My Battle with Merkel Cell Cancer

SARA, age 3, The Kissing Doctor
What do I tell my granddaughter? She has been most interested in all of my injuries.
When I had a healing biopsy site in my right leg, she noticed it and ask me what it was. I
told her that it was a cut and it would get better. Then she insisted on kissing it. Similarly,
a biopsy on my left cheek was cured. We have named her Sara, the kissing doctor. I
don't know if she is any less effective than the other physicians that I have. I have a mark
on my chest, which I plan to remove after I photograph myself today. This was a
localizing marker for the radiation treatments. She asked me what that was not told her
that it was like a tattoo that she sticks on her skin. As you can see from my photographs, I
have green marks on my cheek covered with tape outlining the location of the electron
beam treatments. In addition, my skin is quite red, and there is one area behind my ear
which has broken down. I don't know how I am going to explain that to her. I also don't
know what to tell my nine-year-old granddaughter. She has already lost her grandmother
on her mother's side to a combination of breast malignancy and lymphoma. In addition,
one of her favorite uncles was hit by a car and killed. We have told her that I have a
condition that needs treatment. I don't know if I have to be more specific than that.
I have now completed the full five-week course of intensity modulated radiation
treatment. Dr. John took upon himself to treat my left tonsil, although Dr. P. had not
recommended it. I don't know whether to be grateful for this or unhappy with it. It seems
that this has been the reason that I've had so much discomfort in my throat on the left.
The PET scan showed some increased uptake in the left tonsil, but it was felt to be a
normal variant. I now have the following complaints: 1. Sore throat on the left. 2. Worse
than a complete loss of taste sensation, everything tastes bad. 3. Dry mouth. 4. Itchy and
somewhat painful skin in my left neck, redness and increase in pigmentation. 5. There is
some breakdown of the skin behind my left ear for which a silver sulfonamide cream has
been prescribed.
My Battle with Merkel Cell Cancer
27