Day One

Day one….Well first off…I’ll preach….wear Sunscreen…..=)…. I know we’ve all heard it. It falls on the ears of the young and stupid. =) As was I. I wore only a visor to practice for 40 years of coaching. I thought I was immortal as we all do. So yes…I’m here with the “M” word because of my stupidity. So take the word of a mortal….be smart. Wear a wide brimmed hat and use sunscreen. Do as I say not as I did. I’m sure I’ll regress at times on this subject….but as I love to say…..”It is what it is”.

This journey started with a visit to my Dr. who referred me to a dermatologist to check on spot behind my ear. That biopsy came back as a basil cell, non-malignant cancer. I went in to see the dermatologist to set up a procedure to remove it. As I was sitting there, I asked her to biopsy a spot on my temple that I had had for years. I had asked my Dr. about it and other dermatologists about it and they had ALL replied, “ It was probably just a mole and lets wait and see if there are any changes”. Well guess what…. It wasn’t just a Mole…..It came back as “MM”…..So here is the lesson…..As Mary Garrison told me as we started this journey… You must be “your own advocate”…..

Now comes the crazy part….I gave the Biopsy on Sept. 11….The lab received it on the 12th….the results weren’t returned to the dermatologist until the 24th……Around Sept 30th I called to make sure of my appt. for the basil cell procedure….I happened to ask about my 2nd Biopsy…..figuring….”No news was good news, Right (Wrong) ”….they told me it was pending…..and it wasn’t until October 18th…. 5 and half weeks after the biopsy …..That I got news they were “sorry about the delay”….”somehow the report fell thru the cracks”…..but better late than never right? So yes… Be your own advocate….stay on top of them. Because mistakes do happen. Not on purpose but we are human…..and S%$#@ happens. (The above timeline is all on the report, which I have)

I’m not sure how long a Blog should be…..Are there Blog Police?

So I will end it here for today…..Just so you know for future reference…..When you get this call…..Pray that it is not on a Friday….like I did….All the doctors are out of the office…..always try to get this info on a Monday if possible…..=)

Remember the thought of the day!….Be your own Advocate!