Living

During my first appointment with my new dermatologist in February 2021, she decided to take a biopsy of my “ugly bump”. This was a surprise to me because I thought...

I'm afraid I have fallen into the face-mask trap more than a few times lately. There is just something about the security of wearing it while shopping and to work...

Some of us have had skin cancer for a long time. We may have lost count of the number of skin cancer procedures we’ve had to remove cancerous or precancerous...

To worry at something: to pull, twist, or bite (something) repeatedly “The dog was in the corner worrying at a bone.” (Merriam-Webster) Do you ever worry about a suspicious spot?...

I remember the first few times that I went to the dermatologist for regular skin checks in the late 1980s. It was a memorable experience because of how brief it...

If you hear it once it must be true right? I know I’ve fallen into the trap of quickly reading something online and immediately taking it as fact. However, there’s...

We know how expensive a trip to the doctor’s office can be. It's even more costly when you’re seeing a specialist, like your favorite dermatologist. But you generally know what...

“I don’t have any moles. I’m not worried.” “Yes, I check my moles, and they aren’t changing.” “When I was a teen, I had my only mole removed. I’m good.”...

I was diagnosed with melanoma in 1988 well before my children were born. My son was born eight years later in 1996 and by that time I had developed a...

“You’re so tan,” said a friend who hadn’t seen me for a while. “Thanks,” I answered, “but I’m not supposed to be this way.” Her words would have been a...

As a radiation therapist, I have been a part of one thousand skin cancer treatments, but not one of them was mine. This prompts some people with skin cancer to...

I have been obsessed with good skincare practices since 1988, which is the year of my melanoma diagnosis. I take sun protection seriously and it has affected my daily decision-making...

On a hot July afternoon, after a ferry ride with my family to beautiful Nantucket Island, I got off the boat in Hyannis and reached my hand under a dispenser...

As our first telephone interview wound down, I asked Kent Gilliam, a stage IV melanoma survivor, what message he wanted to send to those battling melanoma or other skin cancers...

Efudex is a big deal. Despite what many of us hear from prescribing physicians--it’s can be a real ordeal. From the itching and burning sensation during treatment to the withdrawal-type...

I’m no stranger to surgeries. I’m currently 6 weeks into recovery from a third surgery on my right arm. All three of these surgeries were from self-inflicted athletic injuries. I...

Like the rest of your skin, skin cancers are made up of cells. The difference between the cells of healthy skin and cancerous skin is in the genetic makeup, also...

Recently I wrote about going back to backyard yoga, and now I bring you farm yoga! But there's a twist - this fitness class actually turned into an opportunity for...

You might think that with all the knowledge out there about skin cancer that the rates are declining. Unfortunately, that’s not true. But why is it that skin cancer is...

Throughout my lifetime, trends and fads have come and gone. The eighties had great music, lots of good movies, and some interesting clothing choices. The music from that decade is...