Crap !

[Grumpy]

Looks like my riding will be limited for a while, at least 2 weeks. I will make the pizza party even if I have to drive. Had a lot of cryogenic surgery today, and some knife cutting also. Doc wants me to stay out of the sun for a couple weeks. On a type of chemo paste that has bad things happen in direct sunlight. Turns out I have some skin cancer, but it is very treatable so that part is good news. On a good note, had another MRI today, and my gall stones are getting smaller, so may avoid surgery on that. I may live long enough to be a pain in the ass to my kids. 

[John Schmidt]

A PITA to your kids, huh?    That's what I told one of my girls a couple years ago after my attack. She just smiled, patted my arm and told me "dad, you have already exceeded your expectations."  I told her I hoped that didn't mean I had lived long enough. She told me no....just the PITA aspect.  Then gave me a big hug which made it all better.   

[_Sheffjs_]

We will have the special Grumpy canopy at the party

[Jess from VA]

Bill I've had the cryo, knife, and the creamy chemo for my extreme Caucasian reaction to sunlight .  The latter brings the sun damage to the surface in weeping bleeding sores (was on my bald head), and you look like an escapee from a leper colony.

I called off sick at work and they were not convinced (I wasn't really sick at all), so I sent them some good color photos, and they replied to please not come in looking like that.    Also needed to be washed off a couple times a day (and get out the old pillow cases).  

If it's on your head, wear a hat so you don't scare the children and dogs.

The good news is, when it is all done and healed/cleaned up, you really look a lot better.  Probably took 2 weeks off how old I looked.  

[Grumpy]

Same stuff my Dr warned me about, mine is forehead, temples and neck, nose etc. The stuff on my arms and elbow they cut out this morning. Just in time for Halloween, I wont need a costume. Kinda miserable right now, the injections for the pain are wearing off. Feels like I have been in a cat fight and lost.
I guess the only good part is it is curable, plus the Dr I have is a real cutie. Kinda strange, the dermatologist office I am going to has an all female staff, Dr's nurses etc. Nothing like a little eye candy to help things along.

[IamGCW]

Hope to see you at the party at least. 

Gil

[Jess from VA]

Once you're all fixed up, the idea is to have a new appreciation for long sleeves, hats and lots of greasy sunblock.  I've done a lot better with this the last few years (after treatment).  A bit of aktinic keratosis has returned to my head, but I just sand it off.  

I won't grease the top of my head and wear my helmets (but do the rest of face and neck), so I go out of a helmet and into a boonie cap.

It's funny looking at the back of my hands with age spots and thinking that's how my dad looked ..... when he was my age.  He had a lot of chunks cut out of him too.

It goes without saying your nose is particularly at risk for sun damage and cancer, because it sticks out from your face (especially riding).  And it really looks like crap if they have to cut it off (all or part), so sun blocking the nose is more important than anything else.  The surgical divits on my arm, neck and head are like dueling scars and I like them better than tatoos, but I'm trying to keep my nose somewhat virginal.

The single thing that made me take more precautions was seeing the other patients in my outpatient surgery clinic waiting rooms.  A good number looked really bad, and some downright scary.   Wake up call.

If you're not taking any meds, a little carmel colored liquid over ice will take the edge off. 

[larue]

Glad it's treatable Grumps, hope the cat fight pain goes away soon,  hope to see you make the pizza party

[Valkahuna]

Glad it's treatable Grumps, hope the cat fight pain goes away soon,  hope to see you make the pizza party

Man Bill, you had your share, and lots of other shares as well!  I share Larue's thought that I'm happy it's treatable. Hope to see you at The Party.

[Grumpy]

Glad it's treatable Grumps, hope the cat fight pain goes away soon,  hope to see you make the pizza party

Man Bill, you had your share, and lots of other shares as well!  I share Larue's thought that I'm happy it's treatable. Hope to see you at The Party.

I plan on being there, may look like crap, just glad my doc spotted it, had a full body check. Guess it was a good thing to catch it early. Too much sun for too many years.

[TJ]

Heal fast & well...... 

[FloridaValkRyder]

God Bless you Bill, you have certainly have had your share of misfortune for awhile. So glad it's the curable kind. Heed the words of your doctors and hope to see you at S & J's place on the 24th.