in my lower back where he was going to remove the cyst growth near my spine in the small of my back. I've had this cyst removed twice before in years past (as long ago as 1986) but my doctor said they "didn't go deep enough."  Uh huh, sounds like we're going to do some DIGGING here, always fun.  Stick that needle in doc and numb me up!

In a few minutes I'm numbed up.  Now all those names I've been called over the past years like Numb Nuts and Numb Skull one could add Numb Back.  Doesn't quite have the same ring though does it?

So the small of my back is numbed up.  My doctor grabs his scalpel and proceeds to dig....and dig....and dig.  No pain but I could feel the pressure.  That's MY MEAT he's digging into!

Finally he says "Ah ah! "  Then he shows me the recalcitrant invader that took residence up in the small of my back.  It was pink and bloody and big as a large walnut!  Another Piece of Me gone!

The "aftermath" - that's my blood folks!

In the medical waste he tosses it.  He applies three stitches and then bandages me up and tells me not to take a shower for twenty-four hours.  Good thing I took a shower last night.

Before I put my clothes back on I asked if I could take his picture for my iPhone Address book.  He reluctantly agreed.  He wasn't real thrilled but let me take TWO photos. The first one was blurred which is the one I'm posting here.  The other went directly into my Address Book.

My dermatologist - he's taking good care of this Old Man

My next appointment is two weeks from now.  I guess that is how long it will take that hole in the small of my back to heal up.

Again, more proof of that old Bette Davis quote:  "Getting old isn't for sissies!"

Hey, I may be a SISSY but I'm not a sissy.

Head Sucked

Head wart removed!

How do you like that for a title?  Well, that's what happened to me when I visited my dermatologist this afternoon.  Ya gotta get those attention grabbing titles!

I used a new dermatologist.  I usually go to the Wilmington VA for my dermatology appointments but I was just there in December.  They see me every six months.  Usually I have small actinic keratosis lesions removed from my face.  My last visit I had four remove, including one right on the tip of my nose.  Actinic keratosis is a pre-cancerous condition. So far no skin cancer.  Both my Mother and one brother have had skin cancer so it runs in my family.  I am due.

The Medical Arts Building, Rehoboth Beach, DE

I didn't want to go through all the aggravation of making another appointment so soon at the Wilmington VA so I took advantage of my Medicare Part B and AARP supplement insurance for which I am paying Big Bucks every month and sought out a local dermatologist.

I did good.  His name is Dr. Chang.  He is Chinese as was my very first dermatologist Dr. Uy back in 1991 when I worked at Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia, PA.  Dr. Uy worked out of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital which was a few blocks from where I worked on Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA.  I've had interesting dermatologists care for me over the years.  When I worked in Downingtown, PA my dermatologist was Dr. Dvorkin.  Yes, almost Dr. Kevorkin but not quite.  But I digress.

The Hallway of Doom - floor to my dermatologist's office

So today's visit resulted in me getting what Dr. Chang called a "punch biopsy" which is literally sucking the growth off of my forehead.  Thus, I got my head "sucked."  That was a first.

Oh the stories this recliner could tell

Oh, I almost forget.  He numbed my head first.  Now I've been called "Numb Head" before (mostly be disaffected former employees and my first sergeant in Basic Training) but this is the first time my head was literally numb.  A STRANGE FEELING to be sure.

After the offending growth was sucked from my head, blood flowed (I do bleed easily).  The good doctor applied one stitch (he sewed my head!), then bandaged me up.

Yes folks, that red stuff is MY BLOOD!

So here I am now, a Poor Little Puppy...Poor Little OLD Puppy.

Properly feeling sorry for myself and looking every day of my 70 years - check out the wrinkles - man oh man where did my Youthful Boyish Good Looks go?

Dr. Chang is sending out the Offending Growth from my forehead for a biopsy.  He said he may be cancerous, it may not.  He doesn't know.  I have an appointment this time next week to get my STITCH out.  He will also remove another Offending Growth from the small of my back that keeps coming back at that time.  He didn't have time to do it today.


He said his office will call me immediately if what he took off today was cancerous because then he will have to remove move meat from my head.  Yes, I know...MEATHEAD.

Oh woe is me.  All those years I laid on the beach and now I am Paying the Price.

Me back in the day when I seriously worked on getting skin cancer a tan - Provincetown, Mass 1979

The Adventure continues folks.

Me now, I need some pity here folks - my head hurts and I'm still bleeding