My Public Service Announcement (with gross photos)

red1965

red1965

Joined
Apr 21, 2009
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On a somewhat serious note to all that dwell on this planet, I would like to give my version of advice on the subject of skin cancer (melanoma). I had a small freckle on the right side of my neck for quite awhile. My wife, who is a health care provider had notice a small change in the appearance of said freckle and suggested that I have it seen about. Long story short, it ended up being a melanoma. Lucky for me (and by the grace of God) it was in the very early stages and could be removed without other treatment. This is not a pleasant experience at all, but it sure beats the alternative. My advice you say? If you see a mole, spot, growth,etc. that changes appearance, please have it seen about. Cover up or use a good quality sunscreen when outdoors always. No exceptions! I did not know how many people lose their lives to this type of cancer, and as I said before, the surgical option is not a painless process. I am in quite a bit of pain as I type this, but at least I am alive.
Now on to the photos.....
The first photo is of the gaping hole in my neck. Quite a serious amount of tissue must be removed to make sure that all cancer cell are removed. This took place earlier in the week. After getting the allclear from the lab, the "cosmetic" process can take place. To now make this hole turn into a natural looking "line" on my neck, more tissue had to be removed. All I can say is OUCH! See Photo 2.....
Please take care of yourselves! Thanks for listening (reading).
 

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Wow! :eek: Good luck to you, and take some time off & get well. Melanoma ain't no joke.

~Chris
 
red1965, I am usually fishing on or near water usually 3-4 times a week as long as it's above 32*. About 9-10 years ago, I noticed a spot on the back (top) of my right hand, "freckalish" in appearance, started to turn darker the next summer and the texture of it felt like a bad case of dry skin. Went to my P/C doc who sent me to another to have it tested and it was the early stages of cancer. Now when I am out on the boat or bank fishing, I have so much sun bloc on, if I fell into the water, someone would definitely be calling the EPA about an "alleged" oil spill . . . :)
Glad you are going to be ok, good luck.
 
A friend of mine had a tiny freckle appear on the top of his head about a year ago. His wife noticed it. It was cancerous and the doctor removed a divot about the size and shape of half a golf ball from his head. It took months to heal. But all of us who know him are glad that it was caught early and agressively treated. This is nothing to mess around with.
 
Ren, the glass eye option was not covered under my insurance. Bummer. They did offer the metal bolt option, (aka Frankenstein) but I thought that would be a little tacky. Just changed the bandage for the first time since surgery and I will have to say it looks much better than it did. Swelling is reducing and very little redness is showing. Still hurts like a mother. When they first numbed it, the surgical tech didnt get enough of it numb and I had to tell the Dr. in a very excited manner that I could feel him making the cut. His reply...Are you sure? More numbing meds followed and all was ok till the last 6 or 7 stitches. It wore off again and they said I was about at the limit I could have. So I had almost complete feeling for the last stitches. No fun at all.
I am pretty good about doing the sunscreen thing everytime I go out. I guess I need some SPF 5000 or something.
Thanks to all for the well wishes.
 
red1965 said:
Ren, the glass eye option was not covered under my insurance. Bummer. They did offer the metal bolt option, (aka Frankenstein) but I thought that would be a little tacky. Just changed the bandage for the first time since surgery and I will have to say it looks much better than it did. Swelling is reducing and very little redness is showing. Still hurts like a mother. When they first numbed it, the surgical tech didnt get enough of it numb and I had to tell the Dr. in a very excited manner that I could feel him making the cut. His reply...Are you sure? More numbing meds followed and all was ok till the last 6 or 7 stitches. It wore off again and they said I was about at the limit I could have. So I had almost complete feeling for the last stitches. No fun at all.
I am pretty good about doing the sunscreen thing everytime I go out. I guess I need some SPF 5000 or something.
Thanks to all for the well wishes.
Click to expand...

As a skin cancer survivor myself (basal cell carcinoma) I can't stress enough the need for EVERYONE to wear sunscreen, all the time. Thank god for 50 SPF.
 
The doc carved a basal cell carcinoma out of my temple about a year and a half ago. Fortunately, these are one of the less aggressive cancers. Once you remove them, no further action is necessary.

I've always been a believer in long sleeve shirts. Now I also wear hats with brims. If I'm expecting to be seriously outdoors, I wear sunblock as well.
 
Thanks for the reality check. I've definitely not been careful enough in the past and my dad has had a small spot removed.

I'll be more careful in the future. Btw, the pics are a great 'convincer'.

Kento
 
Whoa. Thanks for the scary reminder. I'm a redhead and work outdoors. I've already had one spot removed from my leg a few years ago. Guess I need to get back to the dermatologist to get a few more spots checked out.
 
I am a red head as well and just had a few irregular moles removed myself -- you've gotta watch em like a hawk. You definitely dodge a bullet with this one - thank God for your vigilant wife -- I think she saved your life.
 
Glad they caught it in time. Good luck on your continued health.

Glenn
 
Thanks to all for your well wishes. It has been 2 weeks since surgery and I seem to be healing up nicely. My neck is still somewhat sore and the stiches have not quite all dissolved. I have plucked out probably 15 or so that loosened. They itch bad once they break loose. Looks to me as this is gonna leave a pretty nasty scar, but I am not real pretty to begin with! Only real discomfort I have had in the last few days came when my wife put me in a chokehold. She is testing for her 1st degree black belt in TKD this weekend and I am her partner( My son and I are already 1st degree working on 2nd degree) for said test. We were in the 2nd hour of her pre-test and I guess she just was really into it, when a mental lapse occured on her part. She was to put the attacker in a choke and take them down. Needless to say, I went down pretty quick. But , I later kicked her in the head by accident, so I guess we are even!
 
+ 1 on the OP. The Bic C can and does happen, even to good people, when you least expect it. Early detection is CRITICAL.
I was not quite that lucky. In 2006, I went to the dentist to see about what I thought was an abcessed tooth; it wasn't.
what it was...squamous cell carcinoma in my jaw, stage IV. !7 hours worth of surgery later, I'd lost half of my jaw, the fibula in my left leg ( used to re-build my face) and a big chunk of my left forearm to reconstruct the inside of my mouth.
Radiation and chemo followed, and let me tell ya....it ain't no fun, not even a little.
Regular check-ups and daily checks in the mirror for those freckles that look different, that unexplained bump, or that "thing" that hurts for no particular reason...just do it.
 
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