Warning: This post contains photographs that are a little bit graphic, medical documentary style. If you don't like watching RPA, maybe don't proceed!
Last Thursday, 12th June I underwent surgery to remove the skin cancer I have previously mentioned.
The operation took about an hour and a half, and left me with approximately 40 staples in my head.
It was pretty sore, but while I was in hospital they gave me regular Endone, which helped me have a lot more rest than I have been used to!
I came home mid-afternoon on Friday. Here are some photos of what I looked like when I arrived.
The surgeon likes to keep the wounds uncovered, and I was a bit concerned about how the girls would react. But with careful preparation, they were untroubled. In fact, Grace commented at dinner on Sunday that the tomato sauce on the sausage rolls looked like Mummy's head!
Today was the first review with the surgeon, and I am very pleased to say, the tumour was completely excised. Hooray!
I am also very pleased to say I have an awesome surgeon. Dr David Chong, in case you're wondering. The tumour measured 30mm x 30 mm in size, and he managed to not only remove it all, but do it really neatly too.
The surgery involved cutting out the tumour, and going as deep as stripping the periosteum from my skull in that area. Dr Chong then made a very large flap by cutting around towards my ear and essentially removing my scalp, scoring it, then stretching it back on to cover up the hole. When he told me all that, I was amazed it isn't more painful!
I'm allowed to have wash my hair now, so fairly gingerly did so in the shower tonight. Several large chunks of hair came out, but I wasn't too surprised by that. Having had a baby recently, a bit of that was always going to happen anyway!
Here's a photo of what it looks like tonight (the staples keep going into the hair quite a way) ...
and the view from the front.
As you can see, most of it is hidden in my hair so the long term cosmetic damage should be fairly minimal.
You may notice there is an increasing amount of swelling around the bridge of my nose, but it isn't too bad and there's no bruising. Altogether, I'm very happy with how it has all gone.
I owe a very big thank you to my husband and friends Dianne, Lydia and Wayne, Nevila and others who looked after the girls while I was in hospital and when I first came home.
There's still quite a bit of recovery to go. I have some staples removed on Thursday, and then more the following Monday. I'm supposed to be resting a lot to help it heal and to reduce the swelling. Not to mention the throbbing!
What I find the scariest part of this whole experience is how the tumour managed to grow so big (they are apprently like icebergs, with the major part hidden beneath the surface) with my GP still diagnosing it incorrectly. That won't be happening to me again!
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