But wait, there's more
Guess what? More cancer in the ones I love. This is getting old. I hope they do too. Strictly speaking it's a cancer scare at this point, but even if it's a localised problem it's still a bad one with career consequences.
(some text recycled from family bulletin)
Husband went to a dermatologist to have his suspect left pinky fingernail looked at today, after referral from the Molescan people. I thought they would do the biopsy today but no, it was just another specialist in the chain. He's having a sliver taken out on January 11th and will need to take 2 days off work. Scheduling wise not super-urgent, but no messing about either. He also has a couple of more suspect moles on his back to be watched carefully. We're talking melanoma, but hopefully the milder end of the scale.
If the biopsy looks bad--and from visual inspection this seems likely (it's also in a very bad location)--they will remove his fingernail and whatever flesh is affected, and graft skin over the gap. Not long ago they would have simply removed the whole finger Just To Be Sure. IF (and I tell myself it's still an if) this goes ahead he will have to stay home for two weeks minimum. When and if he'll be able to play bass again we'll just have to see. Additional treatment as required, of course. You know the drill: hurry up and wait.
The problem I have with melanoma these days is that that's what Dad has, and he was under close scrutiny for many years and had all sorts of bits and chunks removed over time. The metastases were a surprise to everyone, and were considered statistically very unlikely. So having Husband who's been getting mole checks for years at my insistence progress to the next stage in the process is perhaps having a greater impact on me than might seem warranted. "Catching it early" is no longer the reassurance it once was.
Husband himself seems remarkably sanguine about the prospect of not being able to play the bass (the finger in question is one of the "important ones" as we call them). He is primarily a musician, not just a bass player, and has the option to switch to trombone, for example. He's at the kind of level where the choice of instrument is not critical. Being the man he is I think he would look forward to the chance to hone another instrument to high level. Until now he's done it for fun, but he really enjoys musical challenges. We used to sing together :-)
I will have to learn how to beg, borrow, or manufacture spoons. More spoons. I want to spend as much time as possible with Dad, and provide support and respite for Mum. But in the new year I may also need to be on standby for Husband in case I'm the healthier of the two for doing errands and going to medical appointments. There's a frightening thought.
They're all frightening thoughts.
(some text recycled from family bulletin)
Husband went to a dermatologist to have his suspect left pinky fingernail looked at today, after referral from the Molescan people. I thought they would do the biopsy today but no, it was just another specialist in the chain. He's having a sliver taken out on January 11th and will need to take 2 days off work. Scheduling wise not super-urgent, but no messing about either. He also has a couple of more suspect moles on his back to be watched carefully. We're talking melanoma, but hopefully the milder end of the scale.
If the biopsy looks bad--and from visual inspection this seems likely (it's also in a very bad location)--they will remove his fingernail and whatever flesh is affected, and graft skin over the gap. Not long ago they would have simply removed the whole finger Just To Be Sure. IF (and I tell myself it's still an if) this goes ahead he will have to stay home for two weeks minimum. When and if he'll be able to play bass again we'll just have to see. Additional treatment as required, of course. You know the drill: hurry up and wait.
The problem I have with melanoma these days is that that's what Dad has, and he was under close scrutiny for many years and had all sorts of bits and chunks removed over time. The metastases were a surprise to everyone, and were considered statistically very unlikely. So having Husband who's been getting mole checks for years at my insistence progress to the next stage in the process is perhaps having a greater impact on me than might seem warranted. "Catching it early" is no longer the reassurance it once was.
Husband himself seems remarkably sanguine about the prospect of not being able to play the bass (the finger in question is one of the "important ones" as we call them). He is primarily a musician, not just a bass player, and has the option to switch to trombone, for example. He's at the kind of level where the choice of instrument is not critical. Being the man he is I think he would look forward to the chance to hone another instrument to high level. Until now he's done it for fun, but he really enjoys musical challenges. We used to sing together :-)
I will have to learn how to beg, borrow, or manufacture spoons. More spoons. I want to spend as much time as possible with Dad, and provide support and respite for Mum. But in the new year I may also need to be on standby for Husband in case I'm the healthier of the two for doing errands and going to medical appointments. There's a frightening thought.
They're all frightening thoughts.