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Today I had fourteen tumors removed from my skin. My surgeon, Dr. E was very accommodating before my surgery. We went over the list of tumors that JSP and I had located. He found each one and marked it for excision. I had general anesthesia, and the surgery went very smoothly.

In the past when experiencing general anesthesia, I awakened after surgery to strange and uncontrollable fits of crying. Luckily, due to the use of an alternative anesthesia, this did not happen today. When I woke up I felt great, like I had had a good nap. Surgery lasted about ninety minutes.

The surgery was much less draining than I thought it would be. I am in no pain. I hope this continues to be the case once I get a good night sleep. I have pain medication should this change.

This procedure likely has no effect on the systemic cancer, but the uncomfortable tumors removed from my skin will no longer bother me.

JSP had to work today, so my parents took me to the hospital for my procedure. They stayed at our home for several hours afterward. My mother and JSP made me a delicious Gerson therapy approved soup with wild rice in it and a serving of delicious fresh ornage/kiwi juice. I have been drinking chamomile tea as well. It was wonderful that my parents could be with me today, but frustrating that JSP could not be with me as well.

As we are a gay couple, JSP is not eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act. This is one of the many rights extended to heterosexual couples that are denied to gay and lesbian couples. This is one concrete example of how the right wing "family values" platform makes my life more difficult.

Another result of right wing "family values" is that I am not allowed to have medical coverage thought JSP's work, even though we are domestic partners. Luckily, I have great insurance through the University of Minnesota. My colleagues there have been very supportive through this process, which I am eternally grateful for.

Labels: hospital, juicing, Melanoma, perspective, Republicans, surgery

This morning I met with a plastic surgeon. I was referred to Dr. E. by my oncologist (Dr. A.) on Wednesday when I asked if it would be possible to remove some of the tumors in my skin that have been bothering me.

The meeting went great. Dr. E. measured my tumors and told me that all of the tumors that are causing me pain or discomfort could be removed during a single surgical procedure. I asked about how the radiation treatment that I am currently on will impact this. He suggested that we wait to do surgery until after my whole brain radiation treatment is complete. We set up an appointment for the surgery for February 12, 2008. If I receive any steroids to combat swelling in my brain during radiation therapy, then this surgery will have to be pushed back 6-8 weeks.

I learned yesterday that my sister Julie, who lives in Denver, is here to visit. She decided that she wanted to spend some time with me, grabbed a reasonable priced ticket, and flew in this morning. She is going to walk me over to my radiation therapy today.

Today I am drinking a carrot-apple-beet juice. I am excited to follow the whole Gerson therapy regiment tomorrow, it will be the first day that I will be able to drink the thirteen glasses of juice and try out the other part of the therapy... more on that later.

Labels: juicing, Melanoma, radiation, surgery