9 July 09
Went to my follow-up with Mayfield today. All is looking really great. There is a risk with this surgery that the flaps of skin that are preserved and sewn down won't take and then you have to do skin graft stuff later. Not the case with me, Praise God. It's looking like a perfect recovery, with just a small issue on the wound where the tumor actually sat. Nothing a little anti-biotic ointment can't handle.
We discussed the pathology report. No surprises there. The MRI measured the tumor at 8 cm, actually, it was 9. 9 centimeters! I asked, "Is that a record????" Nope.
I insisted he tell me what stage I'm at. The answer is stage III, which I guess I knew already, too. We didn't even talk about survival statistics. As he pointed out, it doesn't change our "battle plan" at all, and statistics don't govern an individual's life. They make no difference to me and Bryan because God has already told us that this cancer won't kill me.
In all, something about this doctor just. . .floats my spirit. In general, I'm doing very well, and feeling pretty great almost all the time. I'm in practically no pain and taking very little of my pain meds by this point. But in addition to this glad disposition, appointments with Mayfield multiply my joy. It's like God has put into his heart a very special care and compassion for me. Mayfield treats me like a beloved kid sister. And on a deep, deep level I register: God loves me so much.
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1 comment:
Whoa! That puppy was almost 4 inches long - definitely a monster inside you!
Glad to hear that the surgical recovery is going well and that your skin flap is healing nicely. I am very familiar with the skin flap issue although I was unaware of the associated danger until my first followup.
Imagine my excitement when I heard the Dr. Say 'oh good, everything looks fine - I was concerned that it might not take' upon removing the dressing from my skin flap (aka the left side of my face). Aside from when he made me look in the mirror at the devil's egg sized hole he had just cut into my face, it was the scariest moment of my whole skin cancer experience.
I'm so glad he didn't say anything about this concern earlier (although he might have - the Valium had me pretty woozy), I would have been a basket case for 3 days.
So when do you find out about the treatment program? I know you met with your oncologist before the surgery, what is your comfort level with him/her? I'm so glad that you have such a level of comfort and confidence with Dr. Mayfield and hope you find the same with your Dr. for the healing stage of this process.
love you
laura
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