Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer

 I had a consultation yesterday for two spots that I had biopsied a couple of weeks ago. One is on my left eyebrow (squamous cell carcinoma) and the second is on the back of neck (left, basal cell carcinoma). I will go tomorrow to have the eyebrow treated by surgery. The doctor will remove the spot with margins and some depth. He will then view the section under the microscope and note where he may have to go back and remove more. He will repeat this process until the margins are clean. Then he will stitch me up. So, the plan is to have the eyebrow done tomorrow and return in a week to have the stitches removed and at that time do the neck.

I had the same type surgery done on my right cheek back in 2007. 

Left eyebrow came back as squamous cell carcinoma.

Left neck came back as basal cell carcinoma

Update: 18 November 2020

I went to the surgeon this morning at 7:45 and got away about 1:20.He would cut out a section and check the margins under the microscope.Then he would know where to take out more if needed.  It took three tries to get all cancer.  Here are the pictures.

Getting ready for the surgery.

After three biopsies, the cancer is all gone.  The marks are for the skin graft. He cut that triangle shaped skin out and moved it forward to cover the big hole.

I asked how many stitches it took and he said fifteen. My son David said he could have done it iwith fourteen stitches. You can see where he brought the triangle of skin forward to cover the hole.

I am at home, and my left eye is almost all the way shut.I am to expect swelling and bruising today.

About five hours later, you can see my eye closing more. It is supposed to go black, too.

I will go back in a week to take the stitches out and have my neck done.

Update: 19 November

Here I am getting ready for my morning shave. My eye is completely closed now.

Later that day, 1:30 PM.  I took the bandage off. There is a steristrip that they glued over the site. I am to leave it alone, but if it comes off that is ok, too. I go back next Wednesday to remove the stitches.

As you can see, my eye is completely swollen shut.

Update: 20 November 2020

My eye is still swollen shut, but if I really try, I can open my lid  just a bit so some light gets in. I will just let it go for now and let the swelling go down naturally.

Update: 21 November 2020

It is Saturday morning, and I woke up with a slit in my deft eye that I could see through.

Update: 22 Nov

Update: 23 Nov

Update: 24 Nov

Update: 25 Nov

Today, I get the stitches out. Here I am before heading out to the doc.

Stitches out and dressing applied.

Update: 26 Nov

Dressing removed.

After cleaning with peroxide solution and putting
on a thin layer of petroleum jelly.

I made this gif to show the progress each day.

Clear Creek Bridge at I-26

September 16, 2020

Today, as we were going to the Walmart, I was surprised at the progress of the Clear Creek Bridge over I-26. So, later, I drove up Clear Creek Road and parked on a side road so I could take a few pictures.

This is the approach to the bridge from the south side.

Looking over the bridge to the other side, you can see where they have spanned the north-bound lanes of I-26.

Looking back to the south side, you can see the progress made there.

The spans over the north-bound lanes.

September 27, 2020

They are making real progress on the bridge. I took these pictures today from the north side approach. 

Update: October 17

The bed of the bridge is getting near the point of pouring concrete. They have almost done all the steel work, and the forms are made. They have also raised the ground level up to the level of the bridge on both ends. Here are some pictures I took today.

Update: November 2

It looks like they are about ready to start pouring some concrete. I think they have all the rebar installed. They also have put in a gantry across the bridge. 

Update: 11 Dec 2020

It is a beautiful Friday with no activity. They have started to put in the forms for the guide rail. The outside has a form that will leave the look of stone facing the highway.

This is the south side approach to the bridge.

I found deer foot prints on the way up.

The road bed is completely poured.

The guard rails' skeleton is now in place.

The forms are going up.

You can see the stone forms.

Facing south.

February 18, 2021

This bridge was supposed to be finished in January and the old bridge taken down. Well, they seem to be a little behind in their work. I took these photos today. Looks like they are basically finished with the bridge. They are doing grading on both approaches.

Windy Chesterfied is in the House

My cousin Gerald, AKA GR Carver, likes to carve cowboys and Santas in his spare time. I hit him up for one of his carvings to gift to my son David who is a fan of Gerald's work.

Here he is, Windy Chesterfield. He is a little long in the tooth, but trust me, you want him on your side in any kind of scrape.

Here, I have him guarding my shave gear for tomorrow's shave.