So, it’s just about two years ago that my pink spot made an appearance on my right knee. You know, it’s so funny because when it first sprang out of my skin, I didn’t know that it was some weird form of skin cancer. I didn’t know that it was something that needed to be cut out of my flesh… Read more »
It’s February 4 (at least on my side of the world) and it’s recognized as World Cancer Day. I wrote a blog post last year today that dealt with the weirdness of having yourself in the group of “cancer survivors”. Another 365 days later, it’s still weird. Sometimes, I forget I was diagnosed with melanoma, skin cancer, and then I… Read more »
I’m a few days late in wishing y’all a Happy 2016. It was nice to relax most of the weekend. I had really needed the downtime. It’s funny when you run at 100 mph and then you just stop. It takes a little while for your mind to shut off, your muscles to relax, and your being to center. 2015… Read more »
Today marks the year anniversary of my excision. It’s strange how time can fly. It seems like that day was long ago and yet, also feel like it was only yesterday. It’s been a year of worry, fear, sadness, and pain (literal and metaphorical); but it’s also been a year of acceptance, happiness, hope, and even joy. The excision removed… Read more »
By now, the horrific details of the attack on Paris are all over the news, even in self-absorbed United States. I was working yesterday afternoon when the first reports started coming through and throughout the evening, the news grew worse and worse. This isn’t a post on skin cancer. This is a post on the cancer that seems to ravage… Read more »
It’s not recent, but a 2012 research study concluded that smartphone apps that are supposed to help people with identifying suspicious moles and growths actually are unreliable. In turn, people delay getting treatment for something. And as we all know, particularly with melanoma, delays are not a good thing. The study, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a… Read more »
There was a recent article on Prevention.com about a doctor’s advice to avoid cancer. The usual suspects were there: avoid stress (could someone explain how in modern society we can avoid stress? Maybe we can mitigate it but there’s really no way to completely avoid it…); exercise regularly; and volunteering. But one of the items concerned mold, specifically the types… Read more »
This past weekend, I attended the Austin City Limits music festival, more commonly known (at least to people here) as ACL. It’s 3 days of a ton of music, repeated for 2 weekends, 8 stages, 130 bands. It’s a music-lover’s nirvana, with all different genres of music – rock, rap, EDM, country, even kids’ music. I walked miles every day…. Read more »
This weekend, I made the trek down I-35 to San Antonio for a long-awaited concert – Ricky Martin. I had only been vaguely aware of Menudo (the boy band he was in way back in the day); but living in Miami in the 90’s, I had grown to be a fan of his Spanish language songs. When he released “Maria” –… Read more »
I had my nine month check up yesterday. As always, it’s a bit of nervous tension in the room, which I try my best to defuse by saying ridiculously inappropriate things. Making the doctor and her assistant laugh is my goal. I’m hoping that they will be extra vigilant in checking out things in order to keep me around to make… Read more »