The saga continues, and it hasn't gotten any EZer.

Since my last post, I have had surgery and a variety of scans (PET with contrast dye, echo-scan of neck soft tissue, PSMA with contrast) and surgery. The surgery was to remove the lesion that proved to be melanoma in my R. ear lobe. The PET scan and echo-scans were prepertory to that. With part of the ear lobe, the surgeon also took three lymph nodes from my neck on the R side for biopsy. After surgery and post-surgery pathology, they reported 'clear margins' on the ear lobe and negative for melanoma in the lymph nodes. That was done by Dr. Shellenberger at MD Anderson/Banner in late November of 2022. It is now March 8, 2023, and lesions (multiple) have appeared on my R ear lobe. They itch, and like the earlier granuloma, have a tendency to form blood blisters, pop untouched, and bleed profusely. I spoke to the triage nurse and MD Anderson and sent her iPhone photos of the ear lobe. She consulted with Dr. Shellenberger. He said I should see my dermatologist. So I did. I saw Ms. Mack on March 6, 2023. She consulted with another provider, then told me that it did not appear to be cancerous but they were unsure of what it might be. She prescribed Halcinonide cream (topical) and both an antiviral (Valacyclovir) and an antibiotic (Doxycycline), all three to be used for a 10-day course and then reexamine.

The earlier-mentioned PSMA scan was a result of my PSA test showing a positive result on the routine annual re-check on December 13, 2022. The results were low, only 0.03, but it has been non-detect for seven years, and should have stayed that way. I was referred to a different clinic at MD Anderson where I say provider Michael Snyder. He repeated the PSA with the same results then ordered the PSMA scan. The results of the scan were inconclusive -- no sign or active prostate cancer was found, but two spots that might be of concern for other malignancies were noted, and I've been scheduled to repeat the PSMA in April. I have to be sedated for the PET scan and/or the PSMA. They aren't as bad as an MRI for my claustrophobia, but more than I can do without some sedation.

Meanwhile, On February, 24, I fell on the sidewalk and broke a rib rib. Was seen at Dignity Health ER, Ellsworth/Elliot. CT and blood work. Clean break, rib #7 (4th rib, R side), 6mm displacement. Prescribed pain killers (hydrocodone/Tylenol and Ibuprofen) x 5 days. Dr. says will heal, but will hurt. 1-3 months normal for healing. Also on CT, report of gallstones, 'tiny' hiatal hernia, and atrophied pancreas. I discussed those findings with Dr. Klein, my PCP, and he was not concerned. At 11 days after the break, the rib still is excruciatingly painful under the 'wrong' circumstances, such as a sneeze.

My friend in Texas, who has the melanoma first found due to the pylogenic granuloma is having a very hard time. Her melanoma spread from a single spot on her leg to an outbreak of cancerous lesions 10 inches in diameter in a matter of weeks. She is being treated by radiation and chemotherapy, and is unable to walk or stand at this time, so can't work. And she's a single mother. Her melanoma was first diagnosed on October 28, 2022, the same day I was first diagnosed with the melanoma on my ear lobe.