January 3rd Update

Yesterday we visited the dermatologist to have a full body check to determine possible spots of interest. We figured that it would be an hour visit or so. It turned out to be much longer. About 3 hours. After being examined by a resident and an intern, I was examined by Dr. Cooper who is head of the department at UH. His specialty is melanoma. He was aware of my case as well as the resident at they have been involved in the conferencing. They took a very strong look at anything and everything on my body and decided on removal of three spots on my skin. One on my left arm that I had frozen off a growth some 2 years ago. A rather ugly mole that was just below the scar in the area where the melanoma was discovered under my right arm. And finally a rather large unhealed area in the center of my back. The first two were removed by what they call a punch out and required about 6 to 8 stitches each. The one on my back required actual surgical removal. Patti got to watch everything and ended up assisting in getting some items and opening them up for the doctors so they did not get out of their sterile mode. She watched them as they scooped a large area of skin out of my back. She described it like coring half an apple. She said it did not bother her as it was not her having been cut and scooped. She said she felt rather bad for me and the obvious pain and discomfort that it was causing me. That scoop took about 18 stitches to close up. Today it is painfully sore as every movement seems to affect that area. Tomorrow will be interesting as I will have to lay on my back for the radiological alignment so I can start radiation treatments on Monday. Oh well, no pain, no gain. I will have to visit yet another doctor who is a dermatology surgeon to remove possibly my right thumb nail (or part of it) and possibly part of my right thumb for biopsy as I have a sliver of black that runs thru the nail that very easily could be melanoma. The finger and toe nails are an area that a lot of people get melanoma started in and never know it. That will be on January 16th. This should not interfere with the radiation treatments. My thought today as I am in some discomfort from the biopsy cuts and a cold were in my morning devotion. God speaks to those who take time to listen, and He listens to those who take time to pray. Take time to pray and listen to God right after your read this. God does listen.