Just when you think you have paid your dues with illness in this lifetime, life always has something else to throw at you doesn’t it?
Warning – If you are squeamish I think you should still be okay because I HAVE blurred the most graphic photo. I will continue to update this page as it heals, but this post is being released 6 weeks after surgery for skin cancer. I have been asked if I have a “before” picture of the spot (basal cell carcinoma) but I do not. You can kind of see it in my video “what my teenage son eats in a day”. I made this video right before Mohs surgery, see the left side of my nose near the tip. If you want to view this video click here.
I have to admit, for most of my life my nose was my arch nemesis, the thorn in my side. As a teenager all I ever wanted for my birthday was a nose job. Then at 19 I came down with a sinus infection that lasted decades. Now my nose was bringing me this? But after taking that bandage off after 48 hours I had formed a new love and appreciation for my nose and all I wanted was for it to go back to the imperfect nose I always thought it was.
The mohs surgery was done on good Friday. I was excited about Easter and told the family to pick where they wanted to eat that Friday night. After all, it was a tiny spot and I’d probably leave with a little band aid on my nose. That’s not what the cancer had agreed to and the cancer calls the shots. Mohs surgery is when they remove a minimal amount of area where they believe the cancer is and then test it and make sure it’s out and that the surrounding margins are clear as well. If there is no cancer left on the first round you are done. If they still see cancer, you repeat this as many times as it takes until there is no sign left of it. On the 4th round they got it all, the cancer was out. Now it was time to reconstruct and I never saw this coming. I should have, the surgeon told me it was a possibility, but the spot was so tiny I didn’t believe the doctor would REALLY need to take skin flaps from my forehead and nose to cover the hole..pfft! But that is exactly what happened. I decided after the reconstruction that I did not want to look in a mirror, but the surgeon said he would rather me see while he was there. I looked and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t recognize myself and although I was relieved the cancer was out, I also couldn’t believe the new Miss Piggy nose I was left with. You could see straight up my nostrils. He assured me it was just temporary but in my mind the doctor stitched my nose and pulled it up and I worried this could be permanent, so yes, I shed a tear like a baby right there in front of the doctor. They bandaged me up (see ridiculous looking bandage below) and I stayed stuck in my head behind that bandage for 2 days until I was allowed to remove it. I flip flopped from feeling gratitude, to feeling sad, to feeling guilt that I cared this much about how my nose may look when after all I WAS ALIVE and it was now out. So shame, not wanting to be left out, also joined the party. Yes, it was fun 48 hours behind that mask. After the pity party was over, and since I was homebound for at least the next 7 days, I watched all 6 seasons of I love Lucy which always seems to make everything okay.
Below – cancer is gone, now it’s time to reconstruct.
Scary 48 hour mask.
This picture below has to be my favorite, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My entire face is swollen, not just my nose. I let my husband unwrap my face and I let him look first. I was embarrassed by what I knew I must look like so I made a joke “don’t hate me because I am beautiful” and he quickly retorted “that is not why I hate you” and I burst into laughter for the first time in days.
Photo below – starting to look so much better…
6 weeks after Mohs. Bandage has been off about one week now and it feels so good. My nose is not exactly how it was before, and I am self conscious of my profile from one side, but overall I am very happy and grateful because I am aware it could have been so much worse if it continued to grow undetected.
I did form this lump on the left side of my nose that the doctor said may not come down without a steroid shot into the bump. I was reluctant but glad I did, a few days letter it dissolved by 80%.
BEFORE steroid shot….
About 6 days after steroid shot….
Below – 4 months since Mohs surgery…..
Update: I have completely changed out my makeup, face wash, sunscreen, almost everything and have switched them out for products that are NON Toxic and NON carcinogenic! So far I am going with Nature’s Brand ,their sunscreens are non toxic, organic ingredients, NON GMO, and reasonably priced. They are also free of phthalates, parabens, and preservatives. I am still experimenting with makeup and skincare and if I find any worth sharing I will update here.
OMG Erin, i’m glad to read that you are feeling better and your overall health most of all is good. I’m worried about being in that situation too snce my body is full of freckles and i wouldnt be able to know if i hace a new one growing because they are just too many to count so i have to be monitoring myself often. I wonder if they gave you antibiotics this tme. Sending hugs!!!
Hi Lili! I have a lot of freckles too so I have no idea what I’m even looking at 🙂 Now I have to go every 6 months to get checked. Yes, after the Mohs surgery I HAD to take antibiotics, I didn’t want to but they talked me into it and it did get a little infected. Now I am back in overdrive undoing any abx damage. Make sure you get checked once a year! 🙂
I will get checked, thanks for your reply and im sending prayers your way so we can all get as healthy as possible, fingers crossed 🙂
Wow, it healed so quickly and now you can hardly tell…great doctor!
Thank you so much for this post. I’m having my first facial Mohs procedure next Thursday. I’ve had on to a basal cell carcinoma on my chest, but this new one is on my nose and after unadvisedly googling images, I stumbled onto your post which gives me some peace of mind that I will survive and it’s not the end of the world. Not going to be fun, I know. But again, thanks for these encouraging pics and posts. I can’t wait to see how the dermabrasion went.
hi Julie! I’m so sorry to hear this BUT you will be okay. At first you may not recognize your face but don’t let it scare you. The body is so great at healing! After this I changed my make up and sunscreen. Never slathering on toxic sunscreen and products again! Keep me updated! Erin
Where can I buy your book? Amazon CA say it’s not in stock right now….thanks!
Hi Krista, Did I get back to you? I am going through my messages…yes, we sell to CA – let me know if you still need help – eatpraygetwell@gmail.com
Hi Erin. My name is Erin, and I just got my biopsy results — BCC next to my right eye. Mohs surgery is next. I’m pretty freaked out. Thanks for sharing. I’m really glad to know that it will all be ok eventually.
Hi Erin! You will be okay but yes it’s scary and even a bit traumatizing but we all got to the other side okay ..remember that 🙂
Thanks for the reminder. They haven’t scheduled yet, but it’s only been 1 day since I got results. Yes, I might need a reminder.
And I’m so sorry you have to go in again, but I’m really glad you are on top of it now. I’m getting all my son checked next week by derm. Time to be vigilant. You are a beautiful soul.
Hi Erin,
It was wonderful that you shared your pictures and story. My name is Jean and I just had a small BBC in a similar location to your cancer removed yesterday with MOHS. This was not the first MOHS I have had done I had it done in 2007 on the other side of my nose and I am now 58. I had a star shaped flap and I was given options from skin graft to skin flap and the surgeon said that was the best choice. I had forgotten how painful the first night was over that many years passing. I am doing a little better this morning but I still cried about it and I am so thankful my husband is supportive. I am hopeful that this scar will fade after a year but what scares me is that I will have to go through this again since this was the second time on my nose. I was lucky that this MOHS surgeon is sought after for being top notch, but it still was scary. I am glad you are so positive and reassuring and that I feel I can share this with someone who has been there too. Take care and I wish you continued health and happiness.
Jean
HI Jean!
I’m glad you are on the other side – the next few days are the worst! 🙁 I did get another spot right near my Mohs scars that has been there about 5 months. I have been putting different essential oils on it – is it working? I don’t know…maybe? My derm said we will just keep an “eye” on it and she didn’t biopsy it so I guess that is good 🙂 wishing you the best and a speedy recovery!! Erin