Quote:
Originally Posted by springfieldva
It's interesting that he is choosing to share this about his health when he has been more or less a recluse for quite a few years now. That said, I hope he is o.k. now.
|
He's.. Actually been interacting on social media with folks.. LIGHTLY.. over the past few months.
What I can tell you, based on what I read.. He got a Mohs Procedure. I'll talk more about that in a minute.
But, he has a basal cell carcinoma. If you're gonna get cancer.. That's the one, right there. It rarely, if ever, spreads.. Is slow growing.. I mean, if we gotta give cancer a compliment.. Hats off to basal cell carcinoma
You can read about it a bit here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal-cell_carcinoma and there's a link on there to the Mohs Procedure.
So.. I recall hearing that it was his forehead/right temple area. When skin cancer is on your face, or another area that might leave you disfigured, because.. Remember. It's getting cut out. With margins. If you have a pinprick basal cell.. Which, is what I had about 2 years ago on my nose. You kinda say.. Hell, cut it out. But, if it's bigger.. Scarring is a concern.
So, the Mohs procedure, which.. Yeah, I lost the "just cut it out" argument with my doctor, so that's what I had. Basically, they use a laser to burn off just the top layer of your skin. Then they take another layer off.. They take that layer and look at it to see if it has cancer cells. If not. You're done (This was my outcome).. Sounds like they had to take three slices off Richard. Most take two from what I've been told.
now.. What you do NOT want is melanoma. I had that cut off my wrist in October. That one I had been showing my dermatologist for the past three years and she said "Meh.. That's fine".. then after I almost demanded they cut it off, they agreed to biopsy and then all of a sudden it's "You need to get in here NOW!" .. Ahem.. yeah.. Still a touch annoyed at that one.
Melanoma is much more.. It can be nasty. The vast majority of cases.. They cut it out, all is well. But.. Some.. If it's left too long. It starts showing up elsewhere. Liver.. Lungs. And.. that's a problem. Big problem.
so.. Anyway.. My non-official diagnosis and medical history to maybe lend some insight into it.
Again.. Nothing but the best wishes. But.. Yeah.. I think a few months ago he was told he had skin cancer, it being basal cell, they were in no rush to get rid of it.. But.. It's no secret Richard's a bit neurotic.. To put it mildly. I think he probably got hit with a big 'ol bout of depression. And.. Interacting with a few folks.. Might just be the best medicine for that, for him.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
