The Big C

For a couple of years now Cliff has had a nasty lesion on his
forehead and when he has gone to the doctor it was burned off
with dry ice.

Mid last year I noticed he had developed a similiar lesion on
his nose, so I insisted he go to the doctor. Of course it took
six months or so. But this time his 'old' doctor had left and
he had a new doctor, who did not like the look of the lesions,
so sent him to a specialist on Monday the 4th of February.

The specialist turned out to be Mr. Arthur. When he was taking
a sample for the biopsy it came out in a 'nice lump' so he
laughed and said as it was coming out so easy he might as well
take it all out. Cliff said it bloody hurt to have an injection
in the nose, (don't I know it!!) and even then he could feel the
pressure as the doctor 'dug it and removed it.' He said he felt
nothing with the forehead lesion. (Thank god he is hard headed
like most men!)

Well on Tuesday he complained of a splitting headache that
lasted two days ( at the site of the 'removed lesion.') But the
nose was O.K.

This Monday (18th) he had to go back for the results. It was a
'melanoma,' but Mr. Arthur said he doesn't like using that term
as it freaks people out. So he said it was 'malignant.'
(Same difference!!)

He wanted to put him in hospital right away and operate the next
day, but Cliff is such a baby he said no, "I can't, I'm a small
business owner and can't afford to take the time off."

So Mr. Arthur is going to do it as a day procedure. So he has to
still take two days off but a week apart and it has to be Friday.
(My busiest day.) Where as I could have done the shop Tuesday
and Wednesday as I don't have much on, on those days.

On top of which Mr. Arthur said it would leave a scar on his
forehead and he would have to get skin from 'somewhere else.' He
looks Cliffy up and down and says "I'm sure we'll find somewhere."

So after Friday the 29th February, we can can call him "Butt Face."

The forehead is the most serious so it is being done first and
then the nose.