Making Sunscreen Routine...Sunscreen is a part of my skincare routine 365 days a year. There was a time, however, when SPF was the furthest thing from my mind and not in any...reactionscomments
Melanoma, A Spouse's Perspective...I asked my wife, Kathy Matheny for her thoughts on being the spouse of a melanoma victor. Here is what she wrote. Two heads are better than one. Four ears...reactionscomments
My Cancer: Surprise!...Hi. My name is Violet, what I thought was a pimple, turned out to be cancer. I had it removed the first time. Now, I'm having it removed the second...reactions5comments
Efudex Users Like You...New experiences usually bring about a case of the jitters. When it comes to our health, however, new and uncomfortable experiences, treatment plans, and doctor changes can wreak havoc on...reactionscomments
My Skincare Products...“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Ben Franklin I grew up in a time and place where no guy I ever knew discussed skincare products. We...reactionscomments
Morpheaform BCC...My diagnostic appointment isn't until Dec. 11 but I'm very worried because I meet all the risk factors (light skinned, blue eyed, burn easily) and I've had several bad burns...reactions5repliesDiagnosis
Giving My Arms a Breath of Fresh Air...Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” is about threats to the environment, but you can apply some of the lyrics to a range of losses in life. Specifically, I’m thinking of...reactionscomments
Sunscreen-1, Midlife Crisis-0...The summer of 2019 was--and remains in sweltering southwest Tennessee--a difficult one for this skin cancer patient. I’ve been debating about chalking it up to a seven-year-itch type situation. It’s...reactions4comments
Free Sunscreen Here...Family picnic, a day at the beach, golf outing, ballgame, you’re there, it’s hot, you’re roasting and you forgot to lather up in SPF50. Maybe you ran out of sunscreen...reactionscomments
When Good News Isn't Great News...Typically, receiving good news can make us feel great. Ecstatic, even. Like all is right in our world. But there are other times that receiving good news doesn’t always make...reactions6comments
Skin Cancer on the Lower Eyelid...I have had a “spot” (which sounds innocuous enough) on my lower eyelid. Twice before I have had it removed only to grow back. I thought of it as annoying...reactions7comments
A Talk With My Doc...Talking today with Robert J. Kaplan, MD, my dermatologist. Dr. Kaplan is in private practice in Memphis, Tennessee and currently treats me for a skin ailment (side effect) caused by...reactionscomments
Getting Through The Days Before My Full Body Skin Check...I woke up this morning with a sick feeling in my stomach. I didn’t have any other symptoms-no fever, no body aches, no sore throat. I thought about it for a few...reactions5comments
Melanoma Movie Mind Game...EXT: the three letters that I did not want to see. In the film business, this means that the scene is an exterior shot. It’s filmed outside...in the sun. EXT...reactionscomments
Letdowns, Letters, and Blood Donations...It’s 2019, and receiving mail isn’t nearly the event it was when most of us were kids. Remember waiting anxiously on a letter from a friend? How vividly do you...reactions4comments
Playing Tennis in the Sun...Play in the sun on better courts, or play in the shade on less desirable ones? Controversy has consumed our Monday tennis group. One wants to play in the shade...reactionscomments
Rick Simpson Oil: What is it and How is it Used?...If you’re familiar with medical marijuana, then you’ve likely heard of RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil. Yet, for those who aren’t into medical marijuana and its benefits, it is probably...reactions2comments
Delaying Treatment, With My Doctor's Permission...At the end of June, I had my six-month skin check with my dermatologist, Dr. Keller. I had a small area on my face that my doctor wanted to treat...reactionscomments
Scott's Survival Tips for the Absent-Minded...It’s 7:30am and you overslept again. You scramble and remember that it’s casual Friday and you can wear shorts and a short-sleeved shirt and you do. You find your keys...reactionscomments