Random 5 for December 27 – Health, protocols, masks, grandcat, 2021

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Another check mark! — I had a spot of cancer removed from my nose this week. (Merry Christmas to me!) The procedure isn’t bad but it involved lots of waiting. The doc takes minimal cells and examines under a microscope. He continues to do that until they have clear cells and all signs of cancer are gone. It conserves the flesh as they don’t gouge out a big crater. My surgery took two passes which equals three hours. They saw another spot and did another biopsy on the same side of the nose so I have that to look forward to. The worst part was that it’s where my eyeglass pad rests so it gets annoying.

The prep – Prior to the procedure, I received instructions. It could take three to five hours although I know someone who was there for eight! They talked about bringing snacks to enjoy in the waiting room with a microwave and a fridge. There is a restaurant in the same building and your driver could bring you food. First, these things give me anxiety and I can’t eat. With new protocols in place they don’t use the waiting room. I was put in a surgical room and remained there for the duration. No fridge, no microwave and no TV. Shuffling patients in and out between passes would involve significant cleaning so it’s easier this way.  I wondered why they didn’t update their information sheet. It wouldn’t take that much. I could do it for them for free!

The silver lining – Everything has a silver lining. Because of covid-19, most of my bandage is covered by my mask and I don’t look too goofy. At least not more goofy than usual!

Matilda

Another loss – Recently we lost a grandcat. Matilda was ancient by cat standards. She was 24 years old. In cat years that super ancient. She was a great cat loved by all. She left on her own terms passing in her sleep. RIP Tillers!

Marching along – This is the last weekend in 2020. Many folks are looking to 2021 as a fresh start and a year of change for the good. I do too but I suspect that for a while it will be business as usual until changes are allowed to root. The beloved husband and I are in the high risk group for a variety of reasons so we will be in line for the vaccine as soon as it’s available to us. I’m not quite ready to kick the bucket and I don’t like to be sick so I take this stuff seriously. We have a new home to move into and an old one to sell. Who knows what else will come along but we are ready.

So how was your week?

99 thoughts on “Random 5 for December 27 – Health, protocols, masks, grandcat, 2021”

  1. I’m glad to know your skin cancer surgery is over, but I know the healing protocols. My husband has had more “removals” than I can count at this point, beginning with an early detected melanoma when he was in his 30’s. I am with you, also, in being oh-so-ready for my immunization, when offered. We are multigenerational household, 76-11. I will be ready when my number is called. 🙂

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    • He started young! I’ve had barnacles removed but none were cancerous. It was scary but I’m finding that a lot of people especially older ones had them. I don’t ever remember my mother having anything like that and she lived to 75.

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  2. When I saw the nose bandage, all I could think was “good timing – masks cover a multitude of issues”. You can always tell a procedure vet…they bring supplies and know the estimated time is no where near accurate. Glad you had you own room even if boring and isolated. But good to let them take their time so you don’t have to go back for more scraping around.
    Matilda obviously was well loved to have reached that age – she was quite diligent to supervise her staff for so long. Sweet face.
    Our doc emailed Sr Staff they have vaccine and he is eligible for the current group/reservation list. We have to check with the other docs first to see if they prefer to wait until they are done with him. Each state is handling it differently – as they probably should as one size does not fit all. So far this one seems to be sensible and orderly. Nursing homes started Monday.
    Hope your new year is full of mirth and much more predictability – and we can all go out to eat once again! Cheers!

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    • Well he’s lucky to be in the vaccine group but sorry he’s not perfectly healthy to not qualify (does that make sense?). Yes, as soon as I masked up to go home and decided I needed a Starbucks stop on the way, I knew it was great timing. No one seemed to notice anything different. We picked up burgers from a local restaurant this week. When you haven’t had restaurant food for a while, it sure tastes good!

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  3. If one cat year = five human years that’s about 120 years! Somebody did a good job being a cat parent. Good for you for taking care of that cancer ASAP… I have a prominent proboscis so I try to protect it with a broad brimmed hat but only so much I can do… of course the mask helps now too! Sending you best wishes that all goes well.

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    • The odd thing is that I haven’t “sunned” my face in 35 years. Always worked so I never hung out at a pool. I’d say I was unlikely to get it especially high on the bridge but there you go! My husband got it on his forearm but I understand that. In the summer it’s always exposed to the sun.

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  4. Well, it would have been nice to finish off the first time and no return visit from the second scrape would be nicer. Honestly, it just gives something else to pile on in your 2020. Sorry to hear about Matilda and I had no idea a cat could live that many years. She had a good life to live that long. Yes, this time next year, you’ll have your feet up and enjoy the season more, everything behind you.

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  5. I’m sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace. I do hope 2021 is better. I’m trying not to read the news. Humans have just gotten nuts lately. It’s a crazy world out there. Hope you heal quickly though. Can’t wait to see pics of the new house too!! Happy New Year!!

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  6. A couple of years ago I had a little spot of cancer removed from the side of my nose. You’d think it would be right on the tip where the sun hits. My sister had some removed recently. She had to have a corona virus test before he would take her. Did you your doctor require one too?

    I’m looking forward to my vaccination. As soon as I’m eligible, I’ll be there.

    That’s the way to die: Live into old age and then die in your sleep. Just the same, condolences for Matilda.

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    • They did not make me take a test. They asked me questions like did you travel outside of the state. My spot is at an unlikely spot too. I would expect it at the tip of the nose but this is nestled under my glasses. Matilda had a good life and that’s all anyone can ask for.

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    • I was lucky. I had to wait 3 months to get it but I suspect part of that is all the protocols with the virus going on. When I had breast cancer my first surgery did not give me clear margins and I had to have it done a month later. Yuk!

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  9. RIP Matilda. What a grand long life. I’m sorry about your skin cancer and needing surgery in the midst of all this Covid stuff. It sounds like they took good care of you. I hope it’s healing up just great. Let’s get rid of this 2020 already.

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  11. Glad your procedure is over and went relatively well! Hoping if there needs to be a second one it also goes OK. I agree – 2021 is going to at least start off kind of the same, but hopefully improves pretty quickly. Hope you get your vaccine pretty quickly!

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  14. So sorry about Matilda, but I’m really awestruck by how long she lived. Twenty four years is a long time for a pet. Glad to hear you got an all clear on the one biopsy; I hope the second one follows the same route. I suspect your right that early 2021 is going to look awfully similar to what we already know. – Marty

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  17. So glad to hear you made it through the skin cancer removal. My Mom’s was an all day event with four passes on her chest which was very painful. At 90, she took advantage, though, of every snack in the basket. Never leave an older woman alone with an empty purse and unlimited snack bags and sodas!

    So much to look forward to in 2021. I hope the buyers of your beautiful home enjoy the frog pond!

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    • That is a long day! I didn’t have access to any snacks. They instructed me to bring my own but I wasn’t there long enough to get hungry. They kept me comfortable with pain injections so I can’t complain except for no snacks! 🙂

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  19. RIP Matilda. Nice that she went on her own terms.
    Sounds like you’ve got a busy schedule. We’re quite a way down the list for the vaccine, but as our GP surgery is not rolling it out, we don’t know when or where we will have to go. Probably the Urgent Care Treatment centre 17 miles away. All the best for 2021.

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  20. Aww, rest in peace Matilda. She looks like a sweet little soul. Sorry Kate, but I know she was loved and respected to the very end and there is a lot of comfort in that. There is something to be said for going on your own terms. I am glad your procedure went well. Another thing out of the way on your journey to the new house!

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  23. My week included a trip to the dentist, the dermatologist, and the primary care. 🙂 My husband has had two dermatology procedures like you describe. I know it takes a long time, but it is good that they only take what is necessary. Sorry about the loss of your beloved four-legged friend. Hubby will get the vaccine first, but I’ll be waiting in line behind him.

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  24. I’m glad you are getting medical care that spotted your cancer before it got too out of hand. The procedure sounds tedious, but better than the big crater. I’m sorry to hear about Matilda, may her memory be a blessing.

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  25. Glad you got good news with your biopsy. Hope your other one comes back clear as well!
    Matilda was very pretty, sorry about her passing but glad she went peacefully. 24 is old! My friend had a cat that was 23, he was the oldest cat I knew!
    Yes. Bring on 2021, but you are right. unfortunately its not like Covid is going to disappear on January 1st, no matter how much we wish it would!

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  27. I appreciate the care they took with your procedure to leave a minimal gouge (and scarring too, I assume?). I had a skin cancer removed from the side of my cheek when I was 30 and still bear a scar that looks like an upside down question mark. Sorry to hear about the grand cat, but such a long life…and to pass peacefully in her sleep is a blessing for all who loved her.

    Deb

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    • They have better protocols these days. I had a mole removed about 40 years ago and it left a scar. I was able to get the scar minimized about 25 years ago. Can’t see anything now. You have to love a cat that goes out on their own terms.

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  29. Congrats on making it through your medical procedure. My dad has had those spots removed on his nose/face but it’s still something that gives one pause.

    Sorry about the loss of grandcat Matilda. What a beautifully marked girl. Like you I’m hopeful for 2021 but know it may be some time and lots of teeth gnashing before anything seems significantly improved over this dumpster fire of a year. Still a fresh clean state that’s brand spanking new is the perfect chalkboard to begin new memories. To yours…cheers!

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  30. RIP Matilda. I want to go in my sleep just like you . . . but maybe not until I’m a bit more ancient.

    Congrats on your clear margins, Kate. Hope the biopsy is good news for you so that you don’t have to have any further slices removed.

    Our week ZOOMED by . . . filled up with ZOOM calls a plenty.
    And it didn’t feel like Christmas.

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  31. I’m glad the procedure was done and they didn’t take more than needed. They should tell you to bring a good book when you’re waiting around that much! Or have videos available or something. Amazing that Tillers lived to 24…wow. When do you actually move into the new house?

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    • My problem was that they put a bandage on between rounds and I couldn’t fit my glasses on my nose to read. I had brought a book (a real one) and my Kindle but it was tiring to focus. We won’t move until the end of the month at the earliest. We take a load over almost daily. Even though the house was in great condition, we need to do some things like change the lock/door handles and put organizers in closets and drawers. The house does not have as much storage space as we have now so we have to be creative and also throw things out!

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  32. Well rounding out the year with a cancer-free nose is a good thing to do especially since we are wearing masks all the time! I’ve had three squamous cell surgeries on my face (that waiting between sessions is no fun I agree) – only one of which was near my nose but my scar goes from nose to upper lip. I tell people I was a boxer in a former life. HAHAHA Hope you heal up quickly! You have a lot to look forward to in the new year – the vaccine finally, old house selling, new house settling in……..and I hope all of it goes smoothly. We all need a little “smoothly” in our lives!

    Hugs, Pam

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  33. I am happy you/they caught this in time. I go about every 6 months for a full body check. I mean FULL. But I am not modest! Just have very light and freckly skin.
    Last June …… right in the middle of my forehead. No mask covered that! But the surgery left no scar but took about 5 months to really heal. Glad it healed before all the Holiday Parties!
    OH! There were no Holiday Parties to go to. 😦

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    • Hopefully mine won’t take 5 months! I’m now on a 6 month check-up schedule. This is not a spot that would have triggered worry. It was a simple reddish spot similar to that left by a blemish. Fortunately the docs are better than I am at identifying things. When I was in an older man had the same surgery in the middle of his forehead. For me, although initially more noticeable, I would have preferred that location. They bandaged my nose so big I could hardly see!

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  34. Tillers was amazingly ancient! And she was very kind to them, taking away the agonizing end-of-life-decisions. Well done, Tillers and family.

    When I got a pimple this week, I was like, “Ha! Nice try, spot on my chin, but no one will see you because I have a mask!”

    So one erupted on my forehead.

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  35. I wish you a happy new year for 2021. I hope you get the vaccine soon and get back to normal. I lost a front tooth in the first lock down so I am glad of a mask as well. Our dentists Were closed for non emergency treatment so have a long waiting list even for private treatment.

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