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
The "New Normal:" When the Battle Armor Comes Off...My “new normal,” a phrase often used in cancer circles to describe life in survivorship, completely took me by surprise when I exited treatment. It happened both times I experienced cancer! I...reactions2comments
Sun Protection Gloves Have a Mind of Their Own...If you use hair ties, you might have the same problem with them that I have. They seem to disappear. As many times as I buy a colorful package of...reactionscomments
Can squamous cells remain after a frozen section with clear margins?...Is it normal for squamous cells to remain after a frozen section with clear margins was done?...reactionsreplies
Has anyone tried using cannabis for pain relief?...Currently in week 3 of a 4-6 week treatment with Efudex. I have bcc’s and scc’s on several areas of my face and neck. The pain in intense and from...reactions2replies
Sandcastles, Sunburns, and Sermons...Flashback to the summer of 1985: the Florida sun is bright, the beach is calling, and our family vacation is in full swing. My sister and I are spending the...reactionscomments
Safe Driving...It’s that time of the year for many of us in the snow belt. It’s classic car show time. Mustangs, T-Birds, expensive imports, all varieties of convertible leave the hibernation...reactionscomments