Be A Cancer Survivor (Part 2)

If you haven't already, read the first part of Be A Cancer Survivor.

It has been a few months now since I was diagnosed with cancer.

After my skin biopsy my nose looked like this...

Unfortunately, a week after my skin biopsy the scab fell off and a new lesion started to grow.  The cancer was growing rapidly right before my eyes.  I was terrified.

I was told by my doctor's office that the type of cancer I had was "slow growing."  It's not slow growing when it starts growing faster than weeds! 

I was depressed.  I felt broken.  I wanted to tell God that I wanted a refund or a do-over.

On September 21st, I met with my surgeon for the first time.  I think he was expecting an old, blonde and blue eyed woman.  He took one look at me SHOCKED and said, "This is not good.  I need to get you into surgery as soon as possible.  You are too young to have to deal with this."  He told me that squamous cell carcinoma is typically slow growing, but mine obviously did not fit hat characteristic.  Not only did I have zero risk factors, but I also had an atypical form of the cancer.  FANTASTIC.  :/

The surgeon was able to squeeze me in a few days later on September 26th.  My type of cancer has a tendency to spread to neighboring lymph nodes, so the quicker the scheduling process the better! Remember when they initially couldn't even get me in for a BIOPSY until November?  I don't even want to know how ginormous the cancer would have been if I waited that long!  That is just another reason why it is SO IMPORTANT to educate and advocate for yourself!

On surgery day, I entered a room and sat in a chair similar to the ones at a dentist.  My surgeon was constantly shaking his head unhappy that I had to deal with cancer.  "You're too young!  I hate this!"  I told him I care for kids with cancer, so in perspective I'm an old geezer in comparison.

We went back and forth about the best way to handle the surgery.  Should we be on the conservative side to avoid major scarring, or do we go all balls out and do the skin graft (that could take years to even look normal again)?

I began feeling overwhelmed and started to cry.  I don't like to cry in front of people.  I'm the happy-happy-joy-joy type of girl, the independent girl that won't even let a guy carry her suitcase, and a total class clown, so it takes a lot to make me cry.

He told me he didn't want to pressure me into anything, but that he had a daughter around my age and if she were in my situation he would do the conservative approach.  Because of his words, and him treating me somewhat like his "daughter," I decided on the conservative approach.

"I hope I didn't pressure you into something you didn't want."

I told him, "This is my decision.  I signed the consent form, not you."

We discussed that if the cancer were to come back that we would do the more aggressive approach plus radiation.

He scrubbed my face with betadine, and then numbed me up with lidocaine.  The lidocaine hurt 10x more this time around since he had to numb a larger area.

If you get queasy at the sight of blood please scroll down really fast....

starting.....




now......

Ahhhh!  Not my best photo. 

Excuse me for not smiling, half my face was numb, and a chunk of cancer was just cut away from me.

He then cauterized the wound to smooth the wound bed so that the healthy tissue grew evenly, and to also kill any remaining cancer cells that may be lingering around.  Die! Die! Die!

For almost two weeks I had to walk around with a bandage on my face....

Me at a cancer work conference in Pittsburgh sporting my band aid

It became a great conversation topic...

Person:  "Hey what happened to your nose?"

Me:  "Oh I got into a huge fight with an asshole named Cancer. It might not look like it right now, but I think I won."

Since then the scab has fallen off, and their is a slight indentation in my nose, along with a tiny hint of pink that I can easily cover with makeup.

This is me one month post surgery. 

On October 23rd (my birthday), I had my follow up appointment with my surgeon.  He told me that the pathology results were back, and I was officially cancer free!  He was as excited as I was with the news.  We both agreed that we made the right choice going the conservative route.

I told him that he just gave me the best birthday present ever!  He made me a cancer survivor! *tear*

This experience was just another reality check for me that the human body is not invincible.  Even though I take care of cancer patients for a living, and have seen many lives cut short due to cancer, it is completely different when you are the one personally carrying the cancer torch.

I have made some significant health changes in my life since my diagnosis.  I now religiously apply moisturizer with sunscreen (even if I am not going out in the sun), I have joined a gym, I've  incorporated more fruits and veggies into my diet, and I have shared my story with several other people my age to increase awareness.

Date Accomplished (I hope, forever!):  October 23rd, 2012