Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Isn't Life Grand?

For the past three weeks I have been secretly very worried about some nasty blisters behind Beloved's ear.
It all started with an angry red patch which rose into blisters, one of which bled profusely, then apparently healed. The next time I looked another blister had appeared, the patch had grown.

I've been having a few very short nights over this, waking up long before dawn and lying in bed, thinking unpleasant thoughts and playing out some serious scenarios in my head.

We finally saw a dermatologist at the local hospital today, who very quickly, without any hesitation at all, diagnosed Basal Cell Carcinoma, a very common, non-spreading cancer, which can and must be removed as soon as possible, but shouldn't cause any further trouble.  Once you've had it, it'll probably return at some stage, but it almost never turns malignant. Just keep an eye on sore patches in exposed areas of your skin and have a specialist look at them if they worry you.

Guess who is feeling on top of this wonderful world  this evening?

38 comments:

Paul C said...

So glad about the good news. I know of several people whose diagnosis was serious: melanoma.

George said...

I'm glad that you are relieved, Friko. At this point, I think I have had about eight to ten basal cell carcinomas removed from my face and other parts of my head, including behind one of my ears. It's become routine and I don't worry about it. The only thing that one must do is have regular check-ups and remain suspicious of anything that doesn't go away after a few days. Good luck.

elizabethm said...

My OH and I went through almost the exactly the same with a patch on his back earlier this year. I sympathise, empathise and am so glad you had this diagnosis. Best wishes to both of you.

jay diamond said...

So pleased you have had 'good news'....now it's time for some good-nights sleep.Much love to you both

Bonnie said...

Our imaginations can take us to very scary places. So glad the news was good. (I had a bcc removed from my forehead a year ago.)

Lorrie said...

My own beloved had one of these removed a couple of years ago and needs to have another spot looked at. It's amazing how much we worry over these things, which can be very serious. I'm so glad your news was good.

Raining Acorns said...

Your advice is well taken, and I am glad all is well!

marciamayo said...

Fantastic news, Friko. Take a deep breath and celebrate.

Jimmy said...

Glad for your good news.
My "Life sentence to sevitude and pain" has many health problems two are MS and Angina. I also have more things wrong with me than a basketful of Chernobyl kittens so I do know the agonies and can empathize.

Brian Miller said...

whew. glad you had it checked out and glad for the findings....nice.

Jenn Jilks said...

Always better when you know what it is. Best of luck.

ellen abbott said...

How wonderful for you. And him. And what a relief.

Cloudia said...

Great Catch!!!



Aloha from Honolulu

Comfort Spiral

><}}(°>

daylily (Queenmothermamaw) said...

Oh I am so glad you all went to the MD and all is well. I went for a routine check up a few years ago and with no warning and no obvious,to me, symptoms had a BCC removed from my face. I was a lifeguard in my teen years and probably will have some more. Life is grand for sure.
QMM

Hilary said...

You've got good instincts. I'm glad all was caught early.

Vicki Lane said...

Well done! Congratulations all round.

English Rider said...

Very Good! Well done for hiding your fears.

Laura Paine Carr said...

ah. thank goodness. and I am knowing that you sleep well tonight.

Reflections said...

Glad for the good news.... if it returns, occasionally same area, usually nearby in the cases I'm familiar with.

June said...

Awash in relief!
I know that feeling!
I am so glad for you.

rachel said...

Good news. Hopefully no more frights like that one!

Fran said...

Good news, that it can be sorted out. It's a lesson to us all. I tend to just ignore things and hope they go away.

Arkansas Patti said...

Wonderful news. I spent my lifetime in the sun so once a year I get strange patches frozen off at the doctors. Keep on top and he will be fine.
Sleep well.

Christine said...

Glad all is well. I tend to be an 'ignore it and hope it goes away' person but I know that is not wise.

Tabor said...

I am sure your sigh was heard round the world. I think I have actually had a few of those that went away. I do have a dermatologists appointment next month!

Pondside said...

Just goes to show - always check things out. I can imagine your profound relief - that wonderful lightness of heart that comes after such a worry.

Wisewebwoman said...

Oh Friko.
Words can't express my relief at your wonderful news.
Shows how worry can be so destructive and such an energy vampire, h'm?
XO
WWW

Glenn Buttkus said...

Yes, and an atta' girl to you
for pushing your Beloved to
the sawbones, and diagnosing
the problem. Many of us are at
that age where old Saul proves
daily that he is not our friend.
My Beloved had a lump on her
neck, near an ear, and it turned
out to be basal cell carcinoma too.
She, ironically, spotted a suspicious
mole on my back, and when I had
it checked, naughty mole that it was,
it turned out to be the next, more
dangerous stage of skin cancer,
squamous cell carcinoma, and I
had to have it removed. So we were
off on Christmas holiday last year,
both with our dermatological stitches
and lighter hearts. Good on you.
My mole, they said, was a reaction
to a terrible sunburn I received in
Australia in 1977. Skin never forgets.

Kerry said...

Oh whew. First the dread, then the relief. It feels great to have just dodged a bullet, doesn't it? Stories like this make my heart go out to all of those who have received a different, not-so-good news.

Renée said...

da fällt einem ein Stein vom Herzen, nur wenn man dies alles liest...! "Beloved" und Dir alles erdenklich Gute wünscht Renée

mollygolver said...

Thank Goodness - breathe out that it is not the malignant sort. Also that he's got you to look after him!

kcinnova said...

Isn't it strange how we will worry and fret but not take care of business? I'm so glad you went in and got it seen, and even happier to know that it was a fairly simple solution. My dad has gotten these as well.

Herrad said...

BHi Friko,
You are right Life is wonderful especially now you know your darling is not in danger.
Good news indeed.
Love,
Herrad

Jackie said...

What a relief. I'm pleased for you.

Lorrie said...

Well now, that's really strange - the link at the bottom. I didn't place it there.

Ruth said...

What a relief. Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music . . .

taylorsoutback said...

Always good to experience that sense of relief! We go through this same checkup every six months with my DH...but only after my constant and annoying nagging a few years back to have his arm checked. He went only to quiet me down...have lost count on the number of removals since. Now I can sit back and be very smug...
We have to take care of them...

Mark Kerstetter said...

What a relief for you. We in the Sunshine State have to be very mindful of our skin, have it looked over by a dermatologist regularly.