Guess it's time to give up my only vice...

Well, next to gambling anyway.  My only vice in life is that I have been an avid indoor tanner since 1985 and also enjoy being out in the sun during the Summer months.  I dont' smoke, casual drinker, no drugs...basically a pretty boring person.

I went to the Dr last week for a follow-up visit after having a little horse riding accident which left me with 5 broken ribs & a bruised lung in Aug (never said anything here).  Healed ok from that, but I had noticed a little bump on the back of one of my legs a couple months ago and I thought it was a bug bite.  It didn't go away and got larger, about the size of an eraser head.  Started getting sore to the touch so had my Dr look at it and she said we should scrape it off and send it to the lab for a biopsy just to be on the safe side.  She wasn't overly concerned about it but said it could be one of the more common forms of skin cancer which is completely treatable.

Results are in today and it is a form of skin caner, Squamous cell carcinoma  to be exact.  The course of treatment for now is to go back in and have the entire area around the lesion removed, digging deeper into the tissue and stitching the incision up to heal. My Dr was confident that no further treatment is necessary and that I just need to be diligent in watching for any other spots that grow like this one did.  Sadly...I have ALOT of little teeny red spots all over my legs which are most certainly due to my abuse of the sun....so I have to watch those carefully.  This also means that as of today I am giving up my visits to Sylvania Beach (tanning beds).  This won't be easy but I've just been given a wake-up call and I won't hit the snooze button on this one.

I'm sorry to hear that hymacaw and I hope you will get better.  Visit your doctor regularly to keep that in check.  Also, be positive.  I know it's hard, but "be positive" is a good medicine for any disease.

hymacaw,  i am sorry to hear your news.  my brother-in-law (red head, with lots of freckles who played softball for thirty years)  also had this.  He had several spots removed and now monitors his skin.  the doctor recommended taking pictures (hi-resolution digital photo closeups)  of any areas that may concern you.  you can document and look at the photos over time to see if there is any change.  You can also show these to the doctor via email in between visits if concerned.  i hope all goes well and perhaps the extra money saved from the tanning beds can win you another slots jungle monster.  :?)

Awww hymacaw i know it has to be so worrisome and very sorry to hear about this. I am just relieve for you that it is treatable and you will be good as new again.

You sound like a trooper after suffering from the horse accident. I hope you have fully recovered.

Take care of you and use spray tan from now on!

Lips

I'm sorry to hear that, glad to hear you healed from your accident and am also glad that this form of cancer is treatable and was caught in time..and this may be also for the good if you have to look at it that way.... that it not to be against your vice at all, but something more severe could of come of it this as you said being your wake-up call..i'm sure after all is done and over.. another vice will come your way!

So sorry to hear.  My dad doesn't go in the sun and always wears a hat.  He has had skin cancer removals many times with no troubles.

I used to go to tanning salons when I was younger but haven't in years.  It's not worth it. 

Like Lips said, spray tan or lotions.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

So sorry to hear that hymacaw... and how strong you are to never say a word with your broken ribs... I wish you a quick recovery and no spreading of your carcinoma and am relieved it is treatable... and TAAADAAA is right, keep a positive attitude it is the first step in healing.

katt

Sorry to hear that Hymacaw but it's very good that your doctor caught it early enough to treat it without major problems. Stay safe!

im sorry to hear this hymacaw, i hope you get well soon

i told my mum to stop using sun beds a long time ago, and she actually listened to me,

she just uses the tanning cream now instead, i told her thats what she should use and she does now,

LuckyRJ

It's a bump in the road and it sounds like everything is going to be just fine. The word cancer is a scary word. If you can take a beating from a horse riding accident, you can take on anything. 
I assume you'll have to rest that leg. Just think, sitting is good for playing slots and drinking long islands.

Sorry to hear of your bout with the bad luck monster hymacaw,I'm sure you will be fine,you seem like a fighter and you can overcome this.Like our dear froggy said,nothing wrong with kicking back and enjoying yourself with a nice win on slots and a cocktail or two!!! Time to pamper yourself. Hugs and kisses to you!

Gosh you all...such caring and warm sentiments from everyone and I am so touched.  I have to admit, I am a little bit scared.  Especially after my sister emailed some disturbing stats and information about this particular skin cancer, pointing out that her years as a vet tech saw many animals (primarily dogs) that developed this type of cancer and it was very aggressive in some, spreading to organs and other parts of the body.  She is recommending I have a full body scan in order to detect any early signs of it spreading to internal organs.  This is freaking me out a little....ok...a lot.  Today I am literally sick to my stomach and can't focus on anything but this.  I'm trying to find some things to do to take my mind off of it but not having much success.  Until I get in on Nov 15th to have this area tended to, I'm not going to rest very easy. 

I sure do thank you for the thoughts and kindness.  What an awesome group of people here.  When I first began posting a couple years ago, I didn't reveal too much personal info, much like most of you. But I soon felt that there were some genuinely kind hearted folks who not only had a common "bond" in gambling but also showed interest in some of us with a personal story to tell.

I eventually shared that I had lost the love of my life, my husband of 23 years at the time, in a motorcycle accident in 2004.  It was the single most devastating moment in my life and had it not been for the love and care of my close friends and family in the weeks/months after his death, I don't think I would have made it.  A year later, I reconnected with a longtime acquaintance who had been divorced 10 years..we began dating and soon married.  He saved me from such a pit of desolation that I owe my life to him....and God.  I have not always been a very religious person, am actually more spiritual than religious...but I think now may be time to strengthen my relationship with God and lean on my husband more as I am always the tough cookie who doesn't "need anybody".

Don't know why its easier to share such personal and intimate details of my life with people I've never met than it is with my family and few friends...strange isn't it?

Hymacaw,

Listen to your doctor and don't listen to anyone else who i know mean well but just leave your frightened. The doc doesn't seem to feel it is threatening so believe in him. It's like googling on the net when checking out symptoms and before you know it you think you are doomed.

You are gonna pull through this just fine, like you did the spill from the horse. And yes it is so true that talking to someone outside loved ones can be so much easier. This forum is more then just a gamblers site. It is about close connections and as time goes on we become very close.

Don't you worry and i have to say i love that German Shepard in your profile pic. If it's yours i am sure it will be as loyal as they are known to be and bring you lots of comfort.

Lips

Thank you Lips..you always say the right thing  I know exactly what you are saying...and don't even get me started on WebMD

Yes, the new profile pic is of my newest animal family member.  Just adopted her Sunday and I love her so much.  We already have a male shepherd, rescued from a local shelter a few years ago.  He prefers my hubby but is very protective of me and our property.  I wanted a big dog that would be MY buddy so have been looking for several months for another shepherd that needed a good home.  Had to be a good tempered dog with no aggressive tendencies (our male is not alpha...but we have chickens, barn cats and livestock) as to not dismantle the happy home life our current critters have.  Turned down a few potential GSD and then happened across this lovely lady on the internet via a GSD rescue site.  Fell in love with her the moment we met.  Sad for her that she could no longer live with her family but I think she's already happier here, getting the run of a 20 acre farm!  And she is definitely a woman's dog...could care less about my hubby...only wants to be with MEEEEE  LOL  I have a feeling she is going to help me get through this little hurdle I have going on in my life right now.

Oh dear, hymacaw...please don't worry.

I asked one of my doctor clients his thoughts on your diagnosis.  His reply (and he would be very blunt if it was bad news) was the same as your physician.  Very common and very treatable. He also said once you have a skin cancer..stay out of the sun.

I looked up squamous cell carcinoma and found, what appears to be, the exact page your sister did.  It happens to be the only page with dire results and also has a link to some Dr. in Singapore.....but the link fails. 

Cancer is always a scary word but please, please try not to worry.  Keep your appointment, get it taken care of and you will be good as new.

Exactly, listen to your Doctor.. a short story, when i was pregnant with my daughter i had friends and people tell me horrible stories about pain and labor and what entails in having a baby.. i was terrified by the time they got through.. worried sick, even thinking i was going to die.. well i went through it all with flying colors, i think it was because i was prepared for the worst but got the best.. still i wanted to choked everyone of those people who told me those horrible "what could happen or did" tales.. i'dof preferred not to hear it, but glad i did!

Did you get the removal?
How did it go?

Hope all is well.

Thanks for asking gabby, but no, it hasn't been totally removed yet. My Dr had to reschedule my appt for this coming Tues for that procedure.  Not loking forward to the lidocaine injection into my leg...that hurts worse than ever.  I am really feeling the withdrawal from not tanning tho because laying in a bed for 15 minutes...all warm & cozy, just makes me feel better emtionally and all the self tanning lotion in the world won't replace that feeling!

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles...I hope your appointment went well and you recover swiflty. I was just looking at the pictures of your pups you just posted...beautiful dogs and WOW...can't see much from the picture but it looks like you have an amazing view! I don't think I could ever live out in the "country" but it sure is nice to visit and take it all in for a few days.

i hope it goes ok for you hymacaw, i know it is hard to give the sunbeds up, but it is for the best, i know its an addiction like gambling is, and various other things, but be strong...

LuckyRJ

Hi Hymacaw,  I have no idea how I missed this thread and all the replies.  So sorry to hear about this.  I hope all goes well next Tuesday, which I'm sure it will.  Sorry for the late reply. 

blue

Thanks Satansmuff...trying to remain positive.  And thanks about the dogs and my place.  I live on a a 20 acre farm in a rural area and love it...is truly Heaven on Earth.  I have a couple of 'city friends' who say they enjoy coming out to visit just because it is so peaceful and beautiful here...and I thought it was because they enjoyed the smell of cow poop and stepping in chicken doo..silly me Here are a couple pics take of my property a few years ago.  The one photo was taken one day when I was out for a horse ride behind our property on hundreds of acres of Christmas trees growing.  Our's is the place with the cows, pasture and red buildings.Having a place like this is alot of work for my retired hubby & I but its what keeps us feeling young.  We raise cows for our own beef and sell to friends/family, have chickens & sell eggs, have an apple tree orchard so alot of work there, put in a large garden each year and can/freeze a great deal of our own food plus I have horses and enjoy riding alot. Probably more info than you needed to hear!

wow, those pics are awesome

wish i lived there

Just plan a trip to the casino with your hubby afterward. You can look forward to that and not the pain of the injection.

Those pics are beautiful. You're such a lucky lady to live in that gorgeous place.