So I have cancer… again.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2013. It has been 1 year, 6 months, and 14 days since I heard "you have cancer" - for the first time. A week ago, I celebrated my one year anniversary from the completion of chemo. It has been 9 months and 4 days since I completed radiation and I am still currently in treatment - taking the Tamoxifen. My hair is not even shoulder length yet... I am not back to "me" yet and again - I hear the words "you have cancer." Really? Cruel ass joke if you ask me!
On Tuesday of this week I had a mole removed. Then I patiently waited the 3 days to get my biopsy results. When I heard nothing by Friday afternoon, of course I called…because I am such a patient person. The nurse kindly told me that the results showed basal cell carcinoma and all of it was removed so there is nothing to worry about and on Monday she would set me up to see a dermatologist so they can futher asses my skin.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2013. It has been 1 year, 6 months, and 14 days since I heard "you have cancer" - for the first time. A week ago, I celebrated my one year anniversary from the completion of chemo. It has been 9 months and 4 days since I completed radiation and I am still currently in treatment - taking the Tamoxifen. My hair is not even shoulder length yet... I am not back to "me" yet and again - I hear the words "you have cancer." Really? Cruel ass joke if you ask me!
On Tuesday of this week I had a mole removed. Then I patiently waited the 3 days to get my biopsy results. When I heard nothing by Friday afternoon, of course I called…because I am such a patient person. The nurse kindly told me that the results showed basal cell carcinoma and all of it was removed so there is nothing to worry about and on Monday she would set me up to see a dermatologist so they can futher asses my skin.
 Mole located right in the crease of my leg and lower stomach. It began to itch and while sleeping one night I ripped part of it off by accident. |  Mole removed - stitches (May 12, 2015) The mole was located right below an old tattoo. |
Here’s the part that I am struggling with… the nurse said “nothing to worry about”. I believe that statement is on the list of things you DON’T SAY to someone who has cancer. I have done enough internet research to know that basal cell shouldn’t kill me and this cancer battle will be nothing compared to what I went through with breast cancer… BUT it is STILL cancer! That just means that there is cancer still swimming around and attaching itself to shit inside my body… really? And I shouldn’t worry. Really?
This isn’t a recurrence of my cancer, this isn't a secondary cancer. So what is it and what does this all mean? I don’t know. I am confused and want my breast team of doctors back so they can explain all this to me. Sadly, I don’t think it will work like that, as I am pretty sure they are only concerned with breast cancer. :(
So, in regards to this basal cell carcinoma… in January of this year, I went in for a routine checkup at my breast surgeon’s office. I had a skin patch on my leg that looked somewhat like ringworm. He had made mention of basal cell cancer but said to try some antifungal cream for about a month and if it worked, it would have just been a bacterial topical skin infection and nothing more. Well, that same patch of skin doesn’t look like ringworm anymore but it is still there… and spread in several places throughout my legs – both of them. I just read an article on the misdiagnosing of basal cell… (http://cancermisdiagnosisguide.com/skin-cancer/) because it has been since January and no creams have worked, I am quite worried at this point. The mole that was just taken off this week is on my leg also but no where near these other patches of skin… things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm.
I think I will go camping this weekend… that way I will quit worrying and stay off the internet until Monday!
This isn’t a recurrence of my cancer, this isn't a secondary cancer. So what is it and what does this all mean? I don’t know. I am confused and want my breast team of doctors back so they can explain all this to me. Sadly, I don’t think it will work like that, as I am pretty sure they are only concerned with breast cancer. :(
So, in regards to this basal cell carcinoma… in January of this year, I went in for a routine checkup at my breast surgeon’s office. I had a skin patch on my leg that looked somewhat like ringworm. He had made mention of basal cell cancer but said to try some antifungal cream for about a month and if it worked, it would have just been a bacterial topical skin infection and nothing more. Well, that same patch of skin doesn’t look like ringworm anymore but it is still there… and spread in several places throughout my legs – both of them. I just read an article on the misdiagnosing of basal cell… (http://cancermisdiagnosisguide.com/skin-cancer/) because it has been since January and no creams have worked, I am quite worried at this point. The mole that was just taken off this week is on my leg also but no where near these other patches of skin… things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm.
I think I will go camping this weekend… that way I will quit worrying and stay off the internet until Monday!
Link to skin cancer photos: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer/galleries/skin-cancer-images
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