Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Under the knife

Today I underwent surgery to remove the basil cell cancer tumour from my forehead and forty three stitches later I ended up looking like Hammer's version of Frakenstein's monster. However I have been told by the surgeon that there will be very little scarring when the healing process is complete.

The process used was called a Rhomboid Flap - The rhomboid (Limberg) flap can be used to close defects almost anywhere on the body. It is versatile in that a random pattern flap can be raised from any one or all corners of the rhomboid. The defect is filled with tissue of the same thickness and colour, and with good vascularity. 

I've got to go back in a week to have the stitches removed and get the results of the biopsy and, fingers crossed, they will have removed all of the cancerous cells. I'm feeling quite positive about all this.

7 comments:

Jerry House said...

Best wishes on the follow-up, Gary. Heal well.

David Cranmer said...

Continue to heal my friend. All the best to you.

On a lighter note you don't look so much like Hammer's Frankie as you do Heath Lowrance's Hawthorne character who has a cross on his forehead. Put a cowboy hat on and wear some dark clothes and you could be the next cover. :)

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Cheers guys - think I'll call my next western, The Big T

Anonymous said...

A dramatic photo opportunity! When I had similar surgery, I was given special adhesive strips. They not only hid the unsightliness but were made (in Germany, I believe) to aid the healing process. I trust you have something like them, too.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Nope no dressings - just cream to put on daily.

Davieboy said...

Should have asked for an H so you could join the Red Dwarf gang!
Seriously though, best wishes.

Charles Gramlich said...

You look like some cultist now. That's pretty cool.