Thursday, April 29, 2010

All About Skin...

Last year I had a funny looking "freckle" on my arm. I asked my doctor about it. He took a punch biopsy and said it was nothing to worry about. I didn't think too much about it because I have a lot of freckles and moles anyway. But it bugged me, because it was larger than most and I thought it was ugly. It looked a lot like the photo below:



About six months later I noticed it was getting thicker, raised up more from the skin. So I went to a dermatologist and had a more invasive biopsy. The diagnosis... melanoma. That was scary. Melanoma can kill you. Fortunately, it was what they called a "stage zero", meaning it had not spread to any other location. But it had to be cut out. That was last summer. The incision was about two inches long, and I still have a scar. It's not too bad but it is visible. It's slightly red and raised, especially at the ends. My brother-in-law, who is a surgeon, calls these raised ends "dog ears" and says they will go away in time. It's been about nine months now, and they are going away. I am still treating it with silicone, which seems to be helping.

I am writing this so you will go to a dermatologist and have him/her check any funny looking growth you may have. I feel very lucky that mine was caught before it spread.

Oh, and one more thing. Last week I had my legs waxed. I had had that done before, and at the same place and never had a problem. But this time I got a sore on my leg about 24 hours later. It was a staph infection. I went to the doctor and had it cultured. I wanted to make sure it wasn't MRSA, which is a more dangerous infection that is resistant to antibiotics. I found out it is indeed staph, but fortunately a treatable kind. So now I am taking antibiotics to get rid of it. You just never know!

4 comments:

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Yikes!
Judy.
I am relieved that you are blessed with happy outcomes... let's keep it that way.
I waxed once... it was about being very pregnant, in Hawaii, and wanting to look presentable in the bikini region... what a painful disaster. I think the inflamed effect might have been worse than what nature blessed me with... lol

You are thoughtful for sharing your experiences... we all need reminding to be kind and dutiful to our bodies.

rachel said...

Poor you! Hope you're taking live-culture yoghurt after those antibiotics?

judy in ky said...

Natalie... ouch!

Rachel, yes I am!

Susan said...

Yikes again ...glad that both scares are treatable.