For about 3-4 weeks I've had an irritation under my lower right eye. I thought it was caused from the contact lens solution I was using. But when I couldn't get it cleared up by using various things, I decided to visit my local eye doctor. He looked at it and said, "Looks like a skin cancer to me." I'm still thinking he can just zap it away. Nope...

He sent me to an opthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon. She confirmed his thinking. It's a basal cell skin cancer. Can't be ignored, it's weeping. I'm still thinking she can just zap it. Nope...I'm scheduled for plastic surgery on that eye on the 27th of this month. She has to take a pie shaped wedge out of the lower eyelid. She thinks it will be about 3 inside stitches and 3 outside stitches. Inside ones will disolve and the outer ones will have to be removed after awhile.

This is all right in the center of my eyelid. Right over the cornea. Please hope for a good outcome for this. It would be tragic if it healed with a gap. It would cause constant corneal erosions which would damage my eyesight.

This is sooo not something I want to go thru. Putting off the pain thing for awhile. I only have enough inner strength to deal with one thing at a time.

Please give thought to seeing your doctor if you have any thing that will not heal, even something as minor as this was. It's possible it might not be minor.

Billye

That is awful! Just awful!

Did you ever get Vit D levels drawn? I ask because it is thought that low D
contributes to skin cancer. (and chronic pain/bone issues).

You certainly don't deserve this! GADS... I'd be in a "state" too.
I am so sorry... these crappy things still keep cropping up for you. Not fair!

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this too... at least its a basal so thats the best kind of skin cancer to have as far as it spreading..... are they going to put you out for the surgery? The fact they are having a plastic surgeon doing this is very good - or are they going to do it in a "mohs" type situation - when they cut pieces and make sure they take as little tissue as possible? (I've had this surgery on my face and chest more then a few times) - with Moh's they keep cutting little slices and keep checking until all the cancer cells are gone - so they work in conjunction with the pathologist as the surgery progreses. I understand your concern about your eye - it sounds like you are getting the right type of specialist to operate on your eye - and maybe to make you feel better - give him/her a call and ask how often they do this on eyelids?

Sending you strong thoughts - you will get thru this - at least you caught it now! And thats a good thing.... Take care of yourself....

Hi Hon.

I would just like to add my warmest thoughts and hopes, and sending all positive energy your way. I absolutely do believe in positive energy and prayers.

So you are in mine.

Love, Melody

P.S. I adore sunsets. I think they are calming and very peaceful.
This one is for you!!!

My brother had this done just before the holidays,Mrs d is 100% right
about the vit D check. And Karen i'm glad you explain it ,before I tried.
My eyelids have to have droopy sugery and the teeth thing Friday.

You have been through so much,you are in my prayers,I know you
don't want to do this,but my brother did welll and he's a baby..
to you and all,Su

((((((billye)))))))

oh man hon...this just is not fair.

sending you lots of healing prayers.

if there is anything i can do..let me know. you aren't that far.

--and it's one thing after another. . .

Billye, I can't add much to what others have already said--I absolutely agree about the Vitamin D check (given your situation) and the preferences for the Mohs surgical technique in so sensitive an area, in order to save as much tissue as possible (and also given the drying effects of Sjogren's--make sure the plastic surgeon knows about this, and don't hesitate to educate him/her if you have to)--but, fortunately, this is one of the types of skin cancers that do not spread rapidly and readily, and you can likely expect a complete recovery.

Please let us know if there's anything else we can do (would you like me to lecture any of your body parts, perhaps? That would terrify anything . . . ).

going thru my mind about your situation. AAAACCK! AARRGHUH! and the like, but, also. Wow! maybe they got 'c' stuff early. Be very grateful for that. It would seem that your docs are being super agressive to get what I call the 'evil' out, ASAP. And, if it were me, I too, think I'd be in kind of a state of shock by now. Tho grateful at the same time &albiet confused a bit.
I do believe others far more wise in this particular cancer area have spoken and well. To wrongly quote Shakespeare: Out, Out Da**ed spot! Just get it out as super-soon as they can do. and know that it IS out.
Yes the surgery hurts, even for those of us who have quirky issues with it all and the side effects of the surgery....but, the whole possibility of things getting worse in one area are gonna be stopped/stalled. Usually for the long term.
The surgery stuff tho, IS one heck of a scary thing for any of us! Truly hope that you won't have to see any sort of such surgery for one really long time after this! !!!!!!!!! - j

PS What color of cyber balloons do you want? I am sure Melody could concoct the most frabuloucious sort of bouquet one could even find or imagnine. Just name your preferences- I believe they will be delivered.

Did some mention balloons for our dear Silverlady!!!

Melody and Dahlek ...you made me laugh with your balloons. I'll carry the teddybear one with me.

They are putting me to sleep to do this surgery. They can't do the "moh's" technique in this area. It's too close to the eye. The way it was explained is that if they try to take tissue out of this area and then have to go back and remove the cancer, it would leave a little v in my eyelid. That would leave the center of my eye open for continous damage due to air getting to the eye when you sleep. This thing is too close to my eye and there isn't much tissue to work with.

No, no one is monitoring my vitamin D levels at this time. I go to U.T. Southwest before the surgery on the 27th. I expect to have vit. levels checked at that point. That's when I see the bone metabolic specialist.

So much going on at the same time. I need a medical scheduling specialist. Glenn,..would you mind YELLING at my entire body. I've bout had enough of it's misbehaving.

Billye