Visit with Doctor Gruber

Since my last visit with my dermatologist, Dr. Gruber of Andover Dermatology in December, I noticed a growth on my chest near my right breast.  Given my ugly relationship with breast cancer on my left side I was concerned as it seemed to appear out of nowhere and has grown quite a bit.  I originally tried to get an appointment at the beginning of the month, but the only appointment available conflicted with my appointment with my oncologist.  So they gave me a date in May.

As time went on, the growth was getting bigger (no pain) and looked very angry.  So I pleaded for an earlier appointment.

Today, I had my appointment.  I was a bit anxious given my luck with cancer, but knew that even if it were cancerous, it's treatable.  I clearly caught it early enough. After an easy check in I hardly waited until the nurse called me in to the examination room.  Once there, she was looking over my chart and noticed that I had just been there (December).  She asked why I was seeing the doctor.  Once I explained, she updated some information in my file and said, "The doctor will be with you shortly".  [Insert thank you, but don't call me shortly - joke].

Doctor Gruber came in and after pleasantries went right to work.  Right away he said, no worries.  'It's not cancerous.  It's seborrheic keratosis"

A seborrheic keratosis is one of the most common noncancerous skin growths in older adults. While it's possible for one to appear on its own, multiple growths are more common. Seborrheic keratosis often appears on the face, chest, shoulders, or back. It has a waxy, scaly, slightly elevated appearance. No treatment is necessary. If the seborrheic keratosis causes irritation, it can be removed by a doctor.

 

I requested that it be removed.  I was sick of looking at it and when I had a tee shirt on it looked like I had a third nipple.  He complied.

 

After a shot to numb the pain, he sliced it off.  He said that he will still send it to pathology, but feels that it is not cancerous.  He said I would receive notification in a week or so.  He placed a band aid on the area and said that there were no restrictions. And,  it would heal in a few weeks.

So glad to have taken care of this before the date in May.  Now I just wait for the confirmation that it is not cancerous.

 

Post Script: Received notification 4/2/22 via post card indicating that the growth was benign.

More to come!

Follow-Up With Dr. Song

I had my follow-up visit at Mass Eye and Ear at the Waltham location this morning.  Although quite brisk, the sun was shinning and traffic was moving along.  No issue with the commute.  I arrived a bit earlier than expected.  You can never tell what traffic will be like, so one always gives a buffer.  After checking in I was told to wait.

There were a number of people in the waiting room but I was early and expected to be sitting for a spell.  Well, I had some entertainment.  A "Karen" was being quite vocal about her having to have waited two hours.  (I don't believe that length).  She was yelling at the receptionist and indicated that her anxiety medication was wearing off and she could not wait much longer.  Another medical professional came out and tried (in vane) to calm her down indicating that it would be 'soon'.  Of course Karen had the stage and needed to have all eyes on her for her performance.  Her husband sat quietly and made no effort to calm her down.  So she kept going on and on.  Another office person came out and tried to explain what the delay was, but she wanted nothing to do with it.  She said she would wait until half past the hour then leave.  She sat back down, but was loudly complaining to her husband that she 'couldn't take it anymore'.  With crocodile tears she rushed into the rest room to gain composure. People in the waiting room were exchanging eye rolls and were waiting for the follow up act.  Not even 10 minutes later she announced that she "was leaving".  The receptionist walked from her station to console the woman to no avail.  Another person said they were now ready.  She then stated quite loudly that she wasn't going to be waiting in a room by herself for another hour.  She was whisked away.  It may have not been a coincidence that the TV just then began airing a story of Will Smith's assault on Chris Rock.  Karens come in many flavors.

Although my appointment was at 11, I was called in at 11:15.  [Two hour wait...LOL]

Like all my other appointments, I had a barrage of tests with three different medical professionals/technicians. By 11:40, I was waiting in the exam room for Dr. Song.

It wasn't too long before the doctor arrived.  After exchanging pleasantries, he reviewed my test results and said the eye pressure in my right eye had come down significantly (Previously a reading of 33 and today 18).  He then took a look at both eyes and stated everything looks good.  He'll see me in October.

Luckily I saw no more of Karen as I checked out and booked my next appointment.  So good news and free entertainment.

More to come!

Annual Check-up At U Mass Memorial

 Although I'm liking the extra sunlight we've gained as a result of the time change, my body has a difficult time adjusting to the new schedule.  This and the fact that I had to fast since midnight (no coffee) and having to get up early to drive to Worcester, Pi Day (3.14) has been rough!

Traffic to Worcester was not a problem and finding parking was a piece of cake although I was confused and made a turn to a lower level.  I can use the exercise.

I meandered to the 3rd floor and was checked in immediately.  I didn't have to wait too long to be called. I was instructed to follow the medical professional to the vascular lab, where I would be having my annual ultrasound on my endo-vascular repair (stint in my abdominal aorta).  I was asked if a trainee could observe.  Of course I agreed.  I said that I may learn something from the 'show and tell' chatter.

The ultra sound was uneventful, and I didn't learn anything new from their chatter.  I'm happy that there were no audible gasps or 'wait a minute come look at this' moments.  I was discharged and instructed to return to the waiting area.  As soon as I returned, I was called immediately.  Wanda asked if it was alright if a trainee observed.  Of course, I agreed.

I was weighed and the observer came in handy and offered to hold my 'lead bricks' prior to my weighing.  I guess the new rule is: shoes must be kept on.  So with my lead boots, I stepped onto the scale.  Surprisingly it was only two pounds more than my home scale reading. Of course gravity is winning the game of reducing my height.  It seems that my license says 6'4", but the reality is 6'2 and 3/4.  Well that throws my BMI off.  Oh well.  I had my vitals taken.  Pressure was good, but pulse was low (44).  Generally it's around 66-71, but she though that I must be really relaxed.  She might be on to something.  I had just had a belly massage although I was not purring or wagging a tail.  She took the reading twice (on different hands)...same reading (purr).  Wanda went over my meds list and updated a few things.  She then said that the doctor would be in shortly.

In less than a minute, I heard a knock and Dr. (someone) came in.  [Masks make hearing things difficult when you can't see the lips].  Dr. Someone was an assistant to Dr. Schanzer (it's been normal to have two doctors see me).  He asked me about my condition and any changes since my last visit.  I had explained that I have bladder cancer, had 2 cystoscopies and am waiting for my treatment of BCG.  I also told him that my MRI indicated an enlarged aorta above the heart. We chatted for a bit and he examined blood flow in my femur arteries and manually checked my pulse on both wrists.  He said, "Everything seems fine.  Dr. Schanzer will be with you shortly."

It was merely minutes before Dr. Schanzer and Dr. Someone entered the examination room.  Dr. Schanzer said the results of my ultrasound were very good: stint hadn't moved; blood flow is good; no endo leaks and the sac has been reduced from 4 cm to 3.4 cm.  That was great news.  He indicated that next time I will have a CAT scan instead of the ultrasound so he can 'see' what's going on above the heart.  But he added, that AAA is not a concern.  He'll see me next year and he offered support for my battle with bladder cancer.  He hopes that the BCG will be available soon for me.

I check out and paid for parking (just 3 bucks today).  I was in and out in a bit more than an hour.

All in all a good day!  More to come!

Some Odds And Ends and Other Updates

BGC

Since my last post, I'm still in a holding pattern for the BGC.  I did send a message through my patient portal and was informed that it's still back ordered and the office will contact me when it's in.  So I continue to wait.

Mammorgram and Follow-up

On March 3rd, I had my annual mammogram at Holy Family in Methuen.  Pretty routine,  although this time I did not have Dr Moore to give me a thumbs up after his review.  However, I did receive a letter from the Breast Cancer Care Unit of the Hospital indicating that the mammogram was clean - no cancer found.  YAY!

I had my 6 month check up with my oncologist, Dr. Mehta at Dana Farber in Methuen . I was the first appointment of the day so I was called in for my vitals even before I completed my SATs.  According to my visit summary, it appears that I lost another half inch in height.  That darned gravity gets us all eventually.  That just means that my body mass index needs to be recalculated.  I was at ideal weight, so I'm probably just shy of over weight now.  [Can't win].

Dr Metha said it looked like I lost weight.  But we haven't seen each other in person for two years, so since then I have.  Unlike many who gained covid weight, I lost it.  (Eating my own cooking) LOL.

The doctor reiterated that the mammogram was clean.  After he 'felt me up', he said he found nothing (lumps).  Also good news.  We were discussing other health issues and I reported that I had bladder cancer.  He seemed somewhat disturbed by this.  And asked if I had been exposed to chemicals or dyes, to which I said I worked in an office environment for 30 years.  He did say that chemo can sometimes cause that, and seemed saddened that it might be that.  He asked about smoking.  I did say that 'back in the day' when people smoked inside, I played in clubs for 5-6 nights a week with second hand smoke.  He asked, "For how long?"  I said for 10 years.  He then said, 'That's your exposure.  Second hand smoke".  He inquired which doctor I was seeing.  When I said Dr Hurley, he said, "Oh my buddy".  He said that BCG is definitely the route to follow.  Dr Metha did add that if BCG is not successful, to contact him because there are other options.  It's always good to have options.

Dr. Mehta said he'd see me in 6 months and said he'd initiate genealogy counseling.  Just another method to determine if cancer is genetic or due to environment.  So we'll see.

As I wait for BGC there will be more to come!