I wanted to start this story in the conventional way with the old “Once upon a time” but…it actually took place just a few weeks ago when I went shopping at Sephora. This fabulous cosmetic toy store is stocked full of everything trendy that one can possibly need in the world of beauty products. And even more you don’t need!
With a well-stocked shopping bag, I trotted through the mall, laughing with my daughter over how we both purchased the same Shishedo eyelash curler, anxious to get home and experiment with new eye shadows and pencils. My previous encounters with other name brands have always irritated my eyes. The hope was that I finally scored a hit with the assortment of goodies clutched in my hand.
Like so many times before, the eye-burn returned and I thought to myself that it was the same problem I’ve experienced with various other cosmetics as I looked in the mirror at my reddened right eye. And suddenly, there it was. A tiny lump, on my left, lower eyelid. Mind you, I’ve never been prone to stys or other eye disorders and this lump didn’t hurt, wasn’t red or all sinister-looking…it was just…there. Mentally, I made a note to contact Sephora because I felt this was caused by their eye pencil. Still…I wasn’t really sure that was the culprit.
A little internet research brought up things like a Chalazion which seemed harmless enough until I delved into the dreaded “C” word and.. Basal Cell Carcinoma came across the screen. Now, I’m far from a hypochondriac and avoid the doctor like a plague because my philosophy is..”if it ain’t broke, it don’t need fixin’!” but.. that little voice in my head, well, it just kept talking until I made an appointment with a specialist.
Two weeks later, after an intensive examination and biopsy, it was confirmed that I indeed have an eyelid cancer, localized, which generally does not metastasize but, still a cancer. More research brought up how common these eyelid cancers are, most caused by excessive sun exposure. I’ve been a sun-worshipper since I was a child, spent summers on my father’s sailboat and had my fair share of sunburn, always keeping a watchful eye out for questionable spots on my skin in the years since, thankful that nothing ever looked suspicious. Never, ever, did I give thought to a cancer making a home in my eyelid.
So now, the next steps. Phase One, Mohs surgery which treats skin cancer through a highly specialized and precise technique that removes the cancer in stages, one tissue layer at a time. That takes place tomorrow. Phase Two is the reconstructive surgery the next day. Both done on an out-patient basis. I plan on making the surgeon doing the plastic reconstruction swear that I won’t end up looking like Bruce Jenner. Allow my sarcasm. It helps override my apprehension as I write about this.
And, I plan on sending Sephora a thank-you note. If their eye pencil hadn’t irritated my eyes, the offending lump might have gone unnoticed for quite some time.
Next time you see me, I’ll be the one in the big hat and dark glasses, ready to tell everyone about the story in my eye.
