So, I put off making the call to the dermatologist. My brother had stuff removed that turned out to be fine. My sister had stuff checked out that turned out to to be fine......so, why rush? I know, I'm an intelligent woman with a BA and a bunch of grad classes, named one of the top teachers in NJ and STILL.......
I didn't want to have to pick a day three months in advance to go. I mean, who knows what they will be doing three months from now? I couldn't even get past three days from now let alone three months. I didn't want to have to take a sick day for nothing. I also didn't really relish having my entire body on display, either if you want to get right down to it. OH the conversation I could have with the ME of February! I've had so many people see me since then that I don't care anymore! As for who can tell what they will be doing three months later, well February Me, you were going to have your second surgery three months later. DUH.....
Why did I finally take action? Well, I hit the mole with my finger one day. The mole was right above my bra line next to my spine. The mole began to bleed a little. I got freaked out. I had also been researching why Nemo had been after the mole. Turns out some dogs have the ability to detect cancer. (We did DNA on Nemo-Rottie, Bloodhound, Cocker Spaniel are the three dominant breeds. Not sure how they all found each other but they did). Now I am getting worried.
I did what most people do- signed on to my insurance website and looked for people in my plan. I arbitrarily decided I wanted a group over a single practice. I also wanted something close. I was also getting that sinking feeling that I was headed into deep doo doo. So, I pick a group close to home and do a tiny bit of research, turns out they get great ratings and call.
I get a really nice woman on the phone and explain my situation and also explain that I have never been to a dermatologist. I know some have only like three weeks a year that they take new patients and such so I'm prepared. She says I can wait three months BUT (here's that dumb luck thing kicking in) the guy right before me cancelled his Monday 10am appointment and she really recommended that I not wait and take that appointment before she releases it back into the system. Perfect, I'll take it.
My Dad drives me to the appointment just in case they take it off so I don't have to try to drive with a numb/sore back. Rember, the most surgery I have even had was getting a cyst popped out at the doctor's office. I had never been in a hospital except for two emergency room visits. Oh, and I am a really big chicken about medical stuff.
So, I'm at UMDNJ Dermatology. A wonderful, amazing now Chief Resident takes me in. She looks, has a bunch of residents look and calls in The Big Guy (who, really is short) head of the dermatology program, with private practices on each coast. I apologize for waiting until I was 43 to see someone but chief resident put all of my concerns to rest. It happens all the time, at least I came in, no time like the present to get started, and given my history of a few burns and no tanning beds, it's ok. I felt so much better.
The Big Guy wants to take the mole off that afternoon. He's concerned but no one is really super worried about it at this point. So, as a layperson, I felt better. I get the last minute opening and I go home to have a light lunch. Almost.
AS I get ready to go, The Big Guy wants to use my back for their clinical trial for a confocal machine. What it does is go back and forth over the "Lesion" (it lost mole identity and became this ugly, scary word) just in case. It may save me future surgeries. Fine-where do I sign up. Chief Resident tells me it's good I waited until now because there are only 80 of these machines in the country (they started using then in October of 2011), my tax dollars helped buy this for UMDNJ and The Big Guy is one of three people in the entire country trained to read the results. Wow....talk about dumb luck!
The machine does microscopic scans of the mole, goes layer by layer and ends up with 400 virtual slides. Better than having it cut off and sent out. It takes a while and I have to sit still but they felt I was a good candidate. They compare the results to the actual biopsy to help get this machine to be accepted as an equal alternative.
I come back after lunch, ready to have this thing popped off and move on with my life. Chief Resident calls me in and I know there is a problem. Everyone is in the room and no one looks happy. Turns out The Big Guy spent his lunch hour reading my 400 slides. They gently explain there will be no surgery, this is bad news and needs to be done by a dermatology oncology surgeon. Thankfully I had just the scan because with the mole still in place, it will be easier to figure out if the cancer spread. "Wait!" My head is screaming-"I have cancer? Skin cancer can spread? This is really serious?????" Chief Resident gives me a huge hug and tells me we will get through this, there are a bunch of new treatments and waiting until now actually gives me an advantage because there is more out there now than last year. She walks out with me, and keeps telling me to keep the appointment with the surgeon, you're an intelligent woman, don't blow this off, we are counting on you to prove the confocal right, and so on. Another big hug. I have to say, I believe she's going to be an amazing doctor!
The Big Guy told me the doctor he is sending me to is one of the top in the country (like himself) and has at least a three month wait. My head is now shrieking-GET THIS OFF ME NOW! However, since they are friends and this needs immediate attention and there is a clinical trial for treatment starting into Phase Three soon, he spoke to this doctor and the surgeon will see me Monday. Nothing like having someone pull strings for you.
They took tons of photos of the mole that day and a bunch right before my surgery. I guess those pictures will live forever on a power point for future dermatologists at the school!
Chief Resident calls me frequently to see how I am doing and to answer any questions. She also asks me to tell her what the doctors say so she knows I understand it. She also confirmed the Nemo prediction and said there has been a lot of research into cancer detecting dogs, just that most are trained to do it and Nemo wasn't. There is talk of this ending up in a medical journal write up (including the Nemo story) once they have more people whose confocal matches up to the biopsy (Chief Resident took a bunch of residents to see the biopsy and compare it-it matched) She helped me schedule my three month skin check, and I'll be there every three months for a few years. Not a problem. I love the people in the office and am so thankful they didn't just remove the lesion and call it a day.
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