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amyable
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I went to the dermatologist the other day for the first of two biopsies. Due to a mix up (which I think was Divine providence!) she did not touch the spot on my nose (which is now two spots, one kind of large). I go back the day before Thanksgiving to have those biopsied. The derm is pretty sure they are one of the non-malignant forms of skin cancer, but only a biopsy will really tell for sure.
I have spent the last hour googling "basal cell carcinoma on nose". Warning, *don't* do that! LOL The photos are pretty gruesome. Ladies, I am quite worried - not about my future health, since those skin cancers are nonmalignant and highly curable, but honestly, about how disfiguring this will be. The things I have read by people who have gone through the removal and reconstruction were NOT encouraging. Months of disfigurement..."grutesque" (sp?) was how several people discribed how they looked...for MONTHS, and for some reason it couldn't be covered up with bandages??
I am worried about what this means for my face, my family who will have to see me even if I never leave the house again, and especially for my precious little 6 week old. I don't know if I'll be able to nurse with all the surgeries/drugs it seems to take, or care properly for the kids during the worst of it. I'm also worried about it spreading and getting bigger (and so more disfiguring) by the time I am able to get referrals to the proper doctors for treatment, etc.
Maybe it's just my postpartum hormones, and I am making too much of this, but I am seriously worried about all this, and am in tears. I am not one to cry easily about medical stuff... Please pray for me and my doctors, and my family. I am imploring several saints for a miraculous disappearance of the cancer before anything needs to be done! 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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missionfamily
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I will pray, Amy. Wasn't it St. Brigid who prayed not to have to marry the suitors her parents were sending her and was stricken with a horrible facial thing? Maybe she'd be glad to bear yours for you? I'll pray.
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Colleen
dh Greg
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kingvozzo
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Oh, Amy! I'm so sorry you're having to go through this right now! I will certainly be praying for all your intentions, and especially that you have some peace!
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Noreen
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insegnante
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Praying, Amy -- and sympathizing because I've scheduled an appointment for myself later this month because I'm concerned about the same thing. In my case the spot of most concern is small and currently obscured by hair near my side hairline, though I've been wondering if something needs to be removed would scarring interfere with hair growth, but I guess that would be fairly easy to cover up with hairstyling if I had to. I also want to "just in case" have them check something tiny and barely noticeable that's been on the side of my nose since shortly after a bad sunburn 17 years ago.
Have you heard anything about "Mohs micrographic surgery" for skin cancer? I don't know if it is an option for you or how much it would help with your concerns but here is one link describing why it would supposedly produce the "highest cure rate" and "optimal cosmetic result": http://www.sccnv.com/mohs_surgery.htm
Theresa
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MaryM
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| Posted: Nov 08 2007 at 10:30am | IP Logged
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Amy, I will certainly pray for you during this time - for healing and peace.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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ladybugs
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Praying for you, Amy!
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Maria P
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nissag
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Praying for you Amy. The internet is a blessing and a curse all at once. You can find information on any topic, but... Then you can find information (and lots of it) on any topic.
Mother Mary, embrace Amy and hold her close to your Immaculate Heart.
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Nissa
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marihalojen
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Praying!
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stefoodie
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Praying for peace and healing for you, dear Amy.
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stef
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Willa
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I will be praying, Amy. Offering up my chronic skin issues for you, definitely.
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AMDG
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Paula in MN
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Praying here for you, Amy.
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 Paula
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8kids4me
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Praying for you Amy.
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doris
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Praying for you, Amy, esp at the intercession of St Peregrine.
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kristina
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amyable wrote:
Maybe it's just my postpartum hormones, and I am making too much of this, but I am seriously worried about all this, and am in tears. I am not one to cry easily about medical stuff... Please pray for me and my doctors, and my family. I am imploring several saints for a miraculous disappearance of the cancer before anything needs to be done!
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Amy, 
I'm so sorry. I will pray for a miracle healing for you. For peace. For you to continue nursing. ... for all of your intentions.
God Bless you and your dear ones,
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kristina
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Chari
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OH, Amy, you poor thing, what a stress! I promise we will pray for you!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Angel
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Oh, Amy, I am definitely praying for you. I'll offer up all our medical issues for your recovery.
--Angela
Three Plus two
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teachingmyown
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Amy,
You will be in my prayers. So much to deal with when all you really want to be doing is snuggling your little guy and getting back to "normal".
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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joann10
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Sending prayers...
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ALmom
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Amy,
Offering prayers - and also thought I'd pass on that I have had 2 basal cell carcinomas removed - one from my nose. The one on my nose was removed when I was pregnant and I didnt' want any drugs. I ended up having it done at the dermatologists office - no fancy techniques. It is hardly visible and they numbed me with a small injection of salt water just into the site of the surgery. The dermatologist has used me to showcase his new technique of numbing with salt water to all his interns  . (He did it cause I didn't want even the normal numbing agent - probably more due to my hormonal fears and all the miscarriages we had experienced over the years and just afraid to take any chances.)
Don't hesitate to get 2nd opinions if you feel uncomfortable with recommendations. With the one on my nose, I was initially referred to a plastic surgeon who wanted to put me under. This surgeon had me petrified both that he wasn't going to be all that concerned about the baby and also that I would be terribly disfigured if I didn't do the Mohs tecnnique and be put under. Since then, someone else I know used the Moh's technique but only used a local for the surgery. There are lots of options.
I got my second opinion from the dermatologist. Also some things depend on the area of the country and how familiar they are with skin cancers. In the south, skin cancers on the face are really not that unusual - my dad has had tons removed from his face. If they don't usually see them in practice, then they probably are mostly familiar with the cases that warrant an article in a medical journal and may only know the bleaker possibilities rather than the more usual, everyday encounters. The disfigurements are most often when someone has left it unattended forever. I put off seeing my doctor about mine on my nose because of my pregnancy - hoping I could push things off until the baby was born. Even so, I didn't experience any kind of disfigurement - I doubt anyone would even know I had anything done. My dad also does not have any disfigurement from all of his basal cell carcinomas - most of his have been on the face.
The stuff on the internet is more like the oddball stuff or the attempt is to make sure people know to go ahead and insist on a biopsy of unusual things so that it doesn't go misdiagnosed for years and years. Generally things go great with basal cells. I was actually told to expect to have tons of them removed, since my first one was removed when I was fairly young - early 30s and they see this mostly in older folks who have had lots of sun exposure - farmers, sunbathers,etc.
Anyways, you certainly have my prayers.
Janet
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amyable
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I want to thank you again for all your prayers and share a little update -
I went the day before Thanksgiving to have the biopsy done, and those spots are healing as well as can be expected. I just got the call from the dermatologist, and they ARE basal cell carcinomas, so I am being referred to a Dr. that does a special microsurgery that is supposed to give good results for adequate removal and aesthetics (sp?). My current doc said he has about a 2 month waiting list, so hopefully I can get something then or sooner (but after our baby's baptism if I can be so picky - don't want to ruin all the pictures )
Thanks again - I am nervous but trying to keep my eyes on Christ!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: skin surgery -small update
