I Had to Have a Biopsy This Morning

Last updated on: October 15, 2010 at 12:20 pm by Andrew Marin

I Had to Have a Biopsy This Morning 2010-10-15T12:20:05-05:00 Andrew Marin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This morning I had a regularly scheduled six month follow-up with my dermatologist. No big deal. I just needed some refills for a prescription I’ve been taking for acne. Close to the end of our time I remembered to ask her about a strange red bump that has been on the top of my right big toe for about five months. Here’s the story:

This past Spring I woke up one morning and saw a big red bump on my big right toe. I thought it was a pimple, so I waited about two months for it to go away, but it didn’t. Then I asked my Mom, who throughout my life has been quite efficient and effective at diagnosing pretty much everything, and she thought it was a wart. So I got some of that over the counter wart stuff and used that. After about two more months it still didn’t go away. Then for the last month I had been trying to schedule an appointment, but due to my travel schedule this was the first time I could go in. The big red bump has never hurt nor even been a bother. Just a little annoying to look at when I have bare feet.

Anyway, when the dermatologist looked at it, touched it, microscoped it for an up-close and personal view, she then looked at me with kind of a not so happy look on her face. Then she said:

“Well Andrew, this is a weird bump. It’s definitely not a pimple and it’s definitely not a wart either. It’s has hard as a rock and it has some pretty heavy roots driving into your toe. It being hard and very imbedded in your toe aren’t good things. There’s probably a 10-15% chance it’s cancer. Could be a calcium deposit though. We have to do a biopsy right away.”

So she sent me off and I got a biopsy done on the big red bump that harbors a 10-15% chance it’s cancer. The part that really worried me is she said cancer would explain why I am tired all of the time over the same five month stretch. Ugh.

On the bright side, that means there is an 85-90% chance it’s a calcium build up; and feeling excessively tired is totally due to my nuts travel schedule.

Even though I know the chances are quite slim it actually is cancer, I figure some pre-emptive strike of prayers couldn’t hurt. I don’t exactly know how I feel about this whole situation right now. It’s just really strange. I went in to get a refill on acne medicine and she tells me there is a chance I have cancer. That’s annoying. And now I have three hours to write an article for Religion Dispatches, who contacted me on Wednesday to write a response to some stuff going on in the public forum world. That’s about the last thing I want to do right now. Oh well…

So if you could please pray for my health and my ability to write this article, I would much appreciate it. I will let you all know about the outcome of the biopsy as soon as I find out.

Much love.

www.themarinfoundation.org

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 14, 2010

Review of my Book and Work on Sojourners Blog - God's Politics

Next Post

October 18, 2010 Whatever You Do, Just Don't Drink and Drive

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Bridging Opposing Worldviews Culture Don't Drink and Drive Faith Guest Posts I'm Sorry Campaign Interviews Language Laura Statesir LGBT Living in the Tension Living in the Tension Gatherings Love Is an Orientation Love Is an Orientation Blog Love Is an Orientation Book Love Is an Orientation DVD Melinda Guerra Memory My One Sentence Bible Newsletter Our Last Option Parents & Families Politics Quick Quotes Quotes ReEngaging Civility Sexuality Speaking The Marin Foundation Theology Uncategorized Us Versus Us Videos Warren Perry Youth and Campus Ministry

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz