Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Lots on my mind

So just to fill everyone in as to what is going on with me in the last few days I thought I'd update my blog.
Last week Thursday I went to a dermatologist to have a mole looked that which was on the side of my face by my ear. I assumed he would take it off and find out that there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. He mention that it could be a mole that appears during pregnancy or it could be melanoma. The doctor did mention about how depending on if it was melanoma and the severity of it what the next step was going to be. So I left the office not expecting to hear anything until late this week. Well Monday morning, today, the doctor calls me personally, which is Never a good sign, and tells me that I do have melanoma, it is very aggressive and the lab isn't sure that he got all of it. The lab says that it's 1.1mm deep and it's ulcerated. He is referring me to an ENT who specializes in throat and neck cancer. The next part that was concerning was that HE called the ENT and HE waited 25 minutes on hold to let them know he was sending me their way. So when I called and asked for a specific person and she told me she was waiting for me to call that alarmed me a little bit as well. Then, how many people can get into a specialists office quickly? Well I'm going on Wednesday!! So all of these things are adding up to not good information in my mind.

So now I'm looking at having more of my face removed to make sure they got everything where the mole was as well as a lymph node mapping to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else. I'm not sure when this is going to happen. All I know is that the best case for me right now is that they can get everything and it does not involve any nodes. The more nodes that it does involve the worse it is for me and the higher the risk that the cancer is in another body system. Unfortunately this age of computers and internet has its disadvantages. Instead of just talking to the doctors finding out things and asking questions, as I wait to go to my appointment, I'm looking up everything I can find about melanoma and the treatments, as well as the prognosis for all of it.

Obviously there is never good timing for things like this but in my case I'm 31 weeks pregnant and I'm scheduled to take a very important test next week which will need my full attention. Unfortunately this test as well as this melanoma will determine my future and what that holds. I do realize that melanoma is not necessarily the worst cancer you can have and maybe I'm blowing this all out of proportion but the signs all have been pointing in a negative direction so far.

Well I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens on Wednesday and go from there. Thanks in advance for keeping me and my family in your prayers and I'll be sure to update as things change and new information comes.

3 comments:

Laurel said...

Hi Jen, Just read your blog, and wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers!

The Lord Family said...

Hang in there friend. Try not to think the worst. You will be fine, I am praying for you.

The Bentley's said...

Jen...we are praying for you. I also had all the pastors at our church pray for you today. I know the Lord is in control, even if we don't understand why things happen the way they do. We love you and await the next news anxiously! May the Lord give you his peace and comfort right now.

Love you,
Christy <><