Surgery Dates Scheduled

After some careful consideration regarding how to continue treatment for Jim, we decided the best fit option for our family was to pursue a civilian doctor.  We are quite grateful to the dermatologist at the VA hospital who finally figured out what was going on with Jim's hands, but had to make the choice between traveling for surgery or checking out our civilian Spokane options.  

Today, we saw Dr. Sears (thank you for the many recommendations!!) and have two surgeries scheduled for June - 9th and 25th.  Dr. Sears recommended proceeding with the "Mohs" surgery.  We had been researching that procedure, as Jim's VA doctor had mentioned it as well.  If you are really curious, the site http://www.mohscollege.org/about/ has good information.  His first surgery will be on the spot on his left hand, between his pinky and ring fingers.  In addition to the surgeries for the two confirmed SCC spots, Jim will be starting a medication (acitretin) to hopefully slow the growth of the SCC cells and clear up some or all of the precancerous cells. 

It was interesting (and relieving!) to learn that Dr. Sears has seen this type of thing before - mix of cancer cells and actinic keratosis covering a larger area.  He agreed with the G.I. that the immunosuppressant drug (imuran/azathioprine) is probably the culprit.  He said it happens sometimes when patients have been on immunosuppressants for an extended time period and also agreed that stopping that medication was a good call.  So, overall, we both are feeling very relieved to be in the right hands moving forward and to have a plan in place.  Thank you for the well wishes and positive thoughts.  We both are feeling very positive.