Keratoacanthoma

 What a long word to try an pronounce !
This is my latest diagnosis from the Dermatologist.  A few months ago I had a small "whitehead" appear on the left side of my chest.  Being just above where you'd place your hand to say the Pledge of Allegiance and very visible, I did what anyone would do. I popped it.  It bled, and bled, and bled.
So it was covered with a band-aid for another few weeks.  Yes, I did take it off and change it nightly.


While away for the Christmas holiday, as I was changing the bandage I looked in horror ! This small unnoticeable  whitehead (not to me) was now the size of a nickel and it looked infected. !  With my medical history and not healing well this past year I began to worry- plus it itches like hell . I kept it covered and out of the sun, and quickly made an appointment to see the Dermatologist when I got home.

 My worst fears were realized. It was not infected, and she proceeded to rattle off that name. She removed the top for biopsy and referred me to a Plastic Surgeon. Her reasoning being that if it isn't removed completely it will get larger and spread. Oh great ! Just what I always wanted on my chest ...
Plus with my system immuno -compromised it's best to err on the side of caution.

My appointment with her was 2 weeks ago and it is now the size of a quarter and distinctly raised above the skin. Now to you a nickel or quarter may not be large.  Put one on your chest and look in a mirror.  See what I mean?

From what I've read this normally doesn't affect the chest area, so I'm curious if all my x-rays over the years for my lung transplants may have increased the possibilities in me.

My first appointment with the Plastic Surgeon isn't until the middle of February, so I sit and wait and wonder how large it will be by then.. Oh, and how in the heck will it be removed.