#bepale

So, my husband had his surgery this past Tuesday.  That monstrosity in the pictures is what they called his surgical incision.  In all fairness, the surgeon didn’t know if he would be able to close the leg at all and thought he may need a skin graft.  But, he was able to prevail and close the calf with some very aggressive suturing.  If you have never had or known someone who has had a malignant melanoma removed you may not realize how HUGE the amount of skin they have to take is.  The incision is usually 11cm long and they call the width a “wide excision”... Which means they take an enormous football (American football that is) shaped amount of skin and then sew the edges back together.

SJ (the husband) also has a 2 inch incision in his right groin where they had to remove 2 sentinel lymph nodes and send them for biopsy. (I decided to spare you all a groin picture- haha).  We find out, hopefully, on Monday what the biopsy shows. 

The surgeon said he was optimistic after seeing and handling the lymph nodes that they will be clear... So, I am going to be optimistic, too.

In case you missed my earlier post before the surgery...   He had that mole for as long as he can remember but it had started changing in the last 6 months- growing, becoming raised and darkening in color.  He went to my dermatologist, incidentally the same one who found melanoma on my back 2 years ago, and the mole was quickly removed and sent for biopsy.  Because of the depth of the melanoma and the placement of the mole, my husband was referred to a general surgeon who specializes in cancer surgery. 

My husband and I owe all the gratitude in the world to our dermatologist who may have saved both of our lives.

And... just in case you have missed my yearly rants and posts about skin cancer... I want you to scroll back up.  

Scroll up and look at that ghastly incision.  

Think about the pain.

Think about the scarring.

Think about the fact that the gruesome incision may be the easiest part of having a melanoma. 

Think about how you can avoid a similar fate.

Please don’t be foolish.  Please don’t think , “it won’t happen to me...”

Get screened.  Get educated.  Take precautions.  Wear sun protection.  

BE AWARE.

((( My husband and I have every intention to get “before” pictures of our melanoma moles from our dermatologist so we can share with friends and family... and you all!)))

As always- here are some starter links for those who want to look up information.

www.cancer.org

www.skincancer.org

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer.html

https://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/guide/skin-cancer

My stomach dropped and my throat felt heavy as I stared at the text message from my husband.

“The dermatologist called me.  I will call him back when I get out of work.”  Was all it said.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.  I knew what that meant.  I had gotten a call from the same dermatologist when I had a positive biopsy.  That could only mean that my husband also had a positive biopsy.

Two hours dragged past until my husband called me.

“Yeah… its melanoma.” He said, confirming my fears. “Too deep for him to remove, I have to see a surgeon and get my lymph nodes checked.”

I felt sick.  I had researched too much when I had a similar mole removed.  But mine had been clean- the base clear.  His is not clean or clear.  He is in a more complicated place.

He told me not to worry and later put a smile on to show me he was ok.

To be honest, I am worried sick.  I’m good at my job as an ICU nurse because I imagine the worst possible scenario and work to prevent it.   Today, as a wife, I feel like that couldn’t be a worse trait.

Dear sun worshippers… PLEASE.  PLEASE. Don’t be foolish.  Take precautions.  My small family is now 2 for 2 on melanoma moles. If you aren’t worried about yourself and your OWN skin… please know that the people who love you ARE worried.

Go see a dermatologist. Go get checked.  Look at your skin.  Check your moles.  PLEASE.

Being tan isn’t worth dying over.

www.skincancer.org

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma