I have so many good friends here in Illinois that make this a lot easier for me. Sundee brought me yogurt, bananas and kiefer when I had my allergic reaction to the antibiotic, and helped me laugh at my rash that covered my whole body. Jolynn drove me to the clinic and waited with me for 4 hours! She even volunteered to take me back on the day of surgery. Kim has been a good friend to talk to and laugh with when I'm feeling stressed. She has no idea what a strength she has been to me. Sean has been my personal comedian during chiropractic sessions and helped my bones feel better than they have felt in ten years. Melanie has watched my children during EVERY appointment (Even during the summer when she has had four children of her own. That makes eight children folks!) and been my shoulder to cry on and by buddy to laugh with.
I also have a great family that has been very supportive. It's a shame that we don't live closer to each other, but I have felt their prayers in my behalf. I have a great father-in-law who, during the early stages, would call almost everyday for an update. I have a great mother-in-law who has been an ear to talk to and a example of endurance when life throws you a curve ball. My mom, of course, has been a light to me my whole life. She has shown me what to do with adverity and trial. My Dad has been an example of enduring physical pain and made me be thankful that this little tumor is not something more serious. He also wrote me a poem that made me cry and laugh all in the same breath:
B9 tumor - sounds like battleship.
I think they're just trying to get under your skin!
Everybody wants a piece of Becky.
To doctors, people with insurance are special!
To us you have always been special!
And we want all of you - not just a piece.
We're not trying to get under your skin.
And if you want to play battleship - we promise not to hurt you.
Normally I don't get a lot of family out this way to visit because it's easier to bring our family to Utah to see everyone than for everyone in Utah to come see us. But last month or so I've had my cousins and aunt come (way out of their way) to visit us. They were taking a Church History Tour of sorts and detoured from Nauvoo to our house. I also had my brother-in-law (Kevin), his daughter (Erin) and two of my brothers (Jaydan and Joel) come out for about a week. We stayed up late laughing and working on Kevin's house. What a blessing laughter is! It can lift the heaviest load.
Most of all I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who is mindful of me and has seen fit to not give me cancer. I feel like he is in charge and I know he loves me.
1 comment:
I looked on the internet and found this information about the Mohs surgery.
Mohs Surgery allows for the selective removal of the cancer with the preservation of as much of the surrounding normal tissue as is possible. Because of this complete systematic microscopic search for the roots of the skin cancer, Mohs Surgery offers the highest chance for complete removal of the cancer while sparing the normal tissue. Mohs Surgery is very useful for large tumors, tumors with indistinct borders, tumors near vital functional or cosmetic structures, and tumors for which other forms of therapy have failed. Although no surgeon or technique can guarantee 100% chance of cure, the Mohs technique enjoys the highest cure rate of all treatments for selected cancers.
Mohs surgery involves the evaluation of multiple frozen specimens to make sure that these "danger areas" are free from residual tumor.
Other options for treatment include a "Slow Mohs" procedure in which the cancer is initially removed, the defect left bandaged and the area repaired 48 hours later. This option has an advantage over standard Mohs surgery in that permanent sections are utilized to assess tumor margins. The added 24 to 48 hour period of healing can often make the surgical repair process much easier.
Doesn’t sound like much fun, but it does sound like the best way to have it treated. At least you’ll get to come see us in July before the surgery. Yeah!!
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