And it's back...

The melanoma in my right ear lobe is back. I noted a small, irritated lesion in early February. I called the triage nurse at MD Anderson. She conferred with medical staff and told me to see my dermatologist. It took a couple weeks to get an appointment with the dermatologist. By then, there were a number of small lesions on and around my right ear lobe. She said it didn't look like a cancer and prescribed a 10-day course of anti-viral and antibiotic medicines and a steroid cream for the ear. During that time it got continually worse. At first follow up with her, mid-March, she took a biopsy.

I got the results on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Positive for melanoma. By now, the entire ear is inflamed and there are at least 8 lesions on the external ear, plus I have a swollen, sore, red spot on my neck just below the ear. I have an appointment Monday, April 3 at MD Anderson for ultrasonic scan of the head and neck and evaluation by the clilnician. Ironically, this appointment was made in December, as a routine follow up to the surgery which removed melanoma tissue from my ear and three lymph glands in my neck after my October 28, 2022 melanoma diagnosis.

This is my fifth positive cancer diagnosis to date.

Thursday, April 6, 2023 I will go back to MD Anderson, this time for a repeat PSA test and CT scan to see how the possible reaccurence of prostate cancer is faring.

Oh, but the broken rib has apparently healed well -- no pain or problems in that area.

Stay tuned.

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.

See, it really CAN be EZ!

Glenda had a 9:00 a.m. appointment this morning (we are having permanent hair removal on her chin done, at her request). I had taken to her the morning meds and supplements at 7 a.m. after which she laid back down. I had her morning smoothie prepared and in the fridge, so I took Dak out for his morning walk, then to the club to read the paper, have a warm beverage, and tell lies with the other old men there. I returned home at about 8:15 expecting to wake her up to get ready for her appointment. I found her up and dressed. She's had her breakfast, made the bed, unloaded the dishwasher and was listening to her scriptures (which she actually got started herself!!). How wonderful! I told her she was working very hard on that wifely stuff this morning, and I appreciated it. Her appointment (first of 6) went well, after which we ordered our Thanksgiving Day Turkey Dinner, then swung through the Starbucks drive-thru for a hot chocolate and then home. Yeah, yeah. I know. All very routine and normal. That's what makes it so special to me!

More of EZ’s Saga

At my first appointment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Mesa. My extraordinary run of luck seems to be continuing as I've been directed to exam room #13 to await the doctor.

This morning at MD Anderson went much as I expected. It took about an hour to get 'registered' as a new patient, complete a lengthy medical history, and for them to verify my Medicare and Tricare for payment for services. Proving that my lucky streak (except for the lottery) continues, I was escorted to exam room #13. Was seen by the doctor in just a few minutes. He reviewed my medical history with me in detail, examined the spot on my ear, and went over the information forwarded from my dermatologist who removed the original growth. He then went over the plan of confirmatory diagnosis with me. They will obtain the biopsy slides from the lab that did the original to examine in their own pathology lab. On 11/17 I will have an EKG, lab work collected, ultrasound of my neck and head soft tissue, and then see the doc on 11/21 for a pre-op visit. Assuming all goes well to that point, I then go off Eliquis and NSAIDs for a week and on 11/29 be at MD Anderson before 7:00 a.m. (nothing by mouth after midnight) to have neck/head lymphatic gland mapping (a three-hour non-invasive process), followed at 11:30 with surgery to remove additional tissue from the ear lobe and the sentinel lymph gland (one or more glands) for biopsy. This is supposed to be out-patient surgery, local anesthesia only, so I should be home by 3 or so in the afternoon.

If the removed ear tissue shows clear margins and the lymph glands are negative for melanoma, I will only need routine follow-up afterward. If not, we'll go to the next stage to discuss immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or some combination of the three.

I will need someone to stay with Glenda on the 29th, as I have to be there early and stay most of the day (at least) and I'm not comfortable leaving her alone that long. Writing this up in detail has been good for me just to make sure I know and understand all this activity.

The Continuing Saga of Things That Ain't EZ

I learned today that my former massage therapist, of San Antonio, Texas, has just been diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the skin from the exact same type of lesion that I had -- a pyogenic granuloma. Mine on the ear, hers on her leg. This seems especially weird that another person that I know quite well would be found to have the same challenge as I at the same time as I when the doctors tell us that "less then 1/2 of 1%" of the biopsied pyogenic granulomae are positive for melanoma. Just seems strange. She was my (very excellent) massage therapist for nearly 10 years prior to our move to Arizona, and provided massage services to Glenda, as well. She is a very nice person and I wish her all the best in her battle with this cancer. I start my post-diagnosis journey tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Mesa, Arizona. One thing that seems somewhat encouraging: As I studied up on this disease from documents of the National Institutes of Health, my doctor's name was on a number of those peer-reviewed published articles.

Aging isn't EZ, is it?

Today, I received my fourth positive cancer diagnsis--a malignant melanoma. This based on a biopsy collected upon surgical removal of a small skin lesion from the lobe of my right ear that was thought to likely be a benign Plyogenic Granuloma. Literature I've found from a quick internet search tells me that Pyogenic Granulomas are found to actually be malignant melanoma less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the time. Lucky me. Earlier cancer bouts in my life include cancer of the prostate in 2015, for which I had a high-tech robotic radical prostatectomy performed. And twice, I've had small squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin found and removed--one on my upper back in 2012 and another on the back of my right hand in 2021. This malignant melanoma is a different animal. The removal of the granuloma and the collection of the biopsy was done by a PA that cared for one of my earlier skin carcinomas and also does my routine annual head-to-toe skin checks. This particular lesion wasn't found in one of those checks--it just popped up on my ear a few weeks ago. Her clinic has referred me to Banner Health Oncology for further treatment and diagnosis. She explained to me that they would likely start with additional minor surgery on the ear looking to ensure 'clear margins' around the visible melanoma site, and would probably also want to do further diagnostic tests including blood work and a neck-lymph-node biopsy. If that is positive, it will likely lead to further treatment by radiation or chemotherapy. Right now, I just feel tired.

Modern machines. Do they make life EZ?

You can’t win the battle against the machines. They just bide their time until you are completely dependent upon them then they execute a suicide mission inflicting great pain and misery on you, slave to their needs. Last week it was the Roomba. This week the dishwasher. Absolutely refusing to do their expected duties until they are thoroughly and lovingly massaged by people who charge more per hour than a heart surgeon. Next week, I assume, will be the refrigerator’s turn to suck several hundred dollars out of our budget. I feel betrayed—I have NEVER let them go without electricity. Twice a month they have been dusted or lovingly wiped down. I have no defense and have abandoned the skills needed to be happy without them. Now pardon me, I must go give the Maytag a loving pat…