Friday, February 20, 2009

Be Aware

It all started about maybe a year ago. I noticed I had a spot on my left cheek that was red and scaly ... about an inch or so in diameter.

I wasn't sure how it got there or what it was. I kept the area clean. Didn't help. I put alcohol on it to dry it up. Didn't help. I even put yeast infection cream on it, thinking maybe it was a yeast infection that was eating my skin. Stop laughing. Didn't help.

After several months of hoping it would just go away, I called a dermatologist.

"We are booking about six months out," they told me.

That in and of itself was enough to get me completely annoyed with doctors ... so I hung up, with no appointment. After all, I had a skin problem right then ... seeing a doctor in six months wasn't going to do me any good. They suggested I see my primary care physician, but I figured he wouldn't know what he was talking about ... so I figured I would wait a little longer for the spot to just go away.

Six months came and went ... the spot was still there. It really didn't bother me much, for it was right on my cheekbone and I could cover it with blush so it blended. Although you could still see the scaliness through the blush. Whatever.

About a month ago, it dawned on me that this could be skin cancer. All along, I really did think it was just psoriasis or something. But what if it was skin cancer? So ... I tried calling another dermatologist.

"We can see you next week," they told me.

Fabulous.

My doctor appointment was yesterday. I described my symptoms to the dermatologist and she looked at my cheek.

"You have what is called Actinic Keratoses ... or pre-cancer," she said.

Fabulous.

The dermatologist whipped out her handy can of liquid nitrogen to perform cryosurgery. In other words, she sprayed the spots on my cheek in order to freeze them ... about four spots total. It stung and turned my face really red. Looking good. She said not to mess with the area and to give it four weeks to heal. If the spots are not gone in four weeks, I need to go back for more cryosurgery.

Let's just hope it doesn't go beyond that. Today it looks like I have four huge, flat blisters on my face.

Scary stuff, people. Be aware of your bodies and see a dermatologist every once in awhile for a good looking over. And don't let annoying spots like mine go for a year before you do something about it.

17 comments:

  1. Geez, Bethany, that's is scary. I sure am glad you got it checked out though. Answers are a good thing to questions you have for many months.

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  2. How scary! If they heal and go away does that mean they won't cause some sort of cancer? I hope it will all be okay!

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  3. OMG! I'm freaking out. I have a spot just like that on my cheek that I went to have checked last year. I was afraid I had skin cancer, but the derm. said no. He thought it looked like blood vessels that had been inflamed by pregnancy hormones. He couldn't give me a steroid cream because I was nursing Goldie and I was too chicken to let him freeze it off. (I also had my kids with me) I was worried because mine is right next to a little mole. I'll be calling to get it rechecked. Thanks!

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  4. My grandma had hers for almost 20 years.. they can be scary and its best to get them checked and frozen off etc. but thankfully they are not very aggressive! Hope you dont have to go back!

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  5. I'm so glad you finally went in to be seen. This has been going on with my husband for about a year now.. his hands, back and face. It's NOTHING to wait around on... Stay vigilante about your skin Bethany.. lots of little ones depending on a Momma!!!

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  6. I am glad to hear that you got in and it was taken care of! scary stuff!

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  7. I remember when I had two spots frozen on each cheek on my face while I was pregnant with Harper- it was lovely. But once the blisters went away the ugly marks were gone so it was nice. Be thankful that you didn't have to get anything cut off of you like I did. I have the scars to remind me to wear my sunblock!

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  8. Oh Bethany, how frightening. No one wants to hear the C word, even with "pre" in front of it. Glad you got it taken care of and praying that's the end of it.

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  9. How scary! Hope you are feeling better soon!

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  10. Thanks for sharing your story, Bethany! I worry about my own skin because I'm fair and worshipped the sun as a teenager anyway, getting some wicked sunburns. I hope this did it, and you won't need any more procedures! Keep us posted.

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  11. Yep, I had a small patch on my eyebrow years ago. It wouldn't go away, so I went in. Doc said, he'd have to freeze it off. I said, okay and figured I'd be making an appt for that - the next thing the nurse is coming in with all kinds of stuff. I said, "You mean NOW?!!!" LOL Barely had any time to get nervous!!!

    Glad you got it taken care of! NOW, to get those 4 spots healed up!!!

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  12. yes I had one on my arm they froze off scary

    will be thinking of you, praying it stays away

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  13. Yuck...I'm sorry you had to go through that.
    just like someone said above. i have 8 scars on my back where my derm cut out my stuff. I swear he is a masochist. Every time I go for a check he ends up wanting to cut something off of me. I look like someone peppered me in the back with a BB gun. No more backless shirts for me. Hopefully you heal up quickly.

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  14. That totally gives me chills, but it's a great thing that you caught it while it was still in the "pre" stage! Can you even wash your face in the next 4 weeks?

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  15. Ow, I go every four months to get checked and usually have to get a few things frozen off. It hurts like a you-know-what but it brings peace of mind so just keep it up! They'll probably want to see you regularly from here on out.

    liz

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  16. I'm glad to hear you had it checked out. Thanks for the reminder and educating others!

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  17. good for you for getting it checked out and not waiting any longer. Praying that this first visit will take care of it and you won't need a second treatment.

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