Getting Ready for Melanoma Wednesday

Yes, Hubby's initial appointment with the oncologist/surgeon is Wednesday. However, going into this one we are so much more prepared than when we went in for mine. We didn't have a clue back in April. Now we know what questions to ask and what the answers mean. I am pretty sure that Donna at the derm's office is tired of hearing from me this week, but she was very nice on the phone...

So, we are looking at 0.4mm depth; superficial spreading melanoma; no ulceration; 0/mm2 mitosis. (The oncologist was so excited that I knew what mitosis was at my appointment as I am a former science teacher...PMAT!)

This is all important info that you need. When I got the call on my melanoma in April, all they told me was the depth. I then went on to research, and didn't have the other information. The derm office said we would get all that at the oncologist/surgeon's office. So, when hubby got the call and all they gave him was the depth, I called the derm office to get the remainder of the scoop. Why don't they just give you all the scoop when they call? It's on the same paper. Argh....

Anyway, we are fortunate. According to my calculations (and I did not attend medical school...), we are looking at Stage 1A; wide excision surgery; no further treatment as long as there is no evidence of lymph node involvement and as long as the excised skin comes back clear.

So, that is what we will hope for. We will also hope for a surgery date very soon after Wednesday's appointment. Mine was a week after the appointment. We are hoping for at least that quickly. Then, back to the derm every 3 months.

 



I'm reminded of the trials others face. Two families in our school community have been hit hard this summer. One, a wife and mother of 3, our building nurse (who monitored me closely after my surgery and kept telling me my scar looked really good...), was diagnosed with liver cancer in June. One week after her surgery, she passed away. The other, a husband and father of 3 was seriously injured in an auto accident and is paralyzed from the waist down and recovering from 2 surgeries. He will then be sent to a rehab facility. Both families' lives have been forever changed. 

As my friend Kelly and I often say to each other when we hear of these types of things happening, "I have no problems." When you put it all in perspective, the things that sometimes consume me are really nothing in comparison to what other folks are handling. We are reminded frequently that we are fortunate.



Ah...Friday!



Yep, this is what it looks like here today in Cincinnati. This is the view from Woodland Mound Park in Anderson Township. That is the Ohio River and on the other side of the river is Kentucky. We did a little hiking here this week. There is no humidity (unheard of in July!). It is only going to be in the low 80's. We have had 3 days of this beautiful weather. I love it! I was able to get my morning workout in out on the new patio. I love being able to go out there when it's not too humid/hot and do my little workout.

 

 

Look at that blue sky! Makes working out bearable!



We also took a walk-- Peyton knows as soon as the gym shoes go on, it's time to go!

 

Look what else I ran across on another site that I follow- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillys-Jems/175466312497924?ref=hl- this is good stuff to remember- especially on days like today.

Sunscreen is just always on my mind. And on my Tervis. And on my car dash and doors.

Sunscreen + Tervis Tumbler= Disaster

 

Here at our house, we are serious Tervis Tumbler folks. Having lived in the sunshine state for a short time a few years ago, where they originated and are sold all over,we have grown to love the insulated plastic. You can get them everywhere up here now. I can't even drink from glass anymore. It's Tervis or nothing! We have a whole cabinet full of these gems, that go with us everywhere. I'm seldom seen without one.

Hence the sunscreen on the outside of the cups.  The sunscreen will not come off. I tried hand washing, dishwasher, and even a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Nothing. So now we have some cups that appear to have a film on the outside. To most folks, they probably look dirty. Rest assured, they are clean.

And, apparently, they are protected from the sun!!

Melanoma has even indirectly managed to mess with my Tervis tumblers.... geez.

You've Got to be Kidding...

Hubby arrived home early from work yesterday- this never happens. So, naturally I'm concerned as he asks me to come to the garage to talk. So the kids don't hear. Did he wreck the car? Lose his job? Is someone we know hurt?

He got a call from the derm today about the biopsies from last week. One is positive for melanoma the other isn't back yet.

He tells me that I'm not alone anymore in this melanoma thing; he has it too.

It's early and it's a thin melanoma (0.4mm) but it's still melanoma. And we still have to go through the processes and the surgery. Mind you, he's recovering from a 3rd surgery to his wrist as we speak. It's just a lot to take in.

The good in this? We have been vigilant since my diagnosis. As a matter of fact, I told him that I probably just saved his life (by making him go to the derm again this year...). We have been through this once before, so we know what to expect and we know what questions to ask.  We know it's early, so that is good.  But, we also know we are scared and this is not something we ever thought would happen.

Aren't we a pair?


          

Really...you have to think about the brand of sunscreen??

Who knew? After my melanoma diagnosis in April, 2013, I kind of went into sunscreen craziness. I have gone over 40 years without sunscreen. How hard could it be to choose one? Back in the day, my idea of sunscreen was baby oil with iodine added to it. Shake well, apply, and bake.

Obviously, I paid for all that baking in April with my melanoma 1a diagnosis. And now, well, I am learning how to protect.  When I had my little surgery, a dear friend at work brought me a beach basket filled with very cool items. Magazines to read, a pretty plastic cup with lid and straw, a candle, and lots of sunscreen! Spray, lotion, and stick, oh my! My dermatologist and oncologist strongly suggested covering up (they have obviously not ever been outside on a hot Cincinnati summer day...) and wearing sunscreen daily. This is all new to me.

I spent a chunk of change on sunscreens and Walgreen's became my best friend. I think the gal who works there- and she is there every time I go- must think I'm crazy. Each time it's a different brand. She is super helpful and even offers me coupons. The biggest thing for me was the smell. The smell of most sunscreens turn my stomach. Yuck. I'm used to tanning oils that smell like the tropics. Pretty dark brown bottles. No more of that for us! So, I went on a search for good smelling, effective sunscreens. I found some.  And then I found this:  the EWG's (Environmental Working Group)website. 

http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/

 

 

Really- my brand is not rated well. Too many chemicals. (But man does it smell good!)  I also recently found and love, love, love a brand called Sun Bum. Pricey; available online only around here; but smells ever so good! I do not see that brand on the ratings but am looking into it further.

 

I've gathered from the site a few things:

 

*No sprays (my kids are not happy about this...)

 

*No retinyl palmitate (aka Vitamin A)

 

*No oxybenzone

 

*No super-high SPF's (oops, I bought SPF 100)

 

It's not easy finding a sunscreen without some of these ingredients, but I was thankful that I could find something that is readily available at Walgreen's! Whew! And it really doesn't smell. I'm going to further check the fine print of my Sun Bum, because I really love it. I hope it passes. 

 

In the meantime, check that site for sunscreen, makeup, lip balm, and moisturizers. You might be surprised at what you find!

 

Bottom line:  Love the skin you're in and protect it.  I wish I'd done that years ago...

Countdown to School....already?

Yes, it's that time of summer again. We are dangerously close to August. (Sigh...) But, we are determined to make the most of it and be thankful that we had all these days off! Note to self, we had way too many appointments this summer (thanks, dermatologist!) and maybe next summer we can get those all scheduled in a shorter time frame. I feel like we've run, run, run all summer. And, I feel like the people at the dermatologists' office know us way too well!

Today, this is the perfect reminder:


I saw this as a posting on a blog that I follow and it really does put things into perspective.

As far as back to school goes, I have a pact with a colleague at school for this coming year. Our little school has faced a lot of challenges in the last few years with funding cuts, staff reductions, and staff turn over.  We did not end the school year on a positive note. A lot of folks were tired, frustrated, and on the verge of giving up.  So, we have decided to be positive- to walk away from gossip and complaining. I think I'll be doing a lot of walking...because I'm usually the one gossiping and complaining if the truth be told....We are going to try to unite the team and have a great year. We will keep trying and not give in to the frustration. Sounds good now; I wonder where we will be by Thanksgiving break? Maybe this year we should really think of the year in chunks of time. I know gals who do that when they can't bear the thought of returning to school after a maternity leave. Just get through to President's Day, then we'll have a few days off...Maybe there's something to that for all of us. Visualize the scheduled breaks as truly breaks and try to keep energized. I really think it's going to take a concentrated effort. But, I'm willing to give it a try and I think it will be great to have some other folks on board as well.