When I last wrote, I was waiting for the pathology results from the two skin biopsies I had because of 2 suspicious looking moles (I have an increased risk for melanoma because of my BRCA2 mutation and my mom’s history of melanoma). The results came back and both moles were severely atypical/pre-melanoma. I was very relieved they weren’t melanoma, but a bit surprised that both of them were pre-melanoma. My dermatologist explained they would both have to be excised (removed) in two separate procedures.

I had the first excision this morning, which was the site on my left hip. When the surgeon showed me the area he was going to remove – it was a bigger are than I had expected – but he explained that if the pathology comes back as melanoma (which is very unlikely) – they will have excised enough that I don’t have to get anything additional removed. That was a relief to me! Also, I made sure antibiotics were being prescribed (they were) because my breast surgeon had told me any time I have any procedure – even a dental procedure – I need to be on antibiotics. After a mastectomy, the highest reason for capsular contracture is infection.

The surgeon put on some relaxing music and began numbing me with burning needles aka lidocaine – if any of you have experienced the burn of lidocaine, you understand what I’m talking about. The actual excision wasn’t bad bc of the magic numbing lidocaine – but it did feel really strange to feel the pressure and pulling of all the stitches – but not be in pain. I actually felt a bit queasy because of how odd the sensation was.

He finished up and Adam (right by my side as always – best hubby ever) took a picture to show me, and I was really impressed with how good it looked. This mole was right below a huge ass star tattoo that I have (yay first year of college on Haight St in San Francisco), and I was thinking a huge corner chunk of the star would be gone, but the surgeon removed it in a way that now it just kinda looks like one of the edges is crooked – or as Adam says, “looks like a star fish.” I have a bunch of stitches – 2 layers of them – but it is the internal kind so it doesn’t look bad at all. I’m actually really lucky that the mole was below the tattoo so I was able to see it. So if you have tattoos, make sure to take a close look for moles underneath and get annual skin checks at the dermatologist.

It’s gonna be sore while I’m healing since it is in a spot that moves a lot whenever I move up and down – so I’m taking it easy per the doctor’s orders, and switching off between binge watching Dash Dolls while taking pain killers. Adam’s literally a saint for enduring hours of this show.

I’ll keep everyone posted about the pathology results and when I get the next site removed. Here are pictures of the before and after, so click if you wanna see! The pic on the left is the marker site of what they were going to remove (the red stuff is iodine, not blood) and the right is the final result w my starfish 🙂