The "I'll Take The One I Have, If I Have A Choice!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Had a call from my dermatologist telling me of my appointment for my Mohs surgery I need for the latest bit of skin cancer they found during my bi-yearly examination.  This surgery is needed to remove the squamous cell area I have on my left cheek near the bottom of my left ear.  I have had Mohs surgery several times before and the surgeon who performs the surgery for Dermatology Associates of Lancaster, Dr. Jeanette Hebel does a fantastic job.  Mohs surgery was developed by Frederick E. Moss, M.D. in the 1930s and involves the systematic removal and microscopic analysis of thin layers of tissue at the tumor site until the last traces of the cancer have been eliminated.  At times it can be very time consuming.  

The area where you have the cancer is numbed and a layer of skin is removed.  You wait in the waiting room until it can be analyzed in-house and if it yields more cancer cells, you return to the doctor's chair for the removal of another layer of cells.  Depending upon how deep the cells go, you may have a rather large area to be stitched.  I have had two such areas and if I don't tell you where they are on my face, you probably wouldn't know since Dr. Hebel is a real pro.  She can do wonders in stitching wounds so you will never see them.  Several years ago, during the start of my prostate cancer, I was given a gene test to see what type of treatment I would be given.  I was found to have the BRCA2 gene mutation which makes me more susceptible for breast cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer.  So, when I visit my dermatologist I am examined extremely well.  Always have something taken off or frozen.  Now I tell you all of this since while reading my latest edition of Reader's Digest, I found some rather interesting information in an article titled "News From The World of Medicine."  One segment I found interesting had to do with my hearing loss.  Said that in a national survey of 6.6 million Americans who reported accidental injuries, those who experienced a lot of trouble hearing were roughly twice as likely to get hurt in an accident, especially during recreational activities.  Not quite sure what I should do except be more aware when I participate in recreational activities to be more careful. Another segment said that hot baths help your heart.  Great!  Wasn't more than 30 minutes later that I hopped in the tub filled with water over 105.8 degrees F, since that was said to be the magic number.  The next segment of the article had a headline of "Skin Cancers May Reduce Risk for Alzheimer's.  Wow!  Since I constantly am found with skin cancers, I am less susceptible to get Alzheimer's.  The article continued saying researchers have long been puzzled by the relationship between Alzheimer's and skin cancer.  People with basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas--two of the less deadly forms of the disease--have a lower rate of Alzheimer's.  Even if you might have malignant melanoma, as my mother had few times, you too have a 61% lower rate of developing Alzheimer's.  Researchers aren't sure whether the connection is neurological, biological or both, but the connection between the two diseases will lead to more in-depth research.  Interesting to know that since I have one type of cancer, which I find may be because I have the BRCA2 gene mutation, I may be be saved from having Alzheimer's.  Not sure what to believe, but for now I'll take the Mohs surgery over the other alternative.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.