We finally have some gorgeous weather. Loving it!
Everything is aligned for tomorrow's cataract surgery in Waltham. After numerous calls with SurgiSite Boston and Mass Eye and Ear, all approvals have been provided as well as my health insurance coverage, co-payment and other financials settled. My sister Leslie is accompanying me and has graciously agreed to do the driving. I've been on a regimen of pre-surgery medication that must be applied (eye drops) four times daily. After surgery I will be complementing those with a steroid. Not sure how long I'll need to be doing these, but I'll find out tomorrow.
Just the waiting game right now. I'm a bit apprehensive about my being 'conscious' during the procedure. I have visions of "Clockwork Orange". It is what it is.
A few weeks ago I had come across an article in the local paper where a free skin cancer screening was being offered at Holy Family in Methuen. Being keenly aware of my body's changes I had some concerns with a number of anomalies. There was no time like the present to have these checked out. Although I dread a medical professional uttering, "You have cancer", to me again early detection is key and it's free. [Effie would be proud.]
I finally found the area where folks where waiting for the screening. I was given some paperwork to complete (mostly a questionnaire). Not long afterward, I was escorted to an examination room where I was asked if I wanted a cursory examination, or a full blown one. Given this was free, I said, "I'll take the full blown exam". I was told that I would need to strip down to my underwear. No problem.
I had just begun to disrobe when Dr. David Gruber came in and introduced himself. He asked which areas I was concerned about as he was quickly 'eyeing me'. I pointed to two areas where the skin was thickening, but he said, "Those are wisdom marks and they are not a concern". [I guess that's a more sensitive term to describe old age spots, but hearing no concern - was good.] He said, "Those areas were seborrheic keratosis, not cancerous." I pointed out some other areas and was told that they were not concerning, but there was a spot on my ear (that was crusty) where sun damage had created a pre-cancerous condition. He said there's nothing to concern myself immediately and it's not an area where they biopsy. He said it treated by freezing those (actimic keratosis) cells.
I was truly relieved to hear that some of the areas I thought potentially harmful to my health - were nothing but 'wisdom' marks and the one area of concern is at a stage where it's treatable without all the lovely trappings of a cancer treatment.
I looked up Dr. Gruber and he's covered on my health plan. So I'll be scheduling an appointment after my cataract surgery and follow-ups have been completed.
Beautiful day and beautiful news. More to come.
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