Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surgery

This week I had the priviledge of being with a dear family member as she had surgery to remove a squamous cell carcinoma from the bridge of her nose.

She’s had a very strange year starting with shingles in January, COVID last month and a little bit of everything not-so-fun inbetween.  One of those not-so-fun things is a growth on the bridge of her nose. Biopsy revealed malignancy and surgery was scheduled.

With the COVID protocols in place, I was doubtful that I would be able to be with her. But, alas, I was. Grateful indeed!

The procedure:  “Sometimes called MOH’s micrographic surgery, the procedure is done in stages, including lab work, while the patient waits. This allows the removal of all cancerous cells for the highest cure rate while sparing healthy tissue and leaving the smallest possible scar.”  https://www.skincancer.org/treatment-resources/mohs-surgery/

We were in a regular doctor’s office exam room. They numbed the area and removed the growth. We waited about an hour and the report came back that they had removed all of the cancerous cells and would now numb the area again and stitch it up.

They reclined the chair and started the process. I could see her legs tense, her feet start moving and then her hands started shaking. The doctor and nurse were busy working at her head, so I stepped beside her, took her right hand in mine and placed my other hand on her ankle and stood there holding and deliberately not watching what was happending at her head. I used gentle but intentional pressure.

My touch stopped the shaking right away. And then her breathing slowed and her body relaxed. She was able to take a few deep breaths while they worked, which seemed to calm her even more.

The power of a simple hold when someone is in distress is real. I prove it to myself again and again.

Have you calmed a stressful situation with holds? I’d LOVE to hear from you.

Questions? Comments? Please get in touch – susan@progressivemassagetherapy.com