Living

3 rings. That's all it took before I answered the contact-less, but familiar, number on my phone. The woman on the other side seemed calm and unfazed as she broke...

I made what could have been the simplest but most important decision of my life in 2007. A quick phone call, a few brief words, and I decided I was...

I had my first battle with skin cancer over twenty years ago. I’ve had more than a few since then; during my last major surgery, I had 23 areas removed...

Being a survivor is hard work. You expect this overwhelming relief when the surgeons finally get it all. You anticipate that day to welcome the new found hope and ability...

Survivor. What a beautiful, powerful, strong word. The word ‘survivor’ to me has always made me think of someone who has overcome a serious illness. I participated in a Race...

I think I'll go for a walk outside now the summer sun's callin my name (I hear ya now) I just can't stay inside all day I gotta get out...

Front Range Dermatology Associates provided me a list of instructions for applying Efudex and hints for aftercare. In addition, their information sheet briefly mentions a few common symptoms. I am...

I recently had a small area of basal cell carcinoma removed. It was the first cancerous area that I’ve had in almost two years. While I was not thrilled I...

I was guilty of it myself--saying it was “just skin cancer.” Cancer was lung cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. It was pancreatic cancer and leukemia. Skin cancer was a...

I had my first surgical procedure in 1988, which left a large, unclosed wound on my forearm. Since that time, I had another biopsy ON THE SCAR and numerous other...

If I've learned anything, it's that timing truly is everything. My roommate sophomore year of college was in charge of our campus Relay for Life, so to show support, my...

Nearly 30 years ago I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. That was a very difficult time. I had a large portion of skin on my arm cut out of me...

Let’s talk a bit about skin cancer and tanning beds. They’re awesome, right? You can get a tan so much faster in a tanning bed than you can by lying...

In 2007, I was diagnosed with melanoma upon removal of a suspicious spot on my left upper arm. The following years saw three Mohs surgeries for basal cell carcinomas and...

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma that occurs when the white blood cells called T-cells grow and multiply uncontrollably. Although cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a type of blood...

In my experience, one of the most important decisions one can make about skin care is the choice of a dermatologist. This is a very personal decision because of the...

Visiting a dermatologist regularly to receive a full body exam is a common skin cancer prevention tip. However, often visits are yearly, and may not be frequent enough to detect...

I posted an article about my recent experience with getting a sunburn after a diagnosis of skin cancer, and I asked for suggestions about how to stay safe in the...

Sweet, sweet summertime... the season of extra hours of sunshine in the day, warmer temperatures that beckon pool days or lazy days at the lake, a golf course calling your...

The topic of anxiety comes up frequently amongst melanoma patients: What we do to overcome the waves of fear; how we share or explain these sometimes irrational and often complex...