The dermatologist thought I had an open sore on my leg (shin area) due to poor circulation.   It was later found to be a small cancerous spot and I will go in for surgery on September 10th.   My physician also thought the same thing as they both tested to top of my feet and couldn't detect any blood pumping through the area.  So he set me up with the Vascular Division and I went there this morning.  

They were very nice and I undressed and got on the bed and the specialist asked me if I had trouble walking.  I said I did two miles every other day on the treadmill and every other day half an hour on the stationery bike plus walking all over the City.  There wasn't any blood pooling in my lower legs and no pain. 

She put compression bandages on my upper legs, my knee area, my shins and next to the feet.  She said everything was fine.  She had trouble finding a pulse on my upper foot area behind the toes.   I told her the dermatologist and my doctor said the same thing and were worried.

She laughed and said many people don't have much of a pulse in their upper foot area (it is hereditary and not to worry about it) and she used an ultra sound instrument and I could hear the blood pumping away.  She said if I had any problems with my feet and legs it would hurt when I walk and I certainly wouldn't be doing all the exercises I do with a problem of blood flow or bad arteries and valves. 

So she said the report would indicate I have excellent blood flow in my legs and feet and not to worry about it!

I will have the small cancerous spot removed in September and we shall see what transpires after that.

Return to the Research Projects Page

Created by: Charles W. Buntjer

Published on: 2009.02.05

San Francisco, California

Updated on: 2009.07.13