Shaken, but Okay

On February 2nd, I had a small growth removed from my left lateral thigh. I noticed it when I bumped with with my razor a couple times while shaving. After a month of it not getting better and not going away, I made an appointment with my dermatologist. She removed it, thinking it was a wart.

The pathology report came back Tuesday : Sections demonstrate acanthosis, verrucous and asymmetric endophytic growth of well differentiated dysplastic squamous epithelium, extending to the peripheral and deep margins.

Diagnosis : Squamous cell carcinoma.

Today, I had the peripheral and margins excised. I'm due back in two weeks to have the stitches removed and then again in two months for a checkup and in another three months for another checkup. If all is well at the five month checkup, I'll have regularly scheduled checkups every 6 months. If I go a year with no problems, then my checkups will return to yearly.

My dermatologist, my friends & family, and I are all worried because I am so young (32 in April); however, cases like this are happening more often in people under the age of 40.

My dermatologist, my friends & family, and I are also worried because my job (research ecologist) requires me to spend so much time outdoors in the field.

Real and significant changes will have to be made to my sun protection regimen, starting with routine and frequent mole checks, wearing SPF 30+, and purchasing specialty clothing for field work. I imagine that I will be spending more time under the boat's canopy taking data and less time slinging sharks out on the deck.

I find it difficult to explain how I feel. On one hand, this type of skin cancer is the 2nd most common type of skin cancer and has a 98% recovery rate with early detection and removal. On the other hand, holy shit cancer!

I am shaken, but okay.