melanoma

Hurdles

Thyroid Disgnosis & Another Biopsy

Motivation Monday: “I’m not losing weight, I’m getting rid of it. I have no intention of finding it again.”

Hi little bunnies, I’ve missed you!

I took a much needed week off after a very overwhelming doctors visit. Last week I went to my appointment to go over my lab work results with my doctor. Fortunately I do not have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Unfortunately I do have hypothyroid. Luckily hypothyroid is something that is easy to regulate with medication, and my doctor is hoping that I will start feeling a little better within 2-3 weeks. I am crossing my fingers on that one. I’m happy that I have finally figured out what is probably the main culprit of my depression, hair loss, weight gain, and lethargy. I’m just hoping and wishing that I will gradually see changes with all of my symptoms after my thyroid gets all leveled out. It’s probably going to take time and more blood tests to get everything regulated perfectly, but I am looking forward to it. I cannot explain how drastically different I feel physically and mentally compared to last fall. I can’t believe that one little gland can cause so many different issues in the body. I just want to feel like myself again!

As I was leaving my doctor’s office, I received a phone call from my dermatologist’s office. The nurse informed me that the biopsy results came back from my second incision (right foot, pinky toe) and that it was abnormal. She scheduled me for another appointment this Thursday for a second biopsy and to talk more about the biopsy results and about possibly scheduling a surgery. Ummm surgery? You’ve got to be kidding me. I hung up the phone and sat in my car crying at a stop sign. I could not imagine having another surgery and once again be set back another couple of weeks with crutches. Oh and not to mention the pain, I was luck I got the best CBD oil for pain. After I got my stitches out from my first surgery, the incision split open and has taken so long to heal. The surgery on my left foot was on August 16th and I can still barely walk. I’m going to my dermatologist on Thursday to learn more about my biopsy results. Since I only talked to the nurse, I have no idea if it’s cancerous or what is going on. All I know is that my poor foot is going to get cut up again! The timing couldn’t be worse as I am going to an out of town wedding next week! I really can’t process all of this right now.

After my cry session, I made a detour to the mall for some retail therapy to hunt for a dress to wear to my friend’s wedding. This dress might be accessorized with some chic bandages and shiny crutches. Stylin’.

While I was at the mall, a parking attendant asked me what happened to my foot. I explained that I had a mole removed from my foot to be biopsied. I think that everyone is surprised when I tell them, because they are expecting a sprained ankle or stubbed toe. He said “good thing you had it removed, Bob Marley died of skin cancer.” I had no clue that was how he died, so of course when I got home I took to the fabulous world wide web to learn more. I stumbled upon a story that Bob Marley died of skin cancer that was found on his toe! Naturally I started freaking out because my bad biopsy came from my toe! Googling “Bob Marley skin cancer” quickly turned into searching WebMD to assess the issue. OMG why do I do these things? WebMD should be illegal! Literally the worst thing you can do. All of the sudden a headache turns into the self-diagnosis of a brain tumor after 1 minute of being on that site. Never a good idea!

Are you guilty of going on WebMD when something is wrong?

In all of the bad news that I received last week, I’m so thankful that my thyroid condition is curable, and that my dermatologist caught my mole sooner than later.
I apologize if I’m a bit MIA this week, I’m just going to say it straight up: I’m having a bad week. Boooo. I really want to start a juice reboot, but I don’t think that is a great idea right now. Maybe when I get my thyroid stuff figured out and am feeling a little better!

My friend tagged me in the most adorable photo on Instagram that I just had to share with you guys.
Oh no big deal, just grocery shopping for some rabbit food for his bunny teeth!


I die over this picture! How freaking cute is that mini shopping cart? I wonder who took this! haha

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Hurdles

Stitches Out & Skin Cancer Awareness

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your support regarding my last post about my recent health issues! I get my lab results back next Friday, so I will let you guys know what is going on in the health department at that time. Your comments and stories of similar health issues have been so inspiring and I am trying my best to keep my head up and keep moving forward.

Sorry I’ve been a little MIA for the past couple of days. I have not been feeling well at all. Still pouring over here in Catherine’s world! Ugh. I just got home from the dermatologist and I have a foot update:


Good News: Stitches are out!
Not Good News: My skin biopsy came back showing abnormal cells. It wasn’t melanoma, but it wasn’t normal or “ok” either. This means that if I left the mole and didn’t have it removed, it had a potential to turn into melanoma. Luckily my doctor removed the surrounding borders of the mole so I don’t have to have another surgery. All of the bad parts are gone! I am so thankful!
Bad News: Since my biopsy came back abnormal, my dermatologist wanted to check the soles/pads of my hands and feet for other suspicious moles. He saw another dark oddly shaped mole on the opposite foot and insisted that he remove it and have it biopsied. My eyes started to tear up. Was this really happening? I kept it together and thought about the reality, I would rather suck it up and deal with the pain, crutches, or even a wheelchair than leaving a possibly cancerous mole.

Skin cancer is something that runs in my family, so it’s important to check my skin (you should too!) for new and changing moles frequently. Three years ago I felt a bump on my scalp while combing my hair. At first I thought it was an ingrown hair, but a month later it was still there. I made an appointment with my dermatologist to check it out. While observing the bump on my scalp, he also noticed a strangely shaped flat light brown mole about an inch down. He decided to biopsy both moles since one had irregular borders and one was raised. When my biopsy came back, I was informed that the flat mole was pre-melanoma. I went in for another appointment to remove the mole and surrounding borders completely which left me with a little bald spot on the crown of my head. Missing a little patch of hair didn’t even matter, I was so happy to have that spot removed! Better safe than sorry! Ever since then, I have been more cautious of new and abnormal looking moles.

This summer I noticed that a once tiny small dot of the pad of my left foot had turned into a triangular shaped blurry spot about the size of a pencil eraser. I already had an appointment with my dermatologist since I was experiencing breakouts, and decided to show him my foot. The instant he saw it, he said “this needs to come out, this has three different colors and a fuzzy border.” He also explained that moles should not be found on the soles/pads of feet or hands, which is a big red flag. There is a very serious kind of skin cancer called Acral Lentiginous Melanoma that is found in these spots. I am so glad that my doctor decided to schedule a surgery and remove the mole because it definitely needed to go.

I don’t want to fill my food blog with disturbing photos of skin cancer, but I think it’s an important subject to address. A couple of my family members have had melanoma and basal cell carcinoma which have luckily been removed in time, but we have also lost friends from skin cancer. Of all the cancers that humans can get, skin cancer is the most common, but when caught early, skin cancer has a 98% cure rate.

ABCs of Skin Cancer
Asymmetric:  If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match.
Border:  The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.
Color:  Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, blue or some other color.
Diameter:  Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.
Evolving:  Any change — in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting — points to danger.
–Source

“1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer. Don’t be the 1.” –The American Academy of Dermatology

My Motto: When in doubt, cut it out!
Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, it doesn’t matter how dark or tan you are. If you see anything suspicious, make an appointment with your dermatologist and get that sucker removed!

After I got home from the dermatologist I was super excited to see this book waiting for me! My grandma dropped it off while I was at my appointment, thanks Grammy! So excited to have something to look at since I’ll be back on the couch haha

I was even more excited to receive this gorgeous little box in the mail. One of my best friends from college asked if I would be her bridesmaid! FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!!! I am soooo excited and honored. She is going to be the most gorgeous bride and I cannot wait for her big day!



Although I had a little setback today with my  foot feet, things are looking up. I have the most amazing friends and family in the world! I can’t wait to get back on my feet and start posting some recipes again!

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