Articles

I have been teaching since 1997, and this is my fall portrait from 2002. There are many things going on here–many, many things. For starters, my necklace is inside my...

Those who have Mohs surgery on their face often get some form of plastic surgery after they’re done. This is to minimize some scarring. But what if you’re not happy...

Radiation therapy is a standard treatment for many forms of cancer and is becoming increasingly popular for skin cancer treatment. Doses of radiation are carefully planned and delivered by professionals, like...

Hideous…The mirror is ruthlessMy image is a scarred version of what once wasA jagged tattoo across my faceFrozen into a frownReaching deep into my inner selfSlowly sinking into a bottomless...

Two separate times this week, I have read a comment online of “that person would look better if they had a tan.” And on an article written by a dermatologist...

I recently met a close friend, Rhonda, for coffee at Starbucks. We had been catching up for a few hours when, somewhat out of the blue, she asked, “How did...

Fewer Zoom meetings, more in-person gatherings, fewer evenings at home, more out, less walking, more driving, less television bingeing, and more live performances, I seem to live by the clock...

If you love wearing makeup like me, and have had facial skin cancer, then you know that it is sometimes a struggle to find the right balance. On one hand...

“I have new moles every week. Let’s light this candle.” “Are moles really that dangerous?” “Oh, yeah…they should just call them cancer dots.” This exchange is from Season 8 of...

It is that time of year again. Last week, I heard for the first time this season a commercial for a tanning salon. It’s usually around mid to late February...

I was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a rare form of skin cancer, in February 2021. I had my first wide resection under local anesthesia in March 2021, and my...

It was the first warm day of spring in the northeast and I made my way to Centerport, NY, to photograph my favorite bald eagle pair and their three eaglets...

I recently read a story about a dancer who was embarrassed she had skin cancer. Does skin cancer cause you embarrassment, and if it does, what do you do? I’ve...

The more that people sing the praises of the Apple watch, the less I want one. “You can read your texts without looking for your phone, you can answer Dick...

In my years as a radiation therapist, I have come across plenty of misleading information about radiation, including as a treatment for skin cancer. One of the best defenses against...

Skin checks cause anxiety for me in general. I see my dermatologist every six months for a full-body skin check, so I know if there is anything that needs treated...

I am on a skin cancer journey, and my first run-in with skin cancer was in June 2018. I had squamous cell carcinoma on my bottom lip, and it was...

Tuesday was the worst day of my life and it had nothing to do with skin cancer, or did it? I lost one of my best friends a few days...

In February 2021, I saw a dermatologist for the first time in my life to evaluate a lump that had been growing for over 7 years at the site of...

February is a rough time for many of us. Well, it actually starts right after the holidays, doesn’t it? One-half of the picked-over Christmas candy aisle is revamped and condensed...