Up, Up and Not Away

/ roughwighting

Chat GPT, older couple at airport, delayed flight, canceled flightLeaving, on a jet plane don’t know when I’ll be back a…. whoops. Never mind.

Half a day before my guy and I were set to fly off to the other coast last week to escape winter weather and bask in the warmth of friends and family, I got a phone call.

I was expecting the call, and yet I wasn’t. Image by Megan Rexazin Conde from Pixabay, medical issues, doctor phone call

My dermatologist had scraped off some skin from my nose two weeks earlier for a biopsy. She hadn’t planned to, but when I walked into her office she said, “I woke up two days ago thinking of you.”

I wanted to bask in her adoration, but I knew better. “You mean you were thinking of my nose.”

She nodded. “I just need to double check.”

I’ve had this brown spotted anomaly on my nose for several years. Long enough that my granddaughter thought it was my birthmark and told me it was “cute.”

“Cute?” I replied rather disdainfully.

“It’s sorta in the shape of a heart,” she answered as only a teenager can.

book launch, author signing,

Me, left, signing my new PETEY WANTS WINGS illustrated children’s book.

But I wanted to get rid of it because for years friends and strangers thought they were helpful when they told me I had a smudge on my nose. During my book launch this fall, over 45 people attended, and as I signed books, more than half of them tried to wipe the “ink spot” off.

So, two weeks ago I asked the dermatologist to freeze it off. Instead, she took a biopsy (let it be noted that she performed a biopsy five years ago and it came back negative).

Now, a half day before our flight, bags packed, all checked in and boarding passes printed, the doc calls and says, “do you have a minute?”

 If a doctor asks if you “have a minute,” be worried. And maybe sit down.

Botton line (or should this have been my top line?), the biopsy is positive for melanoma. I suggest I’ll take care of it when we return in a few weeks. Doc suggests (strongly) this is not a good idea. nose heart Image by Julius H. from Pixabay

So, here I am watching the snow fall while shivering in the 15-degree weather, walking on ice (literally and figuratively). I begin Slow Mohs this week. Never heard of it? Me neither. Basically, the surgeon takes off layer and layer of skin over the course of 3-5 days until no cancer is found in the margins. Marginally, my nose will be very sore. Best case, the grafting afterward will leave me with new (thigh?) skin and the heart will be gone.

heart tattoo Image by Sophia from PixabayHmmm, now I’m wondering if my granddaughter and I should get matching heart tattoos.

But not on the face.

Don’t let her mom know of my plan.

 

128 thoughts on “Up, Up and Not Away”

  3. Oh, Pam, always scary to face health challenges, even when you have excellent medical care. I agree with shoreacres comment. Hugs in your direction! 💕 Erica (I loved the photo of you signing “Petey Wants Wings”)

    Liked by 1 person

  5. It was hard to “like” this post but I’m delighted you took this VERY seriously. I lost a good friend in 6 weeks after diagnosis of melanoma. Red headed and fair skinned. It left his family reeling. Something so small can cost someone so much. My sister has been having little spots removed for several years now since melanoma started showing up. I think she is one chromosome away from albino. I’ve covered every inch since I was a teenager. Keep us posted. We need you here.

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    • THANK you, Marlene. So sweet. I plan on being in the blogosphere for a long time. Hopefully this post will encourage others to have their skin ‘spots’ tested. Me? I was a lifeguard in my teens. Enough said? 🙂

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    • So true, Marian. (1) I’m glad my dermatologist used her “gut feeling” and did a biopsy. (2) I wrote this post in hopes it will encourage others to get their dermatological skin test! xo
      Perhaps in a few months I’ll have a post about heart tattoos. Hmmmm 🙂

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  8. Sorry if this comes through twice–commenting issues! My husby had Mohs surgery (I think that’s what you mean)–too many weekends at the river in his youth. It is as you say, waiting room filled with others going through the same thing. All worked out. I will think positive for you!

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  9. How are you? Yes, I know Moyes. Let me know if I can help. My workshop, Flipp Flopp Stories: celebrating oral tradition for self-care was splendid. I felt very supported by our team. Hope you get all better fast.

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  10. Oh Pam. I’m so sorry you missed your trip but so happy you took care of the situation. I’ve had Moes surgery and it’s not fun but it’s lifesaving. I’m so glad your doctor was concerned. Healing thoughts are coming your way.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Slow Mohs starts today and all of these positive wonderful comments will make it a breeze. No trip for a while, but that’s okay. I’ll have a clear nose the next time I step on a plane. 🙂

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  13. Tough news, Pam, but good that your MD caught it. Best of luck with the MOHs procedure. There’s also another one I’ve seen advertised that uses localized radiation. In any event, I’m hoping all goes well and I’ve added you to my prayer list!

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  14. Oh, Pam. I’m so sorry to read this, but what a great doctor you have. I’m certain my dermatologist does not know me, much less think of me. (To be fair, I’ve only met her twice.) I’m glad this was caught right away. I hope your treatment goes smoothly. Sending hugs!

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  16. Oh Pam. So sorry to hear about what you’re going through, and glad you’re taking it seriously. You’ll have years and years of vacations to look forward too. That negative margin will feel wonderful when it comes (it did for my hubby). Wishing you peace and perfect health. The heart tattoo sounds like a plan. Huge hugs.

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  19. I’ll look at the positive side, Pam. when layers are taken off your nose (painful though it may be) you’ll have a beautiful new nose. Be happy that it was detected and being treated. Hope you are in good hands, dear friend. Wishing you a perfect nose and good health. Sending you hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I just wrote you a long note and it didn’t go through and I’ve lost it. I should get in the habit of copying it before trying to send it. So frustrating. It’s time for WP to do something about the commenting issue.

    Anyway I said a lot nice things and now the words are gone. All the best to you, Pam.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Darn, I’m sorry I missed your long note! But I feel your ‘nice things” and appreciate them greatly. I’ve heard a few other people are having some problems with the comment section here too. I think it started when one of my readers (and an old friend, as in college) commented “Holy Shit.” Whoops WP did NOT like that. 🙂 In fact, maybe it won’t like this reply but hey. Shoulder shrug. It’s worth the chance. 🙂

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  23. Hi Pam, based on your treatment the melanoma was still in the top layers of your skin. That is such a good thing because the doctor can do the skin graft treatment. My husband had the same thing. If he’d left it even a few weeks, he would have needed chemotherapy.

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  24. I’m glad you are listening to your doctor. You will enjoy your future trip more not having this issue in the back of your mind. Your granddaughter will think (maybe she already does) she has the coolest grandmother in town if you get matching heart tattoos.

    While my guess is a good part of your audience at your book launch was made up of family and friends, I’d be rather taken aback by any stranger who attempted to “wipe off” a spot on my nose. That would totally be weird. (I could see you have fun writing a story about that.)

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    • I sent this post to my granddaughter, who replied “what a sad but sweet post” and then a noncommittal “yes” on the tattoo, so we shall see. I’m not sure she thinks of me as ‘cool’ but definitely as ‘not like other grandmothers.’ 🙂

      Second, as a woman, I’ll say that people are more likely to approach us to wipe off a spot or pat our bellies when we’re pregnant. And I was pleased that quite a few people came to the launch that were friends-of-friends or who were writing their own children’s books, etc. And yes, they still tried to wipe off the smudge on my nose. 🙂 They thought they were being kind, and I took their action as such. ❤

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  25. I’m very sorry about your trip, but I’m so very glad they caught this! I hope the treatment goes easy for you and you get that trip right after. Sending hugs xo

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  33. Pam, I am sending happy healing thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery and only superficial melanoma…you got this! Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Archangel Raphael, whose name means “God heals” is your aid and comfort. By the power of our great God may you be healed and thrive! You are LOVED, and never alone on the path to good health. Praying with you and for you. P.J.

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  34. I’ve been wondering about how you were doing, hadn’t heard from you in a long time, so I’m happy to see a post from you. BUT obviously not the reason why for the post. Linda said it best in the first comment, a little disappointment now will lead to a much better future. Take care, know I’m sending healing thoughts your way.

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    • I’m snatching up your healing thoughts and attaching them to my body. Oh my goodness, I look like a bandaged monster from a horror movie right now. But yes, in time, I’ll have more time to keep on with family and loved ones, including my blogging buddies. ❤

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  35. Melanoma isn’t anything to be taken lightly so I’m glad your dermo insisted that you take care of it NOW. I had melanoma about 30 years ago and have gotten checked every six months since. My brother (a blue-eyed blond like me who spent way too much time in the sun) had it too and underwent Mohs surgery. So far, so good for us both. I’m sure you will have good results too. You have a lot of people in blog land wishing you the best… and a speedy recovery.

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    • GREAT news about you and your brother. Yes, I’m fair-skinned too, and was a lifeguard (hats? who wore hats in the 70s while guarding lives?) in my teens and early twenties and oh how I love the beach. So from now on, BIG hats will be on my head and sunscreen. Healing will take almost half a year, I’m told, and then I might get that heart tattoo. 🙂 Thanks so much for caring and sharing.

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  36. I’m so sorry you missed your trip, Pam. I hope you’ll be able to reschedule.
    I’ve had two Mohs surgeries. The doctor just did it in his office. Although I’m sure we still need to wear sunscreen, he told me the melanomas probably started when I was a teenager and that it was the price of having light skin. Now I’m on a schedule to be checked every six months.

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    • Tipping my hat to you, fellow Mohs traveler. Yes, frequent checkups are in our lives. May we stay clear of melanoma and keep wearing those hats while slathered in sunscreen. 🙂 Stay well and healthy!!

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  37. Sorry to hear of this turn of events, but like you, I’d be glad to have it diagnosed and treated early, and then be done with it. There are always trips to be had, and next time you won’t have to be worrying about a phone call before you go.

    Heal!! (she says.) 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    • Next time, maybe I won’t answer the phone. Hah, just kidding. The trip was not meant to be. The surgery to give me a new ‘nose’ {quite a lot of skin had to be removed} will take months to heal, but at some point, I’ll be leaving on a jet plane again. And my suitcase will be full of sunscreen. ;–0 Thanks for the healing hugs. ❤

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  38. It sounds Pam as if you are blessed with a very Good Dr…. And while cancelling your holidays for a warmer climate now, you will be able to be rest assured in the future you can go out in the Sun knowing this heart shaped bleb is no longer an issue.. As you soak up the sun in the future…

    Sending you so much love as you recoup and heal….
    Love and hugs and prayers of healing quickly to you …
    Sue xx ❤ 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, thank you Sue. I’m soaking up the well wishes and the advice and the love from this blogosphere. Right now I’m so bandaged up (from forehead to lips) that I look rather monstrous, but messages like yours help me smile and know that all is well. All is well. And yes, my surgeon is amazing. Not only talented in what he does, but empathetic as well. Wow. Here’s to kindness and health care and caring friends. xo

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      • The mantra, ‘ALL is well in my world’ from Louise Hay’s book ‘ You can heal your life’ has stood me in good stead many times throughout the years Pam…
        And I also know that our thoughts, prayers and well wishes do indeed help heal.
        So I will continue to send healing my friend… I have a little healing book I jot names in that require healing… Your name is in there Pam….
        Know you are loved by many, and ALL is well in your world… ❤

        Much love your way xx ❤

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    • Day by day, Andrea. I didn’t know it would be such a big deal, but “C” is a big deal and I’ve had it excised and with a “new” nose (ouch) I am told by the summer it will be healed. Oh, but I better not sit out there in the sun. :-0 Hope your February isn’t as brutal as ours has been here in NE. xo

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  40. Oh, Pam–I am so very sorry to hear this news. Glad you are getting it taken care of now. Soon enough you’ll be on that jet plane on another coast. Hope it’s not hurting too much…

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  41. Oh Pam, what rotten news. And the procedure sounds rotten too, but I’m sure the end result will be an ‘all clear’ because your doctor was so vigilant. Getting it early is the key. Oh and that tattoo? Go for it. 😀

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  42. Oh, Pam. My brother had melanoma, and I see the dermatologist yearly. He’s always freezing off a spot here and there. Please keep us posted how the layer peeling is working. All the best!

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    • Thanks, Jennie. Unfortunately, mine was a BIG area of the nose so the surgery to build up my nose was rather extensive. I’m learning more about PATIENCE! :-0 Hey, you and I know how important those skin checks are. Hope we’re encouraging others to do so. ❤

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  43. I’m sorry to hear this news, Pam, but the silver lining is that it was caught. Please keep us posted. My husband had melanoma years ago, but it was caught early. And yet, he cannot be in the sun, and we both love the outdoors. So, when we venture outdoors, he can wear shorts, but he has to wear a hat and a sun shirt. The sun just isn’t his friend anymore. So take care of beautiful you. ❤️

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  46. I’m so sorry you missed your trip, but so glad that your doctor spotted the melanoma and has a treatment plan for it. I’ve never heard of slow Moh’s surgery, but it does sound effective! And now you will be able to enjoy many, many future trips! Sending good thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery!

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