Basil Cell Carcinoma

Just before leaving for the MTC, a visit to the Dermatologist revealed that I had a couple of small growths that sparked some concern.  A biopsy determined it was in fact a Basil Cell Carcinoma. An appointment was made to go in for the MOHS procedure to remove it.  This procedure consists of removing a portion, checking to see if all the cancer cells are removed.  If not, another portion is taken out, and this is continued until it shows no more signs of cancer cells.  The area is then stitched up in a way so as to leave little or no scar.  That was great in as much as it was on my face on the upper part of my nose near my eye.  Everything healed beautifully and we were on our way to the MTC and then on to Johannesburg.

About seven months into our mission, I started to notice s couple of small nodules on the side of my face.  They seemed to have grown quite rapidly since we had arrived in country.  Fearing that they were the same thing that was removed before we left, I made an appointment with a dermatologist in Johannesburg that was recommended by the Mission Doctor.

Surprisingly enough the spots in question were nothing, but she froze them and they were good. She was, however, concerned about a spot on my nose.  It was a spot that I had had some concern over, but having had three other dermatologists look at it over the past three years, each confirmed that it was nothing but a zit and would go away.  It would heal for a bit, but then fester up again and never quite heal, thus the reason for my previous concern.  A biopsy verified that it was a basil cell carcinoma, as well.

Dr. Goldberg was going to burn it off, but I had some concern about the burning would leave a white crater in the top middle of my nose.  To set my mind at ease, she called her husband in, who was a ENT specialist as well as a plastic surgeon, to look at it.  He said the MOHS procedure was the way to go.  Having had that done previously, I felt all right about that.  Over here they do that procedure in surgery at the hospital rather than in the office with a local anesthetic because they have the pathologist in the OR to check the samples as the surgery proceeds .  We made the appointment for the scheduled surgery.  Another trip back to Johannesburg!  I was a little nervous about having surgery in a strange country, but Dr. Goldberg assured me that South Africa had some of the most skilled doctors in the world and not to worry.

After a long checkin, we were finally brought up to my room where we proceeded to give the same information several times to each new person that came in.  They don't input the information on the computer so the next nurse or doctor can just pull it up and look at it.  We had to answer the same questions and fill out the same forms about five different times.  Finally, we were set to go.

All set, ready to go.  It was cold in the hospital and I had to wear my jacket 

until they took me into surgery.  

You can see the small spot on my nose which was going to be removed.

Surgery was a success.  Now I just needed to wake up.  

Lynn was worried about having to make a four and a half hour ride back home, so he reserved our room for another night.  I thought that was silly, but later, I was glad that we could just go back to our room and sleep and not make the long drive home.  The doctor was glad and wanted me to come in the next morning just to look to see that everything was fine.  

It was, so we headed for home.

My face and eyes were swollen for a few days.  I was surprised how zapped I was!  I thought I'd get home and be ready to go and do missionary work.  I discovered that not only did I not look good,

I didn't have the energy to do a full day of work either!

The surgery was on Monday, and by Saturday night, I was ready to take the bandage off.  The itching was driving me crazy, and besides, I didn't think it looked very good for church. 

By the time I got it off and took one look, I had to sit down.  It was more than I had expected!

I thought I was going to look like Frankenstein for life! 

There were several more stitches than I had expected.  In order to cover the removal part, they had to do two flaps.  They took some tissue from up above the removal area to cover it, and another piece from near  the side of my nose to cover the other part.

Lynn put a new bandage over it and I felt I wouldn't be too scary to go to church.

Some of my little Primary friends were concerned about my "Owie" however!

Another trip to Johannesburg the following week verified that things were healing nicely and he was able to remove some of the stitches, but I needed to come back the next week 

to remove the rest of them.  Fortunately we had to be there for Zone Conference/Mission Tour, so we were able to kill two birds with one stone.

Things have continued to heal quite nicely.  Now if the "hole" on the end would grow some tissue to cover it up, that would be great.  I continue to put my antibiotic ointment on it as well as the vitamin A  & E oil on the scar area.  It looks much better than the first time I took off the bandage.

Dr Wolfowitz said in six or seven months, you won't even be able to notice it.

I hope so!  At any rate, it's better than the alternative!

It's almost like magic!  The "hole" and scars are actually starting to disappear, and it has only been just two  months!

Hooray!  They won't have to call me "Frank" for short!

I'm just grateful for skilled doctors in a foreign country!