Speaking of Plastic Surgery – Is that what you think?
Smile – I am on “Selfie” camera.
It was not plastic surgery & and I did not get hit by an angry wife. Some would say I would be more handsome with plastic surgery. Then, there are those that say I certainly should be hit by my wife.
But, here is what really happened: I had a four-hour Mohs Operation on my nose for cancer removal. The Doctor came into the operating room to cut away cancer three times. After each cut, he took the cuttings to the lab to be sure the edges had no cancer on them. If the edges were clear that meant he got all the cancer. After three tries they were all clear and only then did he stitch me up.
Each Lab session took about 45 minutes.
Now, the big question – Can a wait like that be fun. “Sure can.” I had a great afternoon – really. Each 45 minute wait seemed like only moments, because I took my trusty iPad, found a sunset photo, used it as a model, and created a painting using “Mobil PhotoShop”
I used this sunset photo as a model. I took it from my back porch a week or so ago.
I enjoyed the waits so much, I did not want to be disturbed – I was busy – but, the nurse would not allow me to make the Doctor wait.
I created this painting while waiting for the lab work to be done.
Post Script on Mohs from the web site “skincancer.org”:
Mohs micrographic surgery is considered the most effective technique for treating many basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), the two most common types of skin cancer. The procedure is done in stages, including lab work, while the patient waits. This allows the removal of all cancerous cells for the highest cure rate while sparing healthy tissue and leaving the smallest possible scar.
It began as a technique called chemosurgery, developed by Frederic E. Mohs, MD, in the late 1930s, but was not widely known. In the mid 1960s, Perry Robins, MD, became the first dermatologist to study the technique with Dr. Mohs, and he helped advance the procedure into what is now called Mohs micrographic surgery.
Mohs surgery is performed by doctors who are specially trained to fulfill three roles:
- as the surgeon who removes the cancerous tissue
- as the pathologist who analyzes the lab specimens
- as the surgeon who closes or reconstructs the wound
My doctor seems to be well-trained in all three – I have used Mohs at least four times before. I spent too much time chasing cows, riding horses, driving tractors, riding bike, paddling canoe , and more. Much on my ranch in the hot Texas sun. All, stupidly, without a thought for sun screen or other protection.
Do not be stupid, it hurts.
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