Books. Bikes. Boomsticks.
“I only regret that I have but one face to palm for my country.”
Friday, November 30, 2012
Nose News
I got a call from the office of the Mohs surgeon this afternoon.
My consultation is scheduled for January 9th. Plenty of time to work up trepidation over the holidays, were I the trepidation-working-up type. Which I'm not. Really.
Nothing against the derm boys but make sure to get a consultation with a plastic surgeon in case the Mohs "surgeon" has to take more than planned and can't close the skin. Or make sure your Mohs "surgeon" knows a plastics guy he can refer to. Hopefully you won't need it but it doesn't hurt to have a backup.
Make sure you take plenty to keep you entertained. A few good books, lots of games on your smartphone, etc. The surgery is kind of boring, but the sitting around the waiting room while they analyze the removed material for good margins is really, really boring.
Yeah, boredom really is the worst part of the procedure. For afterwards I recommend you get a few days of really good painkillers so you can sleep well at night and expect your face to be really swollen first thing in the morning. Overall it's not bad, but it does rank up there on the irritating scale.
Considering cure rates for basal cell carcinoma using Mohs surgery are in the 95-99% rate. I think you have great reason to remain positive about the procedure, in all senses of the word.
Think of it as a late Christmas present? The kind that's worse than the socks your Aunt always gives you. Hmm...maybe that's not where I wanted to go...
Remain positive, 95-99% are very nice, high, cure rates. And to be that high over the long period of time the procedure has been used, means there is a nice sample size to back up those numbers and that it is a very effective procedure.
Still rooting for you over here in the frozen wastelands of the MN/WI border. Like Comrade Misfit said you've put out a bunch of goodness and we're happy to give back now that you could use some good vibrations and or prayers.
Hell, every time my dermo doc and my MOHS doc have a boat payment due they decide to cut a little more off my skin and split the profit. So, I take a nice fat book and I discovered the Secret of the Snack Cabinet.
My MOHS guy has microwave soups, coffee, tea, crackers and cookies. You really need to call and ask if you need to bring a lunch. BTW, in the six procedures I've had (so far), none has needed anything more than normal wound care.
Ry Jones: I also had a DFSP tumor. For being a "rare tumor", it's kinda strange running into another here. Cheers for a successful removal!
Tam: It was on my arm (not my face) and somewhat large to remove by Mohs surgery. I hope your consultation goes well. Take lots of notes, or bring somebody to be your rememberer. You'll be glad you did.
Mohs is the exact surgery I had as a teenager to remove my DFSP; I even had it done at the IUPUI clinic, because we were poor. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteNose news is good news.....
ReplyDeleteNothing against the derm boys but make sure to get a consultation with a plastic surgeon in case the Mohs "surgeon" has to take more than planned and can't close the skin. Or make sure your Mohs "surgeon" knows a plastics guy he can refer to.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you won't need it but it doesn't hurt to have a backup.
Make sure you take plenty to keep you entertained. A few good books, lots of games on your smartphone, etc. The surgery is kind of boring, but the sitting around the waiting room while they analyze the removed material for good margins is really, really boring.
ReplyDeleteYeah, boredom really is the worst part of the procedure. For afterwards I recommend you get a few days of really good painkillers so you can sleep well at night and expect your face to be really swollen first thing in the morning. Overall it's not bad, but it does rank up there on the irritating scale.
Maybe I was a bit luckier. My issue was on top of my head.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, when I wasn't paying so much attention to things, the old man had one or two things on his face, one of them on his nose, I do believe.
For all the crap I heard about his face, I never once noticed anything worth commenting on.
Relax. Don't sweat it. I'm quite positive you'll come through this with flying colors.
Honest.
Then you'll be fine? Good.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be fine. Bored and annoyed, but fine. And then we will shoot and drive and have martinis. In that order.
ReplyDeleteWhat Jennifer said!
ReplyDeleteThere will be legions of people around the world sending good wishes your way.
ReplyDeleteIf that is of any comfort. It should be, you've touched a lot of people with this new-fangled Intertubie thing.
Considering cure rates for basal cell carcinoma using Mohs surgery are in the 95-99% rate. I think you have great reason to remain positive about the procedure, in all senses of the word.
ReplyDeleteThink of it as a late Christmas present? The kind that's worse than the socks your Aunt always gives you. Hmm...maybe that's not where I wanted to go...
Remain positive, 95-99% are very nice, high, cure rates. And to be that high over the long period of time the procedure has been used, means there is a nice sample size to back up those numbers and that it is a very effective procedure.
Remember there are good thoughts for you here.
Best,
-Rob
you'll do fine. we're all thinking of you. :)
ReplyDeleteStill rooting for you over here in the frozen wastelands of the MN/WI border. Like Comrade Misfit said you've put out a bunch of goodness and we're happy to give back now that you could use some good vibrations and or prayers.
ReplyDeletewere I the trepidation-working-up type. Which I'm not. Really.
ReplyDeleteJust made a post out of habit? ;)
j/k
Like has been mentioned, a high 90s positive outcome rate is really good.
Best of luck!!
So the face eating hominid here is a surgeon with chemicals?
ReplyDelete( Seriously, good luck with the procedure, Tam. )
Best of luck, and try not to think too much about it over the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWISHING YOU HAPPY LANDINGS !
ReplyDeleteBeen there done that. I'll keep you in my prayers....
ReplyDeleteWhat everyone else said.
ReplyDeleteYou're in a lot of people's thoughts there Tam.
I'm sure things are gonna be all right.
Hell, every time my dermo doc and my MOHS doc have a boat payment due they decide to cut a little more off my skin and split the profit. So, I take a nice fat book and I discovered the Secret of the Snack Cabinet.
ReplyDeleteMy MOHS guy has microwave soups, coffee, tea, crackers and cookies. You really need to call and ask if you need to bring a lunch. BTW, in the six procedures I've had (so far), none has needed anything more than normal wound care.
Good luck.
This just gives us more time to pester The Lord with messages for you.
ReplyDeleteHe will probably be so tired of hearing from us He will take care of you just because he will know how special you are to so many of us.
Dennis the librarian shusher
Ry Jones:
ReplyDeleteI also had a DFSP tumor. For being a "rare tumor", it's kinda strange running into another here. Cheers for a successful removal!
Tam:
It was on my arm (not my face) and somewhat large to remove by Mohs surgery. I hope your consultation goes well. Take lots of notes, or bring somebody to be your rememberer. You'll be glad you did.
Tam, may your nose be perfectly healed. In the name of Jesus I pray that.
ReplyDeleteOh, and after it's perfectly healed, please don't go out without applying some sunscreen to it, you silly paleface!