Melanoma Recurrence and Your DietI have become very particular about what I eat. I made a commitment to maintaining a healthy diet over two years ago and lost 70 pounds and have been able...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Skin Cancer Anxieties: Relationships & FamilyIn this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing physical illness and its side effects. Phrases in bold are the words of our community members across various conditions...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Anxiety DreamsIt’s not my fault that I go to so many doctors’ appointments. I go from one to the other as a result of having chronic conditions after my stem cell...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
New Diagnosis, New Treatment, Same Old AnxietyI recently had my 6-month checkup with my dermatologist. While I’m happy that it seems that I’m getting new, suspicious areas at a much slower pace than I used to...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Is Everything On My Skin Cancerous?For years, no decades now, I have been checking my moles like a momma bird checks her nest. I understand what to look for: asymmetry, irregular borders, growth, changes, etc...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Talking to Family and Friends About Skin CancerSkin cancer can be tricky to bring up. When we talk about skin cancer, too often it feels like loved ones react with callous responses. Many people mistakenly believe that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Sneak Attack!!! Melanomas Don’t Take Time OffSeptember 23, it’s a huge day for me. It’s my son’s birthday, my first born. Also, it’s the beginning of fall. Baseball playoffs, football, hockey and hoops, back to school...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Skin Cancer Stinks, Ya Know?I just broke my winning streak. It was nice while it lasted, but my visit to the dermatologist this week brought an abrupt end to all that bliss. I can’t...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Slip Slop Slap: Spreading The Word About Sun ProtectionEver since my brush with malignant melanoma, I’ve become rather evangelical about sun care. The easiest way I’ve found to spread the word to my friends and family without being...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Living With: When Your Job Becomes PersonalIn this recent episode of the podcast Living With, I interviewed LB Herbert. In addition to being the executive director of research and analytics for Health Union, LB has personal...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Wear Your Scars With PrideI remember my mother having skin cancer surgery on her nose which left her with a huge scar and a disfigured shape. The doctor swore to her that her nose...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
I Saw a Physician Assistant for a Skin Cancer Full Body Exam Scan, and I Will Do It AgainI choose my doctors carefully. I usually ask my gynecologist for a referral when I need a specialist. She, along with my cardiologist and internist, are all affiliated with the same large...Reactions0reactionsComments17 comments
See Something, Say SomethingI barely remember her. I think she had long, straight, light brown hair. Nothing more really stands out. I remember that she was a nurse. About her, I knew essentially...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Walking Each Other HomeLately, I’ve been seeing a particular phrase frequently, and each time it stands out to me. The phrase intrigued me the first time I saw it, but I didn’t give...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Ten Life Saving New Year's ResolutionsIt’s just about that time of the year. Time for well-intentioned resolutions that take flight in January, but too often crash and burn by March. Think about all of the...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Knowing Better But Still Picking At My SkinDon’t try this at home. Look at a tiny black spot on your skin and say, “Hmmm, this could be melanoma. But if I pick at it and it comes...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Smartphones and the Sun?I have to admit that I was not the first person in my community to get a smartphone, nor the first person on my block, nor the first person in...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Finding a Derm in a Derm DesertIt’s a sad fact: The U.S. is a country where available and easy health care is not guaranteed. Especially when it comes to skin cancer treatment. For some, the issue...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
FDA Approves Keytruda for Advanced or Metastatic Merkel Cell CarcinomaThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as a treatment for advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in both adults and children.Merkel cell carcinoma...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Recurrence Rates and Risks by Skin Cancer TypeAfter a diagnosis of skin cancer, a person’s risk of having another skin cancer – called a recurrence – is increased. The risks of recurrence vary by the type of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments