Thursday, November 14, 2013

CAUTION: GRAPHIC VIDEO

Here are the videos of Steve's 2 mole removals today; "wide margin excision".



This is the removal of the first mole (moderately atypical). 

Stitching up the first hole. 

Removal of the second mole (severely atypical).

CAUTION: GRAPHIC PHOTOS



Today Steve had his wide local excision at MD Anderson.  Everything went smooth and the doctor was kid enough to let me photo and video everything.  I have given an outline of the procedure for anyone who is curious and/or anyone who found their way to the blog looking to get info for an upcoming procedure they may be having.

The 2 spots before being marked.  One on the upper left and one right in the middle of back. (Yes, my husband is a hairy beast!)

Steve waiting on the doctor to come in.

Materials for the surgery.


Sterile material for the surgery.

Here is where the doctor marked up the area to cut.

The doctor starting the numbing medicine.

More numbing medicine.

Swollen after the numbing shots.

Letting the numbing medicine sit a bit.

Cutting out the first mole (middle of back) which was severely atypical.

Stitching the first cut.

Still stitching.

The first chunk!

All closed up.

Moving on to #2. Moderately atypical

Cutting out #2

Chunk #2

I will post videos in a separate blog post.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Surgery tomorrow

In September, Steve had 2 biopsies done of some suspicious moles on his back.  The moles came back negative for melanoma, but severely atypical. The dermatologists at MD Anderson decided it would be best to have surgery on these 2 moles (wide excision).  Tomorrow at noon Steve will have the wide excision on these 2 moles. The information regarding the surgery is in my last blog post, which you can access here

Other than surgery tomorrow, life has been pretty calm for us since Steve's last scans.  We went out of town for our daughter Sadie's birthday, we just got back from New Orleans for a Saints football game.  We had a blast! 

This weekend is the AIM at Melanoma walk in North Carolina.  I wish Steve and I were able to attend and meet up with so many of our fellow melanoma warriors/caregivers.  Next year for sure!  If you would like to donate to the walk, please do so here.