Going to the dermatologist tomorrow

[kellyt]

Hoping for a good report.   

[Des]

Me too, me too

[MooseMom]

Is this a regular consultation, or are you having a problem?  Do let us know!  Good luck!

[willowtreewren]

 

Let us know, Kelly!

[kellyt]

Moosemom, it was one of many appointments to come.    I have not been since transplant and I have this "thing" on my face, so I figured now is the time to develop a relationship with a dermatologist.      I am a fair skinned, redhead in Texas.  I should have had a dermatologist in my Rolodex since my 20's, but I don't.  Now I do, though!   

Ok, the "thing" on my face is a "cherry angioma" (not cancer or any kind).   I will have it cut off sometime in the near future.  She said it's like a little blister of "blood vessels" or something like that.  It's not big or gross looking, just annoying and I tend to want to pick at it.  Might as well get rid of it.

I had a little dry, scaly patch on my left forearm that is about the size of a pencil eraser.  She burned that off (or maybe froze it off  ) and said that was "precancerous".  No further action.  I also had one on the left side of my neck and she "scraped" that and sent that one in for biopsy.  She said that one was maybe "precancerous", but more than likely "mild or early stage" skin cancer.      Results will be in in two weeks.  If skin cancer then I go back in and have the entire thing "scraped" off and that's the end of it.

I have no other questionable places on my body, but I'm going to see her every six months.     We need a "whew" smiley. 

[rsudock]

glad to hear you are making it to a dermatologist? Did u get the insurance thing staightened out too? Or am I thinking of another member??



xo,
R

[MooseMom]

kellyt, oh man, I bet you are relieved.  If you can get through that first appt without any major catastrophic diagnoses, then it's much easier to be happy going back for regular checkups.  That's fantastic news!

I grew up in Texas, so I know how intense the sun is down there.

Do you use sunscreen on a regular basis?  If you do, what do you use that you would recommend?  I'm outside a lot in the summer; I like to swim, and it seems that no matter how religious I am about applying sunscreen and staying out of the noonday sun, I still end up with a tan.  If you have a good sunscreen, I'd love to know what it is.  Thanks!

[kellyt]

Texas sun is like sitting on the sun itself.  lol

As far as what I use, I don't know the name off hand, but it's a yellow tube and it's like SPF 50.  I got it in Port Aransas while at the beach last Summer.  I use a Clinique cream on my face that has SPF 25.   I forget to wear it on just regular days and I feel like it's my left side that gets the hit while driving in the car.  I have to start remembering to wear it every day.  I put it on when I'm outside.  It seems to work pretty good.  I think I had this scaly thing on my left arm before transplant.  I've just been watching since then. and it got just a little bigger, but not much.

[MooseMom]

Thanks for that.  I use sunscreens that are water resistant, but they feel like I'm wearing plastic, so I leave those for the times I'm swimming.  I must be doing something wrong because I still get a lot of sun despite my best efforts.  I even wear hats!  Actually, I'm thinking of asking my neph to refer me to a dermatologist because lately my skin overall has a weird, rough feeling to it.  If I see a specialist, I'll ask about sunscreen.  Maybe there's a super duper whiz-bang cream that's just the most wonderful thing...

[kellyt]

I also wear a big garden hat when I'm working in the yard.

The other night I was Googling body soaps with SPF and I got a computer virus.     I was so mad.  But apparently they do exist!  I'm going to keep searching.  That would be great, right?

[MooseMom]

Body soaps with SPF???  Really?  That makes me laugh, I don't know why.  That seems a bit over the top!

[kellyt]

I would rather get it done in the shower.  lol   I can't imagine they would be a high SPF though. 

[willowtreewren]

OH, Kelly, I'm glad your visit went well (except for all the scraping, freezing and burning!)

 

[paris]

Sunscreen becomes part of your daily routine after awhile.  I don't think you can be too careful, especially with the anti-rejection meds. They greatly increase the possibility of cancer.  I put a light layer of  50 on in the morning, then do the makeup. I keep tubes in the cars and a small one in my purse.   The other day I bought a hat (I am not a hat person!) from the San Diego Hat Co and it has SPF 50 built in it.  There is also a line of clothing with built in SPF.  I would like a light weight long sleeve button shirt for the beach, pool, parks, etc.  They are pricey, but I think I want one.      I also had a grandfather who died of melanoma - so I just want to be careful.

Glad your visit went well, Kelly.  I need to make an appt sometime this summer.  Keep that red head under a hat and that pale skin lathered with sunscreen!!   Let me know if you find the soap -- that would be a great thing to have.   

[kellyt]

They have the SPF clothes at Academy Sports, Paris.  I have a shirt and a matching button down that goes over it.  I haven't seen the hats.  I want one, too.