The Nevus spcialist, located in Chicago, called us on Monday evening to discuss the process we will take to remove the Nevus. This specialist is one of the top known for this proceedure. We have followed a few others through their Nevus removal and their results have been amazing.
It will be removed to lessen the risk of it turning cancerous in the future and to lessen the stares and questions as she gets older. From our discussion we expect this process to begin within a few months of us returning from China. The initial proceedure will be done to place "balloons" under the skin in her forehead and neck to stretch the skin in those areas, by filling them with saline. This will go on for about 10-12 weeks, then she will have her first removal proceedure done, they will remove some of the nevus and use the expanded skin in it's place. She will likely have to go through this process 3-4 times, all within about a years time.
That's the just of it, if you have questions, we are open to answering them - just send us an e-mail. At this point we feel educating those she will know, will help eveyone to understand what we expect to happen and help you to be an advocate for her when she's home with us.
Blessing to you all!
Tracy
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
FAQ about Angel's Nevus
What is a congenital melanocytic nevus?
Nevus (also spelled naevus; plural nevi) in the broad sense, means birthmark. There are several types of nevi: epidermal, melanocytic and connective tissue nevi. Melanocytic means that it is pigment-based. Congenital means it is present at birth. Nevus Outreach deals with large and giant congenital melanocytic nevi.
Nevi are the most common abnormality of the skin. They apparently serve no function. Normally, skin gets its color from melanin, which is produced by cells called melanocytes. Melanin is human pigment. Normally, melanin is distributed fairly evenly throughout the skin. Congenital melanocytic nevi, on the other hand, are made up of pigment-producing cells called nevomelanocytes. These cells are not evenly distributed. When many nevomelanocytes are clumped together, they can result in moles on the skin because of the higher concentration of melanin (pigment).
How common are congenital nevi?
Small melanocytic nevi are very common. One in every 50 to 100 people is born with a small melanocytic nevus. Large congenital nevi occur approximately once in every 20,000 births. Giant congenital nevi are thought to occur approximately once in every 500,000 births.
How is nevus-skin different?
Nevi are much more than simply dark skin. Besides producing increased pigmentation, the area covered by a melanocytic nevus often produces increased amounts of hair. The formation of sweat glands can be disrupted in nevi – so sometimes a person with a large nevus may not sweat where their nevus is located. Many nevi lack subcutaneous fat, a layer of fat just under the skin that pads the body everywhere. Some nevi will also have neurofibromas or other neural tumors, within their borders. These growths are not painful and are normally superficial. Nevus-skin can range from thick with a folded appearance, to thin and fragile. People with nevi sometimes complain that their nevus itches more often than the surrounding skin.
What causes nevi?
Large congenital nevi form in the womb very early in development, within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. They are caused by a defect during embryologic development. There is no known method of prevention. They appear in either sex, in all races, and on any areas of the skin.
Can nevi pose a health problem?
Having a large nevus can impact one’s mental health. Large nevi are obvious and unusual. These can be difficult hurdles to overcome.
In terms of physical health, pigmented moles have been linked to melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer. Also, certain children with large nevi may have melanin, melanocytes and/or nevomelanocytes in their central nervous systems (the brain and spinal cord). This condition is known as neurocutaneous melanocytosis (melanosis) (NCM). Most people with NCM do not have neurological problems. However, some do, and the complications from NCM can be very serious.
Which moles may develop melanoma?
Scientific opinions vary as to the exact risk of melanoma, but current research may show the number of children born with large nevi who develop melanoma later in life to be around 5%. Any congenital nevus, small or large, may develop melanoma, but those of greatest concern are very large or thick.
Why remove a nevus?
Most of the time, the overriding reasons to remove a nevus are first to reduce melanoma risk and second to improve appearance which can be fundamental to improving a patient’s overall psychosocial state. Other reasons to remove a nevus may be to improve the strength, texture, sensation, and sweat gland activity of the affected area.
While it is almost impossible to remove every cell of a large nevus, the goal is to remove as many cells as possible while at the same time preserving function and minimizing scarring. Remember, a nevus cannot be removed without leaving a scar.
Some people choose to leave their nevi intact, while others choose to remove them. There are good reasons for both choices. It is a highly personal decision.
If you would like to learn more please visit: http://www.nevus.org/index.php
More to come regarding our plans.
Nevus (also spelled naevus; plural nevi) in the broad sense, means birthmark. There are several types of nevi: epidermal, melanocytic and connective tissue nevi. Melanocytic means that it is pigment-based. Congenital means it is present at birth. Nevus Outreach deals with large and giant congenital melanocytic nevi.
Nevi are the most common abnormality of the skin. They apparently serve no function. Normally, skin gets its color from melanin, which is produced by cells called melanocytes. Melanin is human pigment. Normally, melanin is distributed fairly evenly throughout the skin. Congenital melanocytic nevi, on the other hand, are made up of pigment-producing cells called nevomelanocytes. These cells are not evenly distributed. When many nevomelanocytes are clumped together, they can result in moles on the skin because of the higher concentration of melanin (pigment).
How common are congenital nevi?
Small melanocytic nevi are very common. One in every 50 to 100 people is born with a small melanocytic nevus. Large congenital nevi occur approximately once in every 20,000 births. Giant congenital nevi are thought to occur approximately once in every 500,000 births.
How is nevus-skin different?
Nevi are much more than simply dark skin. Besides producing increased pigmentation, the area covered by a melanocytic nevus often produces increased amounts of hair. The formation of sweat glands can be disrupted in nevi – so sometimes a person with a large nevus may not sweat where their nevus is located. Many nevi lack subcutaneous fat, a layer of fat just under the skin that pads the body everywhere. Some nevi will also have neurofibromas or other neural tumors, within their borders. These growths are not painful and are normally superficial. Nevus-skin can range from thick with a folded appearance, to thin and fragile. People with nevi sometimes complain that their nevus itches more often than the surrounding skin.
What causes nevi?
Large congenital nevi form in the womb very early in development, within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. They are caused by a defect during embryologic development. There is no known method of prevention. They appear in either sex, in all races, and on any areas of the skin.
Can nevi pose a health problem?
Having a large nevus can impact one’s mental health. Large nevi are obvious and unusual. These can be difficult hurdles to overcome.
In terms of physical health, pigmented moles have been linked to melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer. Also, certain children with large nevi may have melanin, melanocytes and/or nevomelanocytes in their central nervous systems (the brain and spinal cord). This condition is known as neurocutaneous melanocytosis (melanosis) (NCM). Most people with NCM do not have neurological problems. However, some do, and the complications from NCM can be very serious.
Which moles may develop melanoma?
Scientific opinions vary as to the exact risk of melanoma, but current research may show the number of children born with large nevi who develop melanoma later in life to be around 5%. Any congenital nevus, small or large, may develop melanoma, but those of greatest concern are very large or thick.
Why remove a nevus?
Most of the time, the overriding reasons to remove a nevus are first to reduce melanoma risk and second to improve appearance which can be fundamental to improving a patient’s overall psychosocial state. Other reasons to remove a nevus may be to improve the strength, texture, sensation, and sweat gland activity of the affected area.
While it is almost impossible to remove every cell of a large nevus, the goal is to remove as many cells as possible while at the same time preserving function and minimizing scarring. Remember, a nevus cannot be removed without leaving a scar.
Some people choose to leave their nevi intact, while others choose to remove them. There are good reasons for both choices. It is a highly personal decision.
If you would like to learn more please visit: http://www.nevus.org/index.php
More to come regarding our plans.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
We have our RA, she's our daughter!!!!!
What a day, I ran errands all morning, attempted to donate blood again but I'm still anemic so couldn't do that. After returning home I checked e-mails and noticed that RA calls had been made, and we weren't one of them - I was a bit bummed. So I went to get my hair cut. Low and behold when I returned home I noticed I had a message from our agency - I got a little excited. Surprise, I was told our RA was received as well, it was just a few hours later than the first batch - YAY!!!! So we have been approved to become the parents of Fu Ru Tian who resides in the city of Jinan in Shandong Province, China. Her birth date is 5/16/2007, so she is 20 months old. She is a beautiful little girl with a large facial nevus and healthy other than being a bit anemic like her MOM (that's me now, WOW)! We are told we should plan to travel sometime in March.
We had another baby join our family today too, Jason's sister had a baby this morning - what a wonderful day it has been - the lord is grand!!! Nothing like becoming and aunt and a mom in the same day!
I am excited that we can now share photos of her, so her she is, our precious girl - Angel RuTian -
This is our most recent photo of her, taken in November
This is the earliest photo, this is her passport picture
And these were part of her referral photos, taken around June 2008
Isn't she precious!!!
We had another baby join our family today too, Jason's sister had a baby this morning - what a wonderful day it has been - the lord is grand!!! Nothing like becoming and aunt and a mom in the same day!
I am excited that we can now share photos of her, so her she is, our precious girl - Angel RuTian -
This is our most recent photo of her, taken in November
This is the earliest photo, this is her passport picture
And these were part of her referral photos, taken around June 2008
Isn't she precious!!!
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