Well gang, if you remember last month, I was to have a Mohs Chemo proceedure done for a cancer in my neck. Well had it done Thursday. If having one done wasn't enough, the doc found 4 more when she started looking around, 3 different types of cancer. 2 of them she did by Mohs and the other 3 were surface and could be removed easily. It took 4 hours but it's all gone. I took the bandages off yesterday, WOW, I look like Frankenstien. One 5 inch incision from the back of my shoulder to the front of my chest and a 3 inch across my chest. Boy this is going to look really good with the low cut dress I bought for my daughters wedding in May. I'm doing well though, really, glad to be cancer free for a while. One note to all of you, WHERE SUN SCREEN!!!!!!!!!!
Cindy
Glad they got it all Cindy its worth a few scars to know your clear.
Kevin
Hi Cindy glad they got all the cancer - the scars will hardly show by the time of your daughters wedding.
With the severe sensitivity I have to Uv B rays, I wears hats, long sleve shirts, sun screen, and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Last testing was done for Uv b rays - a 1.3 minute test - the results - still can be seen on my back - since Nov. 30th, of last year.
Kisses from my girl Makaylah
and hugs from me
Gerri
I'm so glad they've got rid of all of it, Cindy. And scars can heal up until they're virtually invisible.
Cindy, just want to wish you the best through all of this. Don't worry about how you look right now, things heal fast. Do you have followup treatments? Best wishes
Soo glad the out come was good.Dont worry about a few scares.
Nothing can scar such a nice person.happy for you.
John
Pew - Cindy. Good for the team and for you, they got em all. As for the scars? The main thing is, you is OK and 'they' will disappear.
IF by any chance still a tad of a mark left, whch no ne s ging to notice anyways, but just in case you are self conscious hows about finding a really beautiful lace or soft cashmere/silk sort of scarf to use a throw? Something really exotic...
Best news though is that yu are dong really well, the big 'c' is banished and you have a terrific medical team. Huzzah.
Sunscreen? Check out which kind - some are harmful - big article on em last year. Also, wear loose shirts cover ups. those 'white' Indian cotton long sleeved shirts are terrific. You can even wear em over bathers and swim in em. But, don't go sun bathnig...highly detrimental.
Go well Cindy. Sooooo happy to hear that you are out through and doing so well
glad you are cancer free!
as for the scars, as others said, they will fade, and the main thing is that the cancers are gone!
i think there are creams / lotions that can help scars fade faster and better; maybe once its healed enough to apply things, maybe ask a dermatologist what you could use.
wish i hadn't spent so much time out in the sun "working on my tan" through my childhood, teen years, early 20s, back before they knew it wasn't healthy. hope it doesn't catch up with me. then i was too busy in the lab to spend much time out in the sun; hoping that saved me a bit. thanks for the message.
i'll add to that message; doesn't hurt to go to the dermatologist for routine visits to have things checked out. i'll go anytime i get a new spot just to make sure its ok; so far, so good.
Thanks for the update, Cindy, and glad to hear you are on the mend. Hopefully you are healing emotionally after going through all of this! xo
YAY!!!! The cancer is gone and who cares about scars...they will fade.
Ok guys, all of you who told her the scars will disappear are full of hooey, Cindy's had like 14 knee replacements and she KNOWS how her skin does with surgery scarring. Come on, guys, don't insult her intelligence. Some people's scars heal well (Cody's skin heals freakishly well, even his surgery scars are gone) and others don't. What I think we should all be telling Cindy is how flippin COOL those scars are, because they mark her as a Survivor and will make for one heckuva great convo starter. And there's Mederma OTC, and then I keep seeing ads for some special not-in-stores stuff, I can't remember the name but here's the phone number for the Risk-Free Trial, 800-500-9957. It's being advertised for stretch marks now but started as a scar treatment (same diff, I think). Also, Avon has a couple of stretch mark treatments, I tried the mid-price one in the purple bottle and it WORKED, on my stretch marks and my surgery scars (on my tummy, they're neighbors). Didn't erase them but helped a ton. And i'm one of the people who still has scars from scraping her knees at age 4. Total opposite of Cody. Funny, since I'm the one who thinks scars are attractive on men, and wouldn't be upset at all if all of his horse-breaking-motocross-racing-bar-fighting-football-playing-and-going-through-a-windshield scars were still visible . . . lol.
I know scars are very disheartening for a woman, especially at first, when you're not used to seeing them AND they're at their puffy purplish worst. But they do fade, at least partly, and we get more used to them, and honestly - what better scars to be proud of than cancer survivor scars? I think, when you're feeling more comfy with them, you should wear them proudly. How do you feel about tattoos? I've seen some really awesome creative scar tattoos . . . vines, or snakes, or lizards, they all have long-thin shapes to decorate surgery slices. And Molly's got a good idea about the scarf/shawl thing too. I wore one at a friend's wedding to cover my tattoo as part of the wedding party. (she's got uptight parents)
Anyway, Cindy honey, try to focus on the lack-of-cancer on your neck now, instead of the presence-of-scars. I've never seen an attractive-looking skin cancer anyway, have you? They're usually pretty gross. Black and scabby, some have hairs growing out of them . . . ick. Do you mind if I ask what kinds they were? I take an interest in skin cancer, since I live in the skin-cancer capitol of the northern hemisphere and I'm allergic to sunscreen and two relatives have died of it recently. BUT! I found one last year I'm not allergic to!! it's pricey but I'm religious about it. 25 is very old to be starting, but better late than never.
Hugs,
Bridget
(proudly bearing scars from only 3 surgeries so far. And pregnancy, that counts in my book.)
Glad to hear the cancer is gone. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We think you are a beautiful person.
Important that the disease is gone. There are lots of ways to avoid showing scars, but in time you may not mind...it's a badge of success and victory. Be Proud!!!
Hugs to you.
Cindy, what good news! Don't be upset about the scars yet, although keep in mind how they look now in anticipation for Halloween.
I scar big time, so I prefer to focus on the cancer free part, and that will be much more important for your daughter's wedding.
Oh Cindy,
Girl you are my hero! What a brave, brave girl you are.
And I dont hink anyone would even think of Frankenstein even though I know what you are trying to say..I would say more like SUPERWOMAN! (Dow we need to find that intro piece..lol)
All I know is you are like the Energizer Bunny you have been thru SO much but you just keep going and trying to enjoy each day and thats such a good example for me to try and live by since I am so very scared about so many things going on in my life right now.
I am also hoping that someday I may get to meet my Superhero!
Lots of Gentle Hugs,
Lisa
The important thing is that the cancer is gone! Ask your dermatologist about a special make up that covers scars. I know that I had read about it somewhere. It is a lot like the theatrical make up that actors use. It is supposed to really cover up the scars and it looks great.
Cindy, I'm so glad to know they got it all!!!!
And yes, we should all wear sunscreen. I'm not great about it. I try to be, always have good intentions, but I'm of the generation that used to use baby oil to get a great tan. argh. Knowing your story, I'll try to be extra vigilant about it this year.
Warm hugs,
Glad that is taken care of!! Whew! Those scars will be your badge of honor. I like Molly's idea of a scarf. You could also wear a lace trimmed camisole under your dress like this one:
http://www.buckle.com/daytrip-multi-lace-tank-top/prd-35505D7ER371Z/sku-6745490100The tan/black one is really cute. Either way, you will be gorgeous no matter what you wear, because on the inside you have endured enough in this life to bear the status of "Queen."
-Donette
Cindy,
I tried replying, but got the boot and I do not see my reply.
Glad to hear cancer is gone for now... you are such a great person here, I am assuming all those close to you are happy enough cancer is gone and could careless about some scars.
Pray all continues to go well.
Tim
I was so glad to read this update Cindy...way to go!!!
Really, you guys are great!!!!!!! Yes Bridg, I think Molly has a great idea. I went on the website that I bought the dress and they have chiffon scarves that will match the dress. I think I will go that route.
Donnette, "Queen"? That's a good one.
Gang I have so many battle scars I think this was just the preverbial straw.
Lisa, I think we are all SUPER HEROES, Look at you my dear with all you've been through this year especially.
Most of my problem is from growing up in south Florida before sunscreens and was constantly getting burnt and blistered as a kid.
Thanks gang, you are all so special to me. I thank God every day for each one of you.
Cindy
Congratulatons on getting the cancer out. It seem slike the ladies here got lots of advice on attire that will make you not worry so much about the battle scars.
