Spring Update

I know it has been a long time since my last post.  I'm sure you're shocked that I am posting  now, even.  Right?  I kept meaning to write a short something but events have conspired against me and other things took priority.

It's 3:24am EDT and I'm wide awake.  And I'm at Uncle Wes's house.  That's the real reason I need to write this post.  Those of you not connected to me via Facebook, Twitter, or Plurk don't know what's been going on recently. So here goes...

On Friday, February 4, 2011, I was diagnosed with a "probable melanoma" on the middle of my back.  I had a suspicious mole that started itching last fall and I finally dragged my ass to the dermatologist to have it checked out.  Two weeks later, on the 16th, the spot was removed and sent for biopsy.  It was cancerous.  

If you have any moles or freckles that have changed color, shape, or started itching, GET THEM CHECKED! NOW! Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, yet it's the easiest to treat if caught early.  And if you don't have any suspicious spots, keep it that way by always using sunblock.  This stuff kills, so take it seriously.

I was referred to a surgical oncologist and we met on February 24.  He explained that the melanoma was just over the "safe" depth of 1mm, so biopsy of my lymph nodes was standard protocol.  A sentinel node biopsy was performed on Monday, March 21.  Radioactive dye was injected into the former melanoma site and then followed to the sentinel node.  Basically, I was told the surgeon would remove whichever lymph node set off his Geiger counter, so I had no idea where the incision was until I woke up.  Dr. G told me he'd have the biopsy results by Friday.  He doesn't expect to find anything and said the chances were slim, so I am keeping that in mind.

For those who are unfamiliar with the lymphatic system please click here for a brief description.

So it is this surgery that is the reason I'm at Uncle Wes's house.  The sentinel node, which is the lymph node to which fluid (and, theoretically, any cancer cells) from the area of the melanoma would have traveled, was under my left arm.  Since I can't drive myself to and from dialysis, Kasey and I are staying with Uncle Wes until the pain subsides.  

It's been a pretty rough month or so, but I've tried to keep my spirits up.  Until a couple weekends ago I had only knit two or three times since before Christmas.  School has been keeping me super-busy, so my knitting had to take a back seat to academics.  

As for school, Kasey and I are still enjoying ourselves and I'm enjoying my courses.  I took a two-week Winter semester class on Victorian England as Reflected Through the Stories of Sherlock Holmes.  It was a fun class where we had lectures on the society of the Victorian era, watched a Sherlock-based movie each night, and visited a re-creation of 221B Baker St. in a private home in Reading, Pennsylvania.  The professor belongs to a local Scion, which is a group who meet to discuss the books of Sherlock Holmes.  In fact, there is a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode in Season 5 about a Sherlockian scion.  It was an absolutely fascinating course.  I've talked the professor into teaching it in a 15-week format because so many people expressed interest in taking it; however, too many were either put off by the two-week time frame or had other obligations the first two weeks of the year.  I think it will do very well in the Fall.

For this Spring, I am taking Physical Geography and both US History I and US History II because none of the English classes I wanted were being offered.  I really like US1 even though I've never had to work so hard in a class in my entire college career.  I have already written three essays for the class and there is an essay question on every quiz, too.  But my writing background is serving me well and I've not received less than an A for any of my assignments.  Mid-term exams were last week and I studied for days prior.  I was completely wiped out and so frazzled I forgot two different appointments in the past couple weeks. My US2 class is on Wednesday evening, but I was too tired to go.  When I told Prof. L on the phone that I was too tired to come to class, he happily agreed to let me take the exam in the Testing Center the next day while I was on campus for Geography.  Geography has been a challenge for me, but last semester's Oceanography is helping alot.  Much of the information overlaps so Oceanography gave me a good head start on Geography.  I'm not a science person and need all the help I can get anyway.  

As I said before, I've not been doing alot of knitting.  I thought having two History courses would afford me more free time for leisure activities, but that is not the case this semester.  As a matter of fact, I have another essay to write before the end of Spring Break for US1 and a verbal presentation with a slide show to put together for US2.  Even though I'm taking painkillers I've been able to start my research on President Dwight Eisenhower. I must be a genuine history nerd because I'm enjoying the book I'm reading (Ike by Piers Brendon) for the project.  I still haven't decided whether I'm going to focus on his military service or his personal life and presidency.  He was an interesting figure.  I'll have a better idea after I finish reading this book, though.  I certainly have enough time for reading, considering I have to keep a pillow between my arm and torso to keep the pain from shooting across my body.  I'm certainly not going to be out and about, that's for sure.  

I've already got my summer classes planned, though.  Unlike last summer where I tried to knock out a lab science and became too ill to continue, this summer's classes are planned around my interests and health.  First, I'm taking Water Aerobics with my doctors' permission.  My resting heart rate is very high and I'm hoping this type of exercise will help me stay fit without my body rebelling.  I'm also taking a 7-week American Sign Language course.  Once that is complete I am taking a one-credit, two-week course on Instructional Strategies followed by another two-week session of Teaching the Adult Learner.  I'm not necessarily planning to teach, but I have classes with many adults and think the added perspective will help me be a better student.  Additionally, an English and History major is bound to end up teaching at some point.  This will give me a foundation for that as well.  I'll have a total of six credits for the Summer term, which will earn some additional financial aid money.

For now, I think I ought to call it a night.  I hope you and your family are well.  Maybe by the next post I'll have completed one of my knitting WIPs so I can show you some pictures.  And if you're having warm weather, would you please send some to Maryland?  Pretty please?? Mother Nature didn't seem to get the message that Spring has sprung.