Hi card making friends. I have a little Sandi Update for you. Sorry I went quiet since last week, and there won’t be many posts for the next week either. About a year ago I went to my dermatologist to have a rather large spot on my shoulder looked at, the skin had changed and looked funny. He assured me it wasn’t cancer and off I went. Well that spot got itchy just after Christmas, and as we had moved, I asked my oncologist for a referral to a new “derm”, who took a biopsy. Turns out it was melanoma. She referred me to a surgeon, who (thankfully), had a cancellation and fit me in last Thursday.
This is officially my 5th go around with cancer. Believe me when I tell you, get those spots checked, advocate for yourself, if you don’t like an answer you get from one doctor, see another one. Wear a hat and sunscreen when you are outside.
The surgeon suggested a surgery called Slow Mohs, where he cuts it out and leaves the wound open until the lab confirms clean margins. He cut it out Thursday, we hoped results would be back Friday, but they were not. SO they covered the wound and taped my arm to my body so I couldn’t use it, as this “hole” is right on the edge of my shoulder, you know, the skin that moves every time you do, haha…..with lots of tendons and muscle right underneath. They didn’t want me ripping it and making it bigger as we were already playing at the line where you get a skin flap instead of stitches.
I got the results Monday morning that the margins where clean and was asked to come in to be closed…….That surgery was 3-1/2 hours. Many many stitches later, inside and out, I came home with my arm in a sling and direct instructions from 3 doctors and a nurse not to use my arm. Believe me, I NEVER want to go through a 3-1/2 hour surgery again (I was awake for this). They also let an interim stitch me, and he didn’t do a very good job of freezing me. He came very close to getting punched with my good arm, LOL. (I’m kidding (sort of) – I’m very appreciative of them saving my life and getting me in so quickly).
So, I’m a one armed stamper. Ever try that LOL ? Try getting dressed with one arm, LOL., and think of many other things you can’t do with one arm, haha…we won’t get into those.
I’ve been good, spending the days on the couch with an ice pack on my shoulder, watching Netflix. I do believe I have finished watching EVERYTHING on Netflix, LOL. Where’s my badge?
Yesterday I felt much better and one arm stamped a few images with my MISTI (Thank God for MISTI’s)…..got out my watercolors and colored a bit. it felt good to sit there in the sun (I have big windows in my stamping studio), and just be a little creative. I took the finished items back down to my couch, and after icing again for a couple of hours and a movie on Crave (I’m now working through that channel), I was able to fussy cut out my images – YEAH!~. This weekend, Ian will cut some paper for me and probably put a few easy cards together for me, take pictures etc.
I can type with my arm in my sling, if I sit really close to my keyboard, so hopefully I will have a new post for you next week.
Ok, that’s my long sad story as to why I’ve not shared cards with you this week.
On to good news – exciting news actually.
I have been asked to guest design for the next three months with AALL & CREATE – don’t know these guys? You should (it’s their images above that I painted) – they have amazing stamps and designers. STAY TUNED – until then, they can be found at SIMON SAYS STAMP and they have a great Community Facebook Group.
I have also updated my PAPER CRAFTING SALES PAGE with all the latest sales and releases. My Newsletter comes out tomorrow with all the updated sales too, you can subscribe to receive my newsletter.
Ok, that’s it for today, it’s back to the couch and the ice pack….I go on the 26th to have my 22 stitches removed – THAT should be fun!…..
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Sending hugs to you Sandi! I’m glad that they caught it early enough to be able to treat it! Take care of yourself and let that arm heal. Glad that you’re able to do a little something to keep your good hand busy! 🙂
thanks Amy, I’m so glad it got itchy so I could get it tested, otherwise I would have just not known
Sandi, you’ve been traveling a very rough road. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
It’s been interesting that’s for sure Jeanette, thank you for the prayers, much appreciated
You did very well with one arm, the images are lovely!
I hope you are feeling better very soon, such a hard thing for a person to go through! I will say a prayer for your healing.
Thank you Laura, hopefully I’ll be back to creating soon and thank you for the prayer
Sandi many thanks for sharing your experiences and look forward to your return to creating!
I am extremely happy you went back for second opinion (I had a similar experience) and I know you will follow up to ensure that this is only site. Hopefully this will encourage everyone to have a dermatologist exam at least once a year. I will pray for a quick recovery for you!
Thanks Mary, I was going to the Derm every 3 months when they first discovered my skin cancer, when they don’t find any, the appointments get changed to once a year. I’m just so grateful it got itchy, and that it got diagnosed correctly.
Hi Sandi, thank Heavens after all that, you ended up okay, but take it easy for a while, Cheers and thinking of you, Marilyn XXX
Thank you Marilyn, I’m doing great. and it’s getting itchy, so it’s healing.
So sorry for what you have gone through…glad you had a great attitude and was able to start recovering..but give yourself time to heal..We of course would miss you but be so happy with your return. STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!!!!
haha, too late, all this sun damage and cancer is from when I was a kid……before sunscreen (because I’m old, haha)….I NEVER go out in the sun now without a hat and long sleeves
I’m sorry you are going through this. Hoping you have a speedy recovery and I will keep you in my prayers. I had a broken arm a while back – I started using the magnetic Staytion so that I could still color. I hope that helps!
Thanks Mary, yes I have a magnetic glass board, BUT, it’s too heavy to move to my desk that I like to color at, so I just taped them down. we will rearrange a few things this weekend so I can play one handed.
i hope you will be oke , i am so sorry for you .
wish you much of good toughts and i will thinking of you .
Greetings from Karin
The Netherlands
Hi Karin, thank you so much, I’m doing well. People were just wondering why I had not posted, so I figured an update was in order. I’ll be back soon.
Sandi, Sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis. Sounds like it is under control though and hope this will be the last of that for you. Take care and pamper yourself. You deserve it.
Thanks Connie, sadly, I’m kind of used to it by now, I’m just happy it was caught.
Yikes! Feel better soon!
Thanks Barb, I’m feeling great, just need it to heal over so I can get back to it. I’m not missing cleaning the house, haha
Dear Sandi, As one of your many followers, I feel as if I know you. I love miracles and know you feel like you’ve had one. I will keep you in my prayers for your continued good health. God Bless.
Aw thank you Carol. Yes I feel that way every time I make it through one of these adventures, LOL
Sandi. Keeping you in my prayers. Yes. We definitely have to be our own advocate when it comes to our health.
Love your colored samples.
thank you Karen, we sure do.
Hope you are up and running real soon. Take care of yourself, relax and enjoy the simplicity of life.
thank you Marianne, another week or so
Sending you hugs and prayers.
Dear Sandi –
I had an itchy spot, too, but I went and the derm doc said it was OK. That was a couple of yrs ago. The spot has not changed since. I did just visit the derm doc one week ago today and asked them to take a bit off a spot on my upper left arm and test it. No results yet. They said to give them 7-10 days to get back to me.
I will be praying for you and thank you for sending this out. When I saw your IG post about “margins” I knew (generally) what that meant but had no specifics and no forehand knowledge of your situation. Thank you for spreading awareness!!
TAKE IT EASY AND REST!!!!! I am in awe of someone going 5 rounds with this monster. God love ya!!
Lori (Lori S in PA)
I’m glad you had it tested Lori, my big spot had not changed either, it just got itchy. MY back story is I went in to have a basal cell removed from my scalp, ended up with dirty margins and took 12 weeks to get the results back. It grew in the meantime and it was desmoplastic melanoma (not a good one). After waiting two months for surgery, they cut a 5 inch circle from the top of my head. a year later almost to the day, it showed up in my center lobe of my right lung, in the back in a hard to get at spot, so they took the entire lobe out. Prior to this, I had another basal cell and a squamous cell removed when we were living down in Portland – that was kind of the start of it. and now this latest one, which started out about the size of a silver dollar but by the time they gave it margins to cut it out, and then 4 days later had to clean up the edges so they could stitch me up, it was the size of a hard ball, which was why they had such a terrible time closing it up. I get c.T. scans every six months to watch for cancer on the inside, and regular Derm appointments for the outside….
Sandi, thank goodness you were persistent with the latest spot! I’ve been following you since the days of SU! you are an amazing woman and I love your personality!!!! Rest up and don’t use the shoulder!!!! Love you Sandi!!!! ❤️
Aw thank you Gay. I stay totally on top of all spots, it’s keeping me alive, LOL
The BEST news is the “clean margins”! So thankful you were able to get it taken care of quickly once diagnosed. I’ve always been a “fan” since you were in Oregon, and now that you are a “Northern neighbor.” You’ve provided lots of inspiration and help (knowingly or not) over the years. Heal quickly and glad Ian is there to help you do some crafting. It soothes the spirit!
Hi Gail. Thanks for following me, I’ll be back soon with more shares….just a little bump in the road and a two week vacation, LOL
WILL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS, SANDI. WE NEVER CAN BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING TO US.
hugs
Ann Robbins
thank you Ann. I believe it, I have scars as proof, LOL. I just hope my story will get some people moving and off to the Derm to get checked out.
Feel better soon, so thankful the margins were good. Our daughter in law has had several moles removed, one was melanoma, thankfully also caught in time. Nice images, will be sure to check them out!
Thank you Lynne and I’m sorry your daughter in law is going through this too.
Sandi – what a great attitude you have! Prayers and cyber hugs coming your way from Minnesota!
Thank you Sharon. You can’t let it get you down, they you lose. Thank you for the hugs and prayers, both much appreciated Sharon
Oh Sandi! I am relieved to hear they managed to catch this and hope you have a speedy recovery. What a terrifying experience … I can’t even imagine. Sending you big hugs!
Thanks Bonnie, sadly it’s not my worst experience, having a lung out was the worst, but hey, still standing and getting on with life.
So sorry to hear about your health issues. Praying for a speedy recovery and good shows to watch as you heal.
thank you Carol, I’m onto subtitles now, haha…..
I have followed your journey for years now and include you in my prayers. Dealing with my 9th diagnosis in as many years, know what you are saying. We must be our own best advocates. No one cares as much as we do or knows our bodies as well. Keep up the good fight. Hugs & Prayers.
oh gosh Diane, I’m so sorry you are going through this journey too. It really has become a way of life hasn’t it….we just have to keep on top of it all the time. Praying for you too.
Thinking of you and hoping you heel quickly.
hank you Christine. It’s coming along, it’s already itchy so that’s a good sign
Well that was some ordeal you’ve been through, thank goodness they got it all! Now the rest and healing is hard not to do anything but hang in there. Get well.
haha, I’ll try but I’m not very good at doing nothing.