What’s Next…

November 12, 2018

A lot has happened since that dreaded phone call on October 24th…

• October 26th: Wide Local Excision surgery was performed to remove the primary melanoma. 
  
  • Results: There were some lone-wolf cancer cells found in the tissue, however, the margins were clean. Praise God
  • BRAF Gene Results: I am still waiting on the results of the genetic test for the BRAF gene. Dr. Wangia said it could take between 1-2 months for the results to return. I hate the waiting game. 
• October 30th: My very FIRST visit with a primary care physician. Is it sad to say that I’ve never had a primary care physician before? Anyways, upon her examination she requested two things:
  
  • CBC Blood Test
  • CT Scan of the Pelvis to see why my left groin lymph node is much larger than my right  lymph node. 
• November 2nd: CBC Blood test.
  
  • Results: Normal 
• November 8th: Stitch Removal
  • Results: My body clearly did not like the stitches. The area had been inflamed since day 1, fluid continued to draining from the area, and the incision started to slightly re-open and bleed as the nurse performed the stitch removal. I also had a stitch that got embedded into my new skin growth that had to be removed by reopening the area with a scalpel (ouch).
    
• November 8th: Two more suspicious looking moles were removed from my back.
  • Results: I am still waiting for the biopsy results of these two new areas; praying that these two moles come back benign. In the event that one or both moles return as melanoma, then another Wide Local Excision surgery will be performed and lymph node testing will be performed.  

    

• November 9th: CT Scan of the Pelvis to examine why my left lymph node is larger than my right.
  • Results: I am still waiting for the results of the CT scan.
    

• My Experience: The CT scan is a very intimidating piece of machinery. Before I could take the exam, I needed to drink 32 oz of this thick, white, chalky-textured, vanilla-flavored crap in 20 minutes (trying not to vomit this stuff up was a challenge). Once I finished the oral contrast liquid, I was then escorted back to the room where they hooked me to an IV. The liquid that was to be dispersed into the IV (iodine contrast) wasn’t going to be realized until halfway through my scans. When the iodine contrast was finally released and flowing through my IV, it burned as it entered my arm, but it made my head, back, neck and groin area feel very warm. It kinda felt like I was peeing my pants; definitely a very awkward and unpleasant feeling. The scan itself took about 30 minutes as the technician controlling to machine outside of the room continued to pull my body in and out of the small tube, asking me to hold my breath for every scan as the machine swirled around me like a loud washing machine. Overall, the experience wasn’t too terrible – but I can certainly see how many people can have anxiety attacks when having a CT scan.

• What’s Next…  

The waiting game…. Waiting for the results of my genetic testing, waiting for the biopsy results of my two newly removed moles, and waiting for my CT scans to be reviewed by my doctor. For now, I’ll just continue to pray for favorable results; I will continue to check my skin and encourage others to do the same. No one should have to bare these scars.  

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