I saw the dermatologist once about a small cyst or boil or whatever on the left ear lobe. He thought it non-cancerous. Then it ruptured and wouldn't stop oozing. I was patient. After a routine visit to the internist, who didn't like it, back to dermatologist. He wasn't excited and didn't think a biopsy was essential, but that it would be a good idea. And I should work harder at applying medication, bandages, and take an antibiotic. Biopsy back, squamous cell carcinoma. That's not a real big deal. Will be treated. This, like much of skin cancer, seems to be largely a problem for older people. My only other skin cancer was back around 2001, a basal cell. Lots of actinic keratoses frozen off since.

Went to the dermatologist at 8:10. Left about 11 with most of the ear lobe gone and a big bandage. Returned to the office at 1 pm for stitches (no-stitch healing would have taken longer; going to a plastic surgeon could look better, but there isn't much on the ear to assemble a new ear lobe from. Maybe trim the other one? I dunno. I might be able to get my ear wet on Feb. 11.