Stitches were removed this morning, only one of the six of them caused a serious involuntary yelp and it does all feel less tense down there. Only six non-dissolving stitches for what must be seven or eight inches of scar around the moved flap plus a 3 or 4 inch scar on my thigh where it was taken. I'm impressed, and it all looks very tidy if a bit strange. There is a tiny bit of split skin (like you get at the corner of your mouth sometimes with dry lips) but I plan to dab it with antiseptic cream and I'm sure it'll go quickly. That was probably the cause of the occasional feeling I got as if I'd been jabbed with a needle.
Sharing: I know that there are some things I can't even share with myself; I deal with what I can and consign the rest to a lockbox in my mind where I don't admit it exists. I do have a very supportive family and very good friends - found out on Friday that two of my friends have also had skin cancer but, because theirs was dealt with by freezing and cutting the 'thing' off which made an end to it they simply don't understand the sheer awfulness of having to have such complicated surgery, the bite of panic when you read some of the statistics about life-expectancy and potential for recurrence, never mind how it makes me feel as a woman. Sorry to bleat :( Maybe they would understand if I was able to tell them how I feel but I can't even tell myself)
Follow-up; I'm to see Professor Middleton at the Oxford Churchill hospital tomorrow; I was referred to him as he's a world expert on non-surgical treatment of melanoma, researching cell genetics and also involved in various drug trials. Guess I should feel honoured! Seeing my surgeon next week for the last post-op follow up them I'll have 3-monthly checks for 3 years and 6-monthly for another two years after that.
