I started going to the Dr. about a year ago because I had this "'thing" on my lip.  I was given a topical steroid cream to use which didn't work but made it burn like, well, like a burn.  I had it froze in the same manner they would freeze a plantar wart.  That made the "thing" come back bigger, more sore and bleeding unless I kept a layer of triple antibiotic ointment on it .  Not very appealing to look at as it always looked like I just sneezed and missed wiping off my lip.

I was referred to a dermatologist oncologist.  I had my first appointment with him in May of 2014.   He talked to me, then had the nurse go to the lobby to bring my husband into the room. He repeated much of what he had told me, did a biopsy and sent that off to the lab telling us he would call with the results tomorrow.  At this point he said that he has seen Basil Cell Carcinoma (BCC) a number of times and said you have a good case of BCC.  My heart fell and my eyes welled with tears.   He put his hand on my knee and said " if you are going to get cancer this is a better cancer to get".  He also said it's cancer no matter how you look at it, some cancer is meaner than others.  I had a quick flash back of my dad laying in a hospital bed 3 hours after having a lung removed with cancer, my eyes welled a little more with tears. At this point I'm scarred, really, really scared.

We made an appointment for June 24th 2014 at 8:30 am.  And then he took out "the drawing board"  and drew a picture of what we are seeing  and how the surgery is going to go.  He explained  the 3 different types of surgery available and strongly suggested Moh's surgery.  I also have a spot on the inside of my upper lip that will be examined more closely tomorrow.

I will update with pictures as I get them transferred to my computer.  As for now Susan has invited me to go for a walk down by blueberry falls.  I'm going to grab my camera and go for a walk to get my mind off things.

Am I scared?  Yes, I am scared to death!!  But I have total and complete faith in my Doctor  I left his office without a question to be asked, until I came to the point of wanting personnel experince when it came to pain, healing, what do I eat, can I lift?  My job requires a lot of lifting....   I am not comfortable with Dr.s at all, and he put me at ease as soon as he walked in the door of the exam room.

Here are the first "selfies" I have ever taken.  After I am done with this blog I will NEVER take another "selfie"!


In the first picture  this is what the "thing" looks like today.  Please ignore the red blotchy face.  I took a shower and used the soap I needed to use.  Also ignore my stash...I'll get that waxed in the near future.

In the picture above the Dr. showed us the difference in the surgery.  Standard is more aggressive and leaves a lot of scarring . Moh's on the right is  the surgery I will be having.

This picture shows how they will cut me.  Straight line down from my "laugh line" and then across my upper lip.  They will pull the skin from my cheek up and stitch this closed.  the circle is the spot that they are going to work on from the outside the oval is what they will work on from the inside. The will pull cheek skin from the inside to stitch that area closed so I don't end up with a pucker on the inside or the outside.  It will take about 2 months to heal and for all stitches to come out some will be taken out in a week and others will dissolve.  

The above picture shows the first step in removal.  Went back in 4 times and a little more was removed from the inside of the lip and the outside of the lip until everything came back clear.  In the procedure room for 10 to 15 minutes and then wait for lab results, which was a 30 minutes between each scrapping/cutting. 

Then you get bandaged up and go out and sit in the waiting room with elderly to little kids.  Little kids ask a lot of questions.  Answer them honestly.  I also told them that when I was their age it wasn't a daily thing to put sunscreen on and this is what happened to me..and let mom and dad or grandma and grandpa put sunscreen on them and to put it on often summer and winter.

I was in a lot of pain.  I've had babies, I know pain!  I peeled back a small area of the tape to find it was on top of the stitches.       After pulling it back and applying ice for 20 minutes it feels better.  Now the hard part....no talking for 24 hours, use text messages, eat only soft foods for 72 hours so the stitches don't stretch and pull and the healed area turns out as smooth and natural as possible, no drinking from a cup or a glass I have to use a straw. 

And here it is removed...not pretty but this is what it takes to get this "thing" off my face.

The Dr. explained that I was in the 2% area where the  cancer did not go in the direction he thought/seen/experienced.  My stitches go up from the corner of my lip to below the edge of my lip.  Kind of looks like the number 7.  I go back June 30th for stitch removal.

I also learned that I am not supposed to lift anything more than 10 pounds because the stitches will pull apart and bleed.  I took one day off of work which was suggested at the initial appointment .  Following the rules for healing and will update as I go along.  

Thank you all for joining me on this journey, if you have any questions please ask.  I will update as I go along.

Today the dressing came off 6/25.  I'm a little shocked at how this looks. I had been told that the stitches would be going more below my nose and down the laugh line of my cheek.  Due to what had to be removed plan B was put in place to stitch me up.  

My nose is still numb and tingling  ... I think this will be that way for a bit as they do cut nerves when they do the surgery.  

I am on strict no lifting orders as well as not doing a lot of bending at the waist as the stitches will  pull and that will have an affect of healing and making the scar as clean as possible.  Hurts to talk, hurts to try and eat, just plain old hurts!

I am washing the area 2 times a day with a mild soap and water treatment.  And keep it covered in a layer of ointment so it doesn't dry out and get scabby before stitches are removed.

I am off work for another day, I have Friday off and will do my best to be at work Saturday.  I did end up taking a couple of my husbands pain med's last night and will be taking another tonight.  

Again, more updates as we go along.

One week out and time to have stitches removed.

 Kyle, my driver and I left the house about 7:30.   I can't say enough about Kyle and the time he has taken to make all these trips with me!  We get about 3/4 of the way to the appointment and he points out this little guy.

He must have decided life on the farm wasn't for him and wanted to try out being a city mouse for awhile...we didn't see him on the way back home from the appointment.  I hope he likes Cambridge and if he is still in the car I hope he puts his head in the trap I put in there!

And here we are with the stitches removed.  My next appointment is scheduled for Sept. 8th as he wants to see if the little swelling in my lip is gone, the healing is good and no plastic surgery needed.    It felt really good to have them out, so good I decided I wanted to try eating cole slaw with supper.  And then this happened...

Eating cole slaw opened up the wound.  I have to go back in and have this restitched tomorrow.  I contacted my Dr.  and he told me to come in and have it restitched ASAP tomorrow .  I will be there at 8:15 am and he will get me in right away before his regular scheduled appointments.  How is that for a wonderful Dr.??!!?  

More updates as we go along.