GENE'S SKIN CANCER.

This blog is not scare or worry anyone...or gross them out. It's just to say: Hey, keep an eye on any weird or unusual changes on your skin.
The most common kind of skin carcinoma is Basal Cell and it's not malignant. We've all had those fried or frozen off...no big deal.
Gene's cancer is near his collarbone and is called Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and it's the 2nd most common and it is malignant. No worries, he's getting it taken care of pronto.
He noticed the skin change around Christmas and went to his dermatologist in January.
She took a biopsy and cauterized it.
Then she called and said he needs to go to a plastic surgeon (of which there is one in Odessa) to have more of it removed. He had that appt. today but turned out it was just a "meet and greet" appt.
The doctor said he will use a local anesthetic and the incision will be much larger than the tumor and the stitches will be large. He plans on making a football shaped wound about 4" long. There is a 95% chance it will over and done with then. If not he'll have to have more taken off and that would require a hospital visit.
So bottom line is to WEAR SUNSCREEN (which Gene has not done in the past very much) and if you notice anything different...get it looked at ASAP.
Alot of folks don't like to talk about their medical problems...it's personal... but Gene and I agree that as we age and health issues arise we like to tell people hoping that they'll be better informed...we sure got that message and idea in 2001 when his colon cancer was diagnosed.
Who wants to be in our colonoscopy club?
Love, mary