But - on Tuesday results came back on a biopsy Len had taken on his scalp from a sore he has had for a length of time that does not completely heal. He has areas of skin cancer. So, more biopsy's were taken and we will know those results on 9/22.
It appears he will need a procedure but the surgeon has a two month backlog. We feel if it was crucial the surgery would be sooner so we are not real worried. (Or as not worried as one can be when they hear the word cancer).
This brings us to late November. Then he will need follow up treatment two weeks later. So, right now we are looking at leaving after the first of the year.
We are fortunate as our employers are allowing us to continue to work until such time that we can finally retire. This especially since now he really needs to continue his current health insurance.
So - we are packed and ready to go, said some goodbyes and getting a real case of the nervousness ones gets when starting a new chapter. When the time is right - we will be out there yet!
Phyllis
Luvglass said
10:27 AM Sep 10, 2009
Hi Guys,
Melanomas are fairly common as you get older, especially if you have spent considerable time in the sun. I just had a Melanoma removed from my forehead and it really wasn't too traumatic. It was day surgery and a follow up a week later for stitch removal.
The down side is that from now on I have to see a dermatologist every six months for a body scan, as apparently once you get one, the odds are that you will get more over time. I had the Dr and surgeon give me the records of what they did, so I can give them to the Dr I find somewhere down the road for my next inspection.
Good luck,
Roz said
12:20 PM Sep 10, 2009
The best part is this was discovered before you departed. Likely, it will be far less an event than it seems at the moment. These are the kinds of things that occur whether you are on the road or not. However, it is good to have it taken care of before shoving off.
Len, you are in our prayers for an absolute "non-event".
Charles and Ethel
Tim & Robyn said
05:08 AM Sep 11, 2009
I've had many AKs (pre-cancers) frozen off over the years, some basal cell cancers and a sqaumous cell cancer surgically removed... too much exposure to the sun is what causes them.
Just this past summer I had 3 basal cell cancers removed from my lower left leg, and earlier this week I had a skin check with my dermatologist and pointed out something I had just discovered over the weekend on the outer corner of my eyelid of all places. He took that off for a biopsy, and also froze some more AKs on my bald spot.
It seems like this past year the pace of finding these things has picked up. I don't know if stress has anything to do with it, but I've had plenty of that for sure.
I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible... gave up golf years ago, and just gave away my clubs last week; I don't mow the lawn any more - pay somebody to do that now, and got rid of the lawnmower last week as well, so that I'm not even tempted to do it myself. As a matter of fact, I don't do any yard work anymore.
It's gotten to the point that I recognize them when I see them and point them out to the dermatologist before he even has a chance to look me over.
As Fred said, once you find some of these things you need to get checked regularly.... it's the price you have to pay for overexposure to the sun years, or even decades ago.
If you find them early, it's not a big deal... it's like doing routine maintenance on your auto to prevent bigger problems later on.
I'll pray that Len's situation is as much of a non-event (merely an inconvenience) as mine has been.
God bless...
Happytrails said
02:45 PM Sep 11, 2009
Phyllis and Len,
We will be thinking about you guys and saying a prayer that all things will come back as "nonevents." Hang in there and keep us posted.
phyllen said
05:26 AM Sep 23, 2009
Geesh - went back to dermatologist last night to get results of second biopsy. NO SKIN CANCER. Seems it is an "oily mole". We are so glad of this. We were orginally told to expect the worse so made changes in our plans.
We were to retire in just one week from today and take off 10/5. We had pulled back retirement date, canceled reservations, pulled out of two projects with the NOMADS, etc etc.
So new plans are to take off in January. Financally this makes better sense. Len gets 15 more vacation days, 15 sick days and 3 personal days if still employed 1/1/10. I still have 4 weeks vacation due me on the books. I only get my 3% company profit sharing contribution if I am employed at the time it is given, sometime around January 15. So I will have them start paying out vacation time in January a week at a time to keep me on the books. Since Len will turn 61 in January we will only have to draw money from investments for 11 months instead on 15 when he can start SS.
Again, we are thrilled for the outcome but still disappointment that our plans are on hold again. IT WILL ALL WORK OUT!
Phyllis
Roz said
06:12 AM Sep 23, 2009
Great News, Len and Phyllis!!!!
The wait until mid-January sounds as if it is a better plan financially anyway. Get use to having your plans totally cast in Jell-O!!
Praise God for the outcome. Everything else is small stuff!
Charles and Ethel
Speedhitch said
08:45 AM Sep 23, 2009
Good to hear the news! See ya down the road.
KarenInTheWoods said
12:50 PM Sep 23, 2009
Oh Phyllis.. that is such wonderful news! And now you will be more firm in your plans, have a little breather in getting ready, and those extra days of vacation/sick pay helps the budget a little too! Congrats!
Jim01 said
04:23 PM Sep 23, 2009
Hey, that's great!!!
Like Charles said, keep your plans flexible. We learned quite awhile ago to always write our plans in pencile, and have a big eraser handy.
Jim
dream reachers said
05:53 PM Sep 23, 2009
Praise the Lord. That is wonderful news Len and Phyllis. We are so happy to hear that everything is working out for you with only a minor setback in your plans.
When we first started fulltiming we realized that it would be unrealistic to think that there would be no "bumps in the road", because there were also "bumps" when we were in our sticks and bricks home. Be sure to give us all a big shout out when you do launch out after the first of the year.
God bless,
Allan and Jeanne
Tim & Robyn said
07:54 AM Sep 24, 2009
WOOO-HOOO! That's fantastic news, and one less grey cloud hanging over your heads. Thank God it wasn't cancer. It's going to work out...
ourZbiz said
12:14 PM Sep 26, 2009
phyllen wrote:
Geesh - IT WILL ALL WORK OUT!
Phyllis
Exactly...now that you have the go ahead, get living!!!
Happytrails said
04:53 PM Sep 26, 2009
Wonderful news!!! So glad to hear your great news. January is just around the corner and will be here before you know it. See you on the road........SOON
GENECOP said
05:50 PM Sep 26, 2009
AWSOME NEWS---------------------------------------------------Get back on shedule, G
But - on Tuesday results came back on a biopsy Len had taken on his scalp from a sore he has had for a length of time that does not completely heal. He has areas of skin cancer. So, more biopsy's were taken and we will know those results on 9/22.
It appears he will need a procedure but the surgeon has a two month backlog. We feel if it was crucial the surgery would be sooner so we are not real worried. (Or as not worried as one can be when they hear the word cancer).
This brings us to late November. Then he will need follow up treatment two weeks later. So, right now we are looking at leaving after the first of the year.
We are fortunate as our employers are allowing us to continue to work until such time that we can finally retire. This especially since now he really needs to continue his current health insurance.
So - we are packed and ready to go, said some goodbyes and getting a real case of the nervousness ones gets when starting a new chapter. When the time is right - we will be out there yet!
Phyllis
Len, you are in our prayers for an absolute "non-event".
Charles and Ethel
I've had many AKs (pre-cancers) frozen off over the years, some basal cell cancers and a sqaumous cell cancer surgically removed... too much exposure to the sun is what causes them.
Just this past summer I had 3 basal cell cancers removed from my lower left leg, and earlier this week I had a skin check with my dermatologist and pointed out something I had just discovered over the weekend on the outer corner of my eyelid of all places. He took that off for a biopsy, and also froze some more AKs on my bald spot.
It seems like this past year the pace of finding these things has picked up. I don't know if stress has anything to do with it, but I've had plenty of that for sure.
I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible... gave up golf years ago, and just gave away my clubs last week; I don't mow the lawn any more - pay somebody to do that now, and got rid of the lawnmower last week as well, so that I'm not even tempted to do it myself.
As a matter of fact, I don't do any yard work anymore.
It's gotten to the point that I recognize them when I see them and point them out to the dermatologist before he even has a chance to look me over.
As Fred said, once you find some of these things you need to get checked regularly.... it's the price you have to pay for overexposure to the sun years, or even decades ago.
If you find them early, it's not a big deal... it's like doing routine maintenance on your auto to prevent bigger problems later on.
I'll pray that Len's situation is as much of a non-event (merely an inconvenience) as mine has been.
God bless...
The wait until mid-January sounds as if it is a better plan financially anyway. Get use to having your plans totally cast in Jell-O!!
Praise God for the outcome. Everything else is small stuff!
Charles and Ethel
Like Charles said, keep your plans flexible. We learned quite awhile ago to always write our plans in pencile, and have a big eraser handy.
Jim
Exactly...now that you have the go ahead, get living!!!
