These visa runs come around fast, I feel that I have just returned from one and then I have to make plans for the next one. This is usually because I have to try to find a cheap flight of course and if I can buy the ticket in advance then I can save a wee bit of money now and then. It’s the Scottish blood that makes me do this. Last visa run I went to Hong Kong and for this one I had planned to go to Vietnam but my plans have changed a little. I will now be going to Australia.
The reason for this is to go and get a mole checked on my left side of my body. Skin cancer as you know is at record levels in Australia and because of this I have gone to see a skin doctor for many years. I’m not sure how long I’ve known my current doctor but it will be at least 10 years. A few months ago a black benign mole on my left side began to change a little, it began to get a little hard and then one day in the shower I managed to shift it a raised it off my skin. I was like…..SHIT!!!!……….. and thought what the fuck do I do now. I got out the shower and carefully dried it off and tried to inspect the damage but of course I ain’t that flexible enough and so I asked Sissi to take a picture for me. It didn’t look too bad but nevertheless I got a band-aid and covered it up, more to protect it than anything else and I guess I was hoping that it would miraculously repair itself.
After a few days I took the band-aid off and it did seem better, in fact it looked ok and so I was happy with the result. a few days later however while having my shower I bumped it again, FUCK!!………..this time it didn’t seem so happy. I put the band aid back on.
Catherine and Stuart came on holiday for two weeks and we travelled to yellow Mountain in the south of the country. On the first night we were sitting in the room talking and I felt something sticking to my shirt and as I lifted my shirt I noticed a trickle of blood coming from the mole, not good me thinks. The band-aid went back on. I did not want to keep it covered all the time because it needs to have fresh air, but then when I’m in the shower I would bump it and so hence the band aid. I really thought that it was on the mend and so when my shirt caught it I was very upset.
I had sent the pictures to my doctor and he advised to have it checked out here in China, which is easier said than done. Sissi took me to the local hospital and after waiting several hours I got seen by and old woman doctor that hardly gave me or my mole a glance. She said “Off with its head” and then shouted “Next please” So much confidence was instilled in me with the Chinese health system at that moment. A skin doctor here does not seem to understand skin cancer, in fact it is very difficult to find anyone there that has even heard of it. Most “doctors” are cosmetic, this is a skin doctor.
After my adventure at the hospital I made an appointment with Dr Bryant in Australia and booked a flight. He returns from holiday on the 7th of January and I will go and see him the following morning, first up. This is the only way to have peace of mind I think. I could not let a Chinese doctor remove said mole and be able to sleep at night, mainly because I don’t feel they have the expertise or understanding. About 3 weeks ago after my shower I took of my band-aid to give the mole some fresh air, as I had been doing every two days or so. As I did so, to my horror the head of the mole was left on the band aid and my skin had only a slight mark where the mole used to live. Now this really freaked me out because I don’t really know how this affects things. it can’t be good, but I’m not sure how bad it can be. The unfortunate thing is I have no choice but to wait because my doctor is on holiday. On the upside I don’t have to use any band aids.
Now Dr Bryant did say that the mole looked benign and he did say at the time to get it checked out within 6 months if things changed and of course now they have. So I’m thinking that it is just one of those shit things that happens from time to time. I have every confidence in my doctor and in my body. I don’t think that it will grow into a monster that can’t be stopped, but on the other hand I will feel a whole lot better on Tuesday after having spoken to Dr Bryant. He might still operate and cut it out, I have no idea what will happen and I have deliberately not asked Google because you will get a wide range of answers from the sublime to the ridiculous.
At least it will be good to catch up with a few folk when I’m back. I have already lined up a few coffee sessions and a few lunches and of course I will go and see my GP and Optometrist and basically get an MOT done while I’m there. I’m not looking forward to the heat, I hope the hot temperatures that they are predicting stay in NSW and don’t head north. i can’t use my car because I never renewed the Registraion and so I will have to use Shanks’ Ponies. If I’m lucky maybe I can borrow a car. apart from catching up with folk I will do some shopping. I can bring back two suitcases of 23kg and so I plan to bring back a few luxuries to China. As I said this is an unscheduled visit because I had no intention of returning to Australia this year, however now that I do I may as well make the most of it.
Not looking forward to the flight though………….it’s too long..