Good luck with that; and keep us posted!

I've been worried since yesterday's post.
Heather, I'm with you. We all are.
Hugs.

I'm so sorry, Heather. I think we're all guilty of forgetting or laziness in sunscreen application. It hasn't been *that* long since the sun wasn't the laser beam making skin moltent that it is now.

Here's to keeping the rest of your torso and a speedy recovery.

Yikes! I used to regularly lie out in the sun and get tanned every summer. Now, 20 years later, I regularly avoid the sun and slather up with sunscreen when I can't avoid it. Please keep us posted on how that goes! Perhaps you could do a pay-per-view picture of the ever-growing scar to get some extra $$ to pay for all the biopsying and removal!

I know it's easier to make light of things, but keep up on the follow ups!

Oh man, I feel you on this one. About a year ago I noticed a lump on the back of my neck. I ignored it thinking that it was just some kind of lyphnod thing or something. Well, when I went for my woman exam in April I mentioned it to the doctor. I got the same wide-eyed look you did when she felt it.

My lump's name is Fred. Drop Dead Fred (you seen the movie?). Fred and I are not friends. I've had him ultrasounded and it doesn't look good. I'm going to a specialist about it.

Cancer. Scariest word. Ever.

Both my grandmothers have had skin cancer. My mom has had a few spots checked out, but nothing so far. And I've had sun poisoning, quite a few bad sunburns, and my skin is a shade best described as translucent. I fear what you are facing.

That said, skin cancer is highly treatable if caught and compared to other cancers, this is the one to get.

I was wondering yesterday when I read your entry why you weren't going into more detail about the cancer issue. I can tell it is obviously a very scary subject that you want to attempt to make humorous -- that actually seems like a great way to deal with such a worrisome thing. They always say that laughter is the best medicine - and I am sure in the Armstrong household there is always a lot of fun and laughter. I will pray that you get through this unscathed. Luckily, I have known several people who had this same diagnosis and have gone on to live normal lives with no relapses. My uncle, the palest mother fu**er in the WORLD, had skin cancer as a child and he never even was told by his parents until he was like fifty years old. And he never had a relapse. Just smear on that SPF and I am sure it won't happen again to you.

Wishing you - and Ed - lots of luck. (Post a picture of Ed!)

I know. I am sick.

I'm glad that you had it looked at, that is some scary shit. My dad has a nasty thing on his arm that I'm pretty sure is skin cancer, prompting me to pester him about it every time I see him. He's had cancerous nasties removed before and my mom has practically had to hog-tie him and drag him to the doctor's office every time.

I want to crack a joke but I'm genuinely concerned for you. Still, I'm glad you could crack several jokes. Thanks for breaking it to us gently.

I hear you on the crappy self-paid insurance thing. Check and see if you are eligible for a Health Savings Account. That's how we're funding my (suprise!!) pregnancy and my husband's first dental exam in like, oooooh...ten years.

Good luck to you and Ed.

I hope everything goes well for you. Cancer is scary...I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when I was 24. My doctor kept telling me, "It's the best type of cancer you can get. It's the easiest to cure." I believed in him, and sure enough, I no longer have it.

Fast forward two years, to when my husband and I got married. (This was just a little over a year ago.) Two weeks before out wedding, I noticed a large mass on his neck, and I immediately freaked the fuck out, convinced he had thryoid cancer. Two weeks after we married, it was confirmed that he also had thyroid cancer.

Unlike dealing with my own, I was unable to keep humor as a savior this time, but luckily he was. He calmed me down, reminded me everyday that everything turned out fine with me. I was infinitely more scared for him than I was for myself, especially since my mil's neighbor (the neighbor was a 31 year old man, my husband was 30) had just died from the same type of thyroid cancer.

Point of my story: Please don't lose sight of the fact that you will be ok.

Cancer sucks. If anyone can beat it, it's you. My mother had the same type of cancer a few years ago, had it cut out, and hasn't had a problem since. I hope things go just as well for you.

Now on to more important topics -- what IS IT with people and needing to point out zits? My boyfriend does it every SINGLE time I get one. I am very self-conscious about my problems with adult acne, I see a dermatologist, I use three different prescriptions, and he knows all of this. But still, he feels the need to tell me "You've got a zit on your cheek", like I'm going to say "Oh! Thank you so much for telling me! I hadn't noticed, and I was hoping that would appear soon. Hooray!".

However, I'll go the whole afternoon with a hunk of food stuck in my teeth and he won't alert me.

sorry about the cancer, but it could be worse.

you could have found out that you were pregnant with sextuplets.

take that in for a moment... six kids in you, six kids come out, hospital expenses out the wa-hooo, six screaming babies, six mouths to feed, six diapers to change! and only the two arms god gave you..

makes cancer seem like a day trip to the spa eh?

eeek! Big suckage :(
Time to play & really listen to the Baz Luhrmann track Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen). Or get a ladder and fix that O-zone hole.
Seriously though, good luck with it. I can't see cancer - of any kind - not sucumming to the Dooce effect. Now, if you'd have been wearing clogs when you were younger in the sun . . .

My dad has had a couple spots removed that were Basal Cell Carcinoma. I remember the first time he told me about one of them and it scared me to death, but don't panic, it's pretty easily taken care of.

I have to laugh at the thought of "Big Ed" keeping in a jar... or maybe we should call it "Special Ed"?!

Hope everything goes well for you!

Seriously.. Don't. Panic.

Think of it this way - you're the martyr for your family. Don't they say 1 out of 3 people develop cancer? So you've taken it on so Jon and Leta don't have to.

The things you do for your family!

Seriously, all the best. I hope the treatment is successful and that you have no more problems.

Yikes! I hope everything turns out for the best. Keep us posted.

I say you place Ed right on the window sill till Ed developes cancer as well. That'll teach him.

think of it as a warning sign that some of us never get. you now know to check yourself routinely for any skin changes. my mom gets these so i have to keep an eye out myself. i cringe everytime i recall her sending me out on the beach (when i was much younger) with just my bottoms on!
my mom also feels compelled to point out any zit on my face. in the depths of morning sickness we went to have lunch with her on father's day. she sat across from me and tapped her nose to point out what was on mine. as if i could have gotten my mascara on WITHOUT noticing something that big! my husband still does that when he imitates her.

My husband and I are also self employed and pretty much have to have brain surgery before our insurance kicks in. However, it has also challenged us to actually work hard to keep healthy. I also think it's important to note that the third (maybe second) leading cause of death in this country is our health care system, whether it's a denial for care, medication screw-ups and magic pills, dangerous hospital viruses etc. It's the most expensive and least effective system in the world. Having just major medical may not be a bad thing. Here is hope to a great recovery

So when ARE you going to tell your doctor about the blog... or are you afraid that another person with intimate knowledge about your naughty bits is going to start referring to you as dooce?

Delurking to say the above posters are absolutely right, this is highly treatable and I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm also totally on board with the inappropriate naming of things (haha, Ed?). My grandmother had a masectomy several years ago, and named her fake boob Blossom. As in, "Oh shoot, I forgot to bring Blossom to the barbecue!"

I, too, am coming out of hiding to wish you luck.

So, good luck. I hope it's a quick road to 100% wellness.

And I hope that road is covered with chocolate and a river of vodka runs beside it. Because it's been my experience that, in times like this, alcohol and candy are not just allowed, but REQUIRED.

Holy crap, you made being diagnosed with cancer funny. Impressive.

My cousin works at M.D. Anderson and he also insists that skin cancer is the one to get as it's the most curable.

I'm going to the beach tomorrow- I think I'll go for the spf 30 instead of the 15.

For real though, it sounds a little scary and I wish you and your fam all the best.

My dearest Heather. I am so sorry to hear of your recent diagnoses. I too, am an incredibly young cancer patient (I'm only 21). I too, have a young child (born February 2nd, 2004). I understand the terror that comes with a diagnoses of cancer, even if it is "the most common" or "the most curable". This isn't an easy time, and no one expects you to be sane. You and your wonderful family are in my thoughts.

Best of luck, you are in all of our thoughts.

I wish you the best of luck with that, and please do keep everyone posted. The word cancer is a scary thing, no matter how small or common.

By the way, maybe you should make Ed's home outside...could possibly scare away the tarantula's, you know?

I'm terrified. TERR. I. FIIIIIED. of such things. It runs in our family too and my poor kids are always slathered in sun screen. I swear, they leave slime trails - I can always find them anywhere.

Good luck with the procedure and know that the whole Interweb is thinking of you. Well, that might not really help. But you know what I mean.

I had the same thing, except horrifyingly, on my face, last year. It started out as this little flesh toned thing that I convinced myself was a clogged pore. Well, needless to say, that "clogged pore" grew for 2 years and I ignored it. Finally, I went to a dermatologist who biopsied it and diagnosed it as cancerous. I was 31 - my oncologist said I was the youngest patient he'd seen.

I had MOHS surgery the following week, and there was a nasty, fast growing tumor underneath my little spot. I had to have plastic surgery afterwards to reconstruct the area where it was removed. Luckily, my scars are virtually invisible.

I cringe now when I hear people talk about "going tanning" or "laying out." I wish I hadn't been so stupid, and I wear 30 SPF daily.

My bf (he's 34) had a weird pimple on his face that wouldn't heal, then just as I had convinced him to get it checked out, it healed, but the mark it left kept getting bigger. He checked it out anyway, and it turned out to be BCC. Now he has a rugged scar on his face, and I call him a pirate.

It's hard to explain to people without sounding over- or under-dramatic. When someone asks what's wrong, they never expect to hear "Cancer".

Once the surgery's done you can get Polysporin ScarStrips, apparently they really do work to reduce the appearance of the scar and Vitamin E doesn't (according to the surgeon). Good luck! Keep your mom's finger away from it!

i think the names of cancer make it scarier than it is... a flowering cell mass with no roots seems easier to swallow than Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Last year I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my face, right near my eye. I was 35 and very fair (my husband insists that fair isn't enough to explain my skin tone, he prefers "very, very white") and stupid for getting sunburned as much as I have.

I have become militant against the effects of the evil orb (aka the sun — boo, sun, boo). My poor daughter wears more clothes in the horrendously hot summer we have here in the high desert of Western Colorado then she does during the winter.

I heard a statistic (I have no idea if it's true, but I spout it whenever the subject of sun come us) that 80 percent of fair-skinned people will get some sort of skin cancer.

Fortunately you can have your cancer scooped out and all you will be left with is a scar and it will all be OK.

The worst part is the study that was recently released saying sun screen does little to prevent skin cancer ( but it does prevent burning), so us whities have to cover up.

Ugh. I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

The link to the cancer site was useful. Blonde hair? Check. Green eyes? Check. Tendency to burst into flames after 2 minutes in the sun? Check. I'm stripping down and checking things out really closely when I get home.

PS: Are you going to have a paypal button or anything? Or should we just be extra clicky on the links?

Best of luck, Heather.

Best of all the motherfucking luck.

I should have said "many decades to come" ...because saying many years kinda sounds like it could be twelve or fifteen (which is a lot more than five), but I really meant something like seventy.

*crawls off into corner in shame*

So sorry about the scary news. I'm sure you'll come out of it fine and Ed will come out dead, which is As It Ought To Be.

Since you didn't have comments on the last post, here's one on Superman Returns (ha! thwarted!): How crappy a mom is Lois?? I love Superman. Mostly loved that movie. I suspend disbelief embarrassingly easily. But I had a real hard time mustering any sympathy for a mother who dragged her kid into dangerous situations.

Which meant I viewed the whole movie directly, without the all-powerful finger filter. Oh well.

Oh, and Chris Reeve? He doesn't dress either way -- his critical bits meander around in different shots of Superman II, especially. Windshield wiper effect. Instressting trivia, yes?

I went to the doc after I got a bad subburn last month. The lady was less then helpful. She said the white dots on one of my shoulders are sun damage which could one day lead to my getting cancer, but that you can't get it from being sunburned on day. She said nothing to help me, offered no advice and sent me packing with some cream to help it stop itching. I was pissed to say the least.

Health insurance isn't much if you have a CRAPPY DOCTOR!

Hang in there, Heather. My best guy friend was diagnosed with cancer when he and I were both 13, and I agree with what others have said: laughter does wonders when your body is willfully ignoring your best interests (trust the thyroid girl here). Maybe some reference to Ed and your malignant blogging can make an appearance in the next banner.

no no no! you must name it elmo instead.

and happy early 31st birthday (6.5 days to go!)! then you'll officially be "in your 30s!" :)

My mom had a few of those taken off her face (thanks to the era of basking in the sun with iodine and baby oil...). With the help of an excellent plastic surgeon they only look like tiny wrinkles.

I had a mole removed by a dermatologist-bad idea. The scar on my back is ten times bigger than the pencil sized eraser mole she removed. If you can, see a plastic surgeon to remove it.

I'm so sorry Heather, and to all of your family too. I couldnt help one of my first thoughts was it was my fault, I feel like a cancer jinx, so many people I love, and have loved have had that dreaded C word, I always new I loved your site, but not that much to spread me horrible jinx to you. you all are in my thoughts, and please keeps us posted with every detail, and very often! and wouldnt you know, just yesterday, sitting in the Alaskan sun,I got a horrible sun burn on my shoulders, I'm a dumbass.

I wish I could say something that could be of any comfort, but please know that we are all behind you and are hoping for the best. If I could donate skin, I would. In fact... want some? You'd have a lovely, untannable british patch...

I know how you must feel. The doctors just told me I may have prostate cancer, and I'm 31. I use my ass often, so this frightens me.

I'm glad that your carcinoma is as benign as an abnormal growth can be *(considering that all of us are abnormal growths when you think about it.) and that it is imminently treatable. Please keep us in the loop as your existence and well-being really means something to us... to that invisible group of back-up family members out there.

Goddamn Ozone hole. Did we really need that much aerosol hairspray in the 80's? I blame Pat Benetar.

Ed will be a good name. As Alice's Henry would surely agree, Cancer Particle ain't no Frompy.

Good luck with the removal.

Heather,

The other day, when you talked about how you took Leta out for a day of fun in the water, I thought, "Cool," and then when you mentioned that you lathered her up in sun block, I breathed a sigh of relief... I'm a Red Cross swim teacher during my summers off from college and one of the things that we stress to the children is sun safety, and I think it's really great that you're promoting it as well, through both stories of Leta and your own...

Though yes, it is especially important that children lather up, because statistically, when an adult gets skin cancer, it's usually because of a burn from childhood, not from adulthood... I'm sure you know that, thought I thought your readers would find it informative...

Most importantly, I'm glad to hear that you're going to be okay... My thoughts are with you...

Trev :)

You'll do fine. If you can get through childbirth, this will be so easy. The worst part is the little needles they use to numb the skin around it. I had one removed from my forehead a couple of years ago and they used some kind of "flap procedure" to close it, which left a faint, white scar in the shape of an L on my forehead. Yes, like the loser sign. Sort of my scarlet letter for not using sunscreen.

Ed huh.. that's funny. My friend had a giant mole on her arm (that even had its own 2 strands of hair) removed and now she's named the little keloid scar tissue thing Ed.

Thanks for the link, Heather. I just checked the site and saw the 'shiny bump' and realized I have that on my hip. It's been there for years and I've always wondered why it doesn't look like all the other moles.

I just got married last weekend so I finally have insurance. Kaiser, but they do come with doctors.

I feel a smorgasboard of emotions.

I am sad you have any form of cancer.

I am happy that it is the most common/treatable form.

I am surprised that your body would accept a form of cancer that is so mainstream and common. You are much too cool for that.

I am curious if, after Ed's removal, you will become one of those women that wear the shirts with only one sleeve.

Remember laughter is the best medicine.

i don't know how, heather, but you've managed to make even cancer funny.

and both my parents have had cancer, and i never thought i'd laugh about it. but, "Irrational, yes, but look what being rational got me in the first place: CANCER" is pretty dang funny.

Hi, welcome to the dermatology club. I too have had many biopsy's due to not using sunscreen. I have to go to the dermatologist every 6 months, and never fail she finds another "changed spot". I have 2 basal cell spots removed and many atypical moles removed.
I look at it as a weight loss clinic. I just went in June and had three "spots" treated: a freeze on my nose, a scrape on my neck and a punch biopsy on my leg.
NONE OF THEM HURT. the novacaine works great.
I don't worry about the Basal's, i think of it as Basal is Better. Basal over Melanoma any day.
Good luck , and remember none of my "biopsy's" ever hurt, but I think there is a no lifting clause. so you do get sympathy.

Heather -
I'm sorry you had to go through a few days with a cancer scare. That's an awful thing to have to go through.....thank god it's not melanoma! I don't want to belittle your scare, because, really, cancer? everyone is scared of cancer. But Basal Cell Skin Cancer is barely cancer at all. I've worked with cancer patients for over three years and have yet to come across anyone who had a life threatening bout with it. Here's hoping for a quick recovery and no more skin lesions for your mom to point at!

What a scary thing! You are in my thoughts.
And now, I'm off to the store to buy a vat of sunscreen.

ugh. scary stuff. i'll be thinking cancer-free thoughts for you. i hope all goes well and stays that way. keep us posted.

Here's hoping and praying it's as completely uncomplicated as it sounds.

No worries Heather. The Doc will just lop that unsightly beast off and it's over. I had melanoma at 33 and am still here 8 years later, with nary a relapse, annoying the hell out of friends and family (although I do scare small children with the blue-white glow of my pale, freckled skin). Have your boy take a close look at your body every now and again. Nothing to do with cancer, it's just fun!

Now repeat after me - SUNSCREEN IS MY FRIEND!

Take care.

When you bring home "ED" can you take a picture and post it...or better yet Make shirts with a photo of it on it...saying, "Mr. Ed"

The second-to-last paragraph in your Superman article made me CRY. It's a spectacular piece of writing, Heather. Thank you.

On the subject of skin cancer... As a woman in my early twenties, I'm a little worried about my own susceptibility to the disease, given that my maternal grandmother died at 64 from breast cancer and an aunt on my mother's side is battling some cervical cancer (haha, she didn't give it up til she was married and YET she still got cervical cancer...one more of my parents' reasons against pre-marital sex up in FLAMES...very sad flames. Maybe they're blue.)...

I have this mole on my right shoulderblade that has grown a bit since I first noticed it as a child...and this 4th of July I got such a bad sunburn on my shoulders that they started peeling on Monday. My issue is similar to yours, though...health insurance. I promise I'll get it checked out when I get health insurance.

I stand amazed at the wit, talent, insight, humor and pithy writing you offer all of us. I love reading your page because it's like looking at myself so much of the time...your writing helps me examine my own life from another angle. You are so wonderful to me.

;-)

Mack'sMom:

http://www.alphamom.com/site/dooce/2006/07/12/post_4.html

Oh, damn. Sorry to hear that. My father has had a lot of patches of skin cancer removed, so I think you're right that it's nothing to worry about, but it's still far from pleasant.

Thank you for finally clarifying your previous blog entry!

I know all too well the dangers of the sun. I have a lovely (if lovely means the same thing as hideous) dime sized scar on my lower right leg- the result of having an actinic keratosis removed.

Take care of yourself!

Hi Heather,

I just found out I have one too, on my left ear. I'm going back to the hospital on Monday to have it removed. The consultant said she had never seen one on anyone as young as me before. I am 30. I guess this is the result of living in the cold and cloudy UK! I have never used a sunbed or lived anywhere hot and sunny, just had a few sunburns on holidays.

Reading your post makes me extremely grateful that I live in the UK and will receive all my treatment for free...

I'm sure everything will be ok for both of us!! *fingers crossed*

Best wishes and take care of yourself

Thank goodness you found it now and that your experience can help spread the word about monitoring your skin. Everyone should visit the dermatologist at least once a year for a full-body scan. It gives you peace of mind at minimum!

Heather-

Sorry to hear the sad news. My pasty Irish dad is in his eighties now and has had more of those little bastards removed than I can count. In fact, his nose is somewhat smaller and more handsome now thanks to a recent excavation. The important part, though, is that he's in his eighties... You've got a long way to go, and I'll enjoy reading about every step you decide to share with us.

But, please, go to the doctor and take care of yourself no matter the cost (maybe you can auction a certain pair of ultra-hip clogs to raise money?). I lost the best friend anyone could have to skin cancer at the age of 40 because he had no insurance and was too proud to ask for help. I still go back and forth between incredible anger and gut wrenching sadness whenever I think about him. Staying alive is important.

OK, that does it. My husband has a "scar" like that on his face that appears to be growing. I'm making him an appointment.

Yikes, yikes, yikes. I saw your previous post on this (the conversation) and wondered when you were going to fill us in on the rest. Seriously do hope it is as easy to fix as it sounds like it should be.

My husband had one of those, right smack in the middle of his forehead. It's gone, he wears a hat and some sunscreen and life is going on. Hope yours has the same type of outcome. I like the idea that someone had earlier, of wearing those shirts with one sleeve. But make sure its made out of polyester, and play some BeeGees in the background.

Hi Heather, just wanted to say that my thoughts are with you and hopefully it will all work out as the doctor says.

All my best wishes and good luck with your Ed.

Good luck, Heather. I'm sure you'll pull through like a champ, but I know it's still scary...we all think we're young and invincible and it won't happen to us, even if we did slather ourselves with baby oil and roast like pigs on a spit every summer growing up!!

Anyhow, I'll be thinking about you and sending good thoughts (and plenty of sunscreen) your way!

~Julia

Kick that mole's ass, Heather. Hope you are not freaking out too much with all that is going on!

I was wondering about this the other day when you posted that conversation. My reaction then is the same reaction I had just now: what the fuck? Not fair.
In any event, I'm rotten sorry to hear that you got that shit, but I'm super glad it's something (relatively) small.
That's all I got; everything else I typed sounded smarmy.

wowsers the "C" word...........last year i noticed a mole/freckle on my leg getting a bit bigger and it started to itch so naturally i crapped myself and was thinking about who would conduct my funeral service but i was super pissed off when i went to my doctor and he kind of chuckled in my direction as he named some kind of skin thing that can happen to freckles to make them itch.....................in other words the git made me look like a real faggot in front of his computer!!
Hey i hope you are ok, in the words of evryones favourite champion of "skin disorders"..................BEAT IT!!

Not good news certainly, but in the cancer lottery it might be the number to draw (since you don't have a prostate. Unless you count Jon's).

Keep an eye on them, get 'em removed whenever possible. My brother's had it for a decade, and aside from discomfort and anxiety, the prognosis is very good. Like be mindful but don't freak.

I've had two of those removed so far... one just a couple weeks ago from my shoulder, another from my calf that still irriates me whenever I snowboard... the scar is so huge because it took the doctor three times to remove alll the diseased skin, and on one of those times she poked herself and made ME get an aids test. I was really, really pissed...

Lots of hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery and no recurrance coming from Memphis! I am sure you will handle this with your usual grace and dignity and amazing sense of humor.

(But you did scare me badly with that post the other day and no explanation.)

Your alphamom post about your brother was so beautifully written, it almost made me cry. Precious memories!

yikes. hope youa re able to get through this sanity, bodya nd bank balance in check.

get it tended to and move on... with lots of sunscreen. i had an icky spot in my breast crease that started out as a chicken pock scar but turning into squamous cell cancer. they carved it out and things have been fine in the 7 years since.

hang in there Heather.

Heather,
I hope you can remain positive and that you receive all the support you need during this time and the times to come! Keep us all posted on your progress!!! Take Care.

I had malignant melanoma when I was in sixth grade, and all I have to show for it is a scar on my left arm that looks like lips.

I'm disgustingly incautious in the sun despite that and I'm twenty now. I go for regular checks (annual at this point) at the dermatologist and keep track of potentially funny spots or moles.

Basal cell is usually not too dangerous, and as long as you watch your skin and take caution with your skin and Leta's (who is adorable and very fair) you have nothing to worry about. The good thing about skin cancer is it's VERY EASY to catch in time. :)

Is it ironic that I have a roommate named Ed that acts more like a cancer than a real person? It's not in a jar by a window in the kitchen, but it's in a dark room constantly playing World of Warcraft.

In all seriousness, best wishes for you and your family.

Dooce, all best wishes. My mother had the same, and managed to survive to kick the asses of (a) diabetes, (b) a heart attack, and (c) me. (I should probably stop eating butter.) It's going to be OK. And, health insurance in America? Basically sucks. Love, all respect, and well wishes.

Just wanted to send you a quick few words of support. Hang in there. You'll get through this.

Heather, I was worried for you after yesterday's post. I could regale you with stories of my own, but I won't trouble you with those- you must be hearing a gazillion stories from everyone.

Just know that we're all praying for you, we're all sending you our best healing vibes, and I am so very sorry to hear the news.

I wish you nothing but the best, please keep us informed. You're in my thoughts. Take care.

It happens to the best of us. I hope the removal goes well and clear.

god, that's scary. :-/ y'all are in my thoughts. *hugs*

Heather - I feel badly for you because it is scary. But I, too had basil skin cancer removed from my shoulder about 1 1/2 years ago - and I am fine. I still have to go in every 6 months and my doc always finds something else to cut off, but so far, nothing else has been basil skin cancer. Most likely, you'll have to keep a watchful eye on your skin forever, but it is totally cureable.

If you need any reassurance, I'd be happy to oblige and offer more of my experience.

Best wishes to you.

i'm sorry - i hope you get well soon and that they are able to excise everything asap.

my thoughts are with you in this time of arm cancer and such.

seriously. be well.

Anytime a doctor says the word 'biopsy', I think it is scary. I hope the removal goes smoothly and quickly and that nothing else occurs!

Best wishes and I know everything will be just fine. And yes this means a "get out of jail free" card on as much chocolate as you want. Sending you a virtual candy jar full of M&Ms.

The subtitle on the August masthead absolutely MUST be "malignant blogger." Please.

I will reserve my wit and charm for my next post as you don't know me yet BUT I'm thinking of you ~ I grew up in a time when the highest SPF was Coppertone oil at SPF 2. I seemed to always start my first sunny of summer getting burned to a crisp th