Happy Summer!!!

I suppose it is time for me to update our blog.  I have been hesitant to do so, perhaps because it has been a bit of a relief not to be absorbed in the skin cancer world.  BUT, I have had a little nagging and scolding from family and friends who want to know how our Jim is doing.  Here ya go!

Jim has been doing fabulously well.  He did push the envelope of how much he can put his family through with a surgery to have his gallbladder removed in March and a surgery to have two ganglion cysts removed from his foot in April, but we are happily past those procedures!  He has recovered perfectly from both.  Whew!

Jim had two biopsies for skin cancer about a month or so ago.  BOTH came back negative!  One was precancerous and the other was completely benign.  Such welcome news!  Both Jim's VA and civilian dermatologists think two things are helping him - the Crohn's medication is completely out of his system and the chemo cream he applied at night this winter helped slow things down.  If they can continue to catch things at the precancerous level, he will only have to endure having spots frozen and maybe biopsies here and there.  That is so much better than surgery.  The plan now is to watch his skin carefully, be very cautious in the sun this summer, and then begin a nightly course of chemo cream in the fall.  We feel very fortunate to be getting some breathing room.  

So, as we head into the heart of summer, we will be extremely vigilant with skin care.  Hats, sunscreen, shade, whatever it takes.  Be careful out there, friends.  Skin cancer sucks!

Great News!

Jim heard that one of his biopsies was negative and the other was positive.  Luckily, the positive biopsy had clean margins.  So, NO skin cancer surgeries are being scheduled.  We will take it!!  Toasting Jim!!

Here We Go Again

This past week, Jim visited his VA dermatologist for what we thought would be a routine check-up.  This dermatologist teams with the civilian dermatologist and has been involved since the beginning.  Well..... she thoroughly examined his hands and then ended up taking two biopsies, a scraping to get rid of precancerous spots, and froze a spot - all on his left hand.  In addition to that, she froze a spot on his face.  UGH.  So, now we wait.  It typically takes about a week to get biopsy results.  Hoping for negatives!

Jim's Hands. 3/5/16

Left Hand.  3/5/16

Chemo Cream - DONE!

Jim wrapped up his topical chemo treatment last weekend.  At this point, his hands are sore and raw.  As soon as they heal up a bit, the doctor will check his progress and decide what to do next.  The chemo cream is only supposed to attack precancerous or cancerous cells, leaving healthy tissue unaffected.  So.... we have some dark spots to watch.

Jim's right hand - post chemo. 2/29/16

Jim's left hand - post chemo. 2/29/16

Both hands.  2/29/16

Chemo Cream

Jim will be starting topical chemotherapy cream on both hands today.  This time around, he will not have to wear gloves or have a wrap.  He will apply the cream at night to both hands and wash it off in the morning.  The doctors will monitor his progress and see if this approach helps with the precancerous spots on his hands.  Luckily, there were no spots that looked cancerous or worthy of a biopsy at Jim's last visit.  That is really fabulous news.  

I think my hubby saw one too many political posts or bogus medical studies and advice, so he made the decision to quit Facebook, for now.  Truly, he has been very happy and less stressed.  So, he would like his friends to know he didn't unfriend you, he is just preserving his sanity.  It's been a good move for him!

Double Digits

AND.... #10 is finished!  Jim soldiered through another surgery today.  They removed the spot on his right pointer finger and froze five other spots on his right hand.  Unfortunately, the wound did require a skin graft to close.  The donor skin was taken from his inner bicep area of his right arm.  

Jim's hands pre-surgery, 12/22/15.
The spot on his pointer finger was addressed today.

After his surgery, we went to our traditional lunch out, courtesy of our dear friends Erin, Claire, and Terry.  Thank you so much for the gift card.  We relaxed at Downriver Grill while Jim was still in the *sweet spot* before the injections wore off.  

Jim's post surgery beverage, a local stout.

  

DRG gorgonzola fries with bacon.  YUM.

Thank you to our other dear friends, Jon and Bonnie, for watching our boys overnight.  We are so grateful for the time to conquer our Christmas to-do list last night.  Of course, it was a huge present to have the guys happy and occupied while Jim and I were away, as well.  Thank you!!

Dang It!

Well... that celebration was fun while it lasted!  Jim found out today that the biopsy on his right pointer finger is positive.  This spot has been frozen before and hasn't gone away.  So, his chances of skipping out on surgery this time are small.  He is scheduled for Tuesday, December 22nd.  Merry Christmas!!  

12/14/15
Jim's right (left side of the picture) 
pointer finger is the current positive spot.

On his left hand, the surgery spot on his middle
 knuckle and the graft by his pinky are healing.