Bad news
My father has had a number of skin cancer operations over the last few years. Until now, they were all rather harmless, and quickly dealt with.
A few months ago, he had an operation on a tumor in front of his left ear. It was rather nasty, but hadn't spread much and was relatively easy to remove.
Except that the wound wouldn't heal properly, and within a few weeks a new lump started growing.
My father, being the carefree sort that he is, decided he'd rather go to the beach or rollerskate than visit the doctor, so he waited until the summer was over.
The lump grew and grew, and two weeks ago he decided it's time to have it removed. He went to the hospital, and they immediately started tests to see what it was.
This monday, the tests came in. It is a malignant, very aggressive tumor, and has spread pretty deep, in a very very sensitive area of the head.
The operation will be long and difficult, and it could end up badly... and even if it's successful, he'll probably lose his eyesight, his face will be distorted, and they'll have to take tissue from someplace else to fill up the huge hole removing the tumor will leave.
I have never in my life been so worried about him.
A few months ago, he had an operation on a tumor in front of his left ear. It was rather nasty, but hadn't spread much and was relatively easy to remove.
Except that the wound wouldn't heal properly, and within a few weeks a new lump started growing.
My father, being the carefree sort that he is, decided he'd rather go to the beach or rollerskate than visit the doctor, so he waited until the summer was over.
The lump grew and grew, and two weeks ago he decided it's time to have it removed. He went to the hospital, and they immediately started tests to see what it was.
This monday, the tests came in. It is a malignant, very aggressive tumor, and has spread pretty deep, in a very very sensitive area of the head.
The operation will be long and difficult, and it could end up badly... and even if it's successful, he'll probably lose his eyesight, his face will be distorted, and they'll have to take tissue from someplace else to fill up the huge hole removing the tumor will leave.
I have never in my life been so worried about him.