8 Reasons Melanoma Monday Is The Real Deal

That’s an Affirmative!

Yes, Melanoma Monday is the first Monday in May, landing on May 6th in 2019. Bizarre perhaps that we recognize this deadly skin cancer with it’s own day? Not really and as a melanoma patient it takes on a deeper meaning, education for others in a culture of sun worship. Why, the whole month of May is a promotion of skin cancer awareness!

For those of you who follow along, many of us with skin cancer are changing our ways. I’m not the person to stay inside on the beautiful days of each season; I’ve learned to wear my sunscreen, sunglasses, SPF clothing, etc. This is how I live my life well and with a strict adherence to sun safety.

Why Melanoma Monday?

There are many reasons that it’s important to learn about melanoma and why Melanoma Monday is critical. I’m including my list here of what you need to know and share about #MelanomaMonday :

1.  Melanoma is deadly
2.  This skin cancer holds your sun history from long ago
3.  Longer days of sunshine mean greater exposure
4.  People falsely believe it won’t happen to them; melanoma cancer does NOT discriminate based on skin color
5.  Life, work, and outdoor adventure continues, just with more thought
6.  Lesser known cancers such as melanoma need more promotion (learn about melanoma, share what you know, medical knowledge takes money)

Let’s create a culture that is aware of sun safety AND promote scientific study of melanoma.

7.  May is Melanoma Awareness Month and Skin Cancer Month                                     8.  It’s time to change the culture of sun worship

This isn’t about rejecting the outdoor life, but more about rethinking how you do it!

What Ribbon Is That?

Unfortunately, many of us know all too well the color of pink ribbons for breast cancer. Having lost friends and family to this outrageous disease, the pink ribbon is part of our lives, seen on license plates, t-shirts, and research information. Other causes have their colors, a great marketing visual whether for a walk/run, fundraiser, or a reminder that the efforts are ongoing in the fight for health, politics, or gender equality.

Love the polka-dots far more that all black ribbons. Polka dots of hope!

Black is the color for melanoma awareness. YIKES! That sure scares me, does it you? The ribbon represents black tumors and the warrior, fighting for life now and every day. It also represents other causes such as: mourning, gun control, sleep disorders, and anti-terrorism. Seems rather dark and gloomy, right?

Black Is Beautiful!

Spin it beautiful. Black goes with everything and everyone! Spread the word about skin cancer with friends, families, and those who are choosing ignorance. We know too much about this deadly disease (and not enough to always save lives) to not pay attention.

Be wise and use your #sunsmarts

Sun safety and melanoma awareness are not a black, hidden in dark places. It’s about light, living, and life. Knowledge brings us hope and inspiration. Medical help and study is scant at times with melanoma; promote more study!  Be #sunsmart for yourself and model a new culture for our children, a culture of bright, shining people who prepare for the sun with respect for it’s potential.     

Photo by Juhasz Imre on Pexels.com

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

  

In darkness, even black ribbon dark, there’s a glow of light. Carry it forward! Lots to talk about this time of year and may you enjoy every ray with #sunscreen . I’d love to hear what you are doing to promote sun safety in the comments! Thanks for signing up and following my blog!  #naturalskinrocks #melanoma #cancer #melanomaawareness #blackMonday

We can-cer vive!

Janis

 

 

April Fools

Just a quick jog here and hope it make some sun sense to you! Many of us are sun worshippers and hooray, here comes the sun again! We love the tan, we love the warmth, the beach or boat or outdoor adventure- our happy place. Plants grow and it’s proven that light makes us happy. All good, right?

Yes, it is, even for metastatic melanoma patients like myself. I’d like to help you avoid the medical scene that is now incorporated into our lives. Yes, we absolutely live our lives with hope, courage, and the inspiration that each breaking dawn brings. How happy I am to be here!

Inside Joke

Mistakes were made no doubt, though I also will give those of us that are older sun cancer patients the excuse that we didn’t know better. I also know many people don’t realize that skin cancer can be deadly. Yes, it’s not always as simple as removing a basal cell. I feel a bit foolish in hindsight to think of how little I knew…until I had to learn a lot in order to live. Don’t choose to ignore today’s knowledge.

Sun damage holds its history in the folds of your skin; those searing burns  where your nose was always peeling, it hurt to put on a bra, or you had blisters from a trip to warmer climes and intense sun are all stored history. Remember the Coppertone logo with the white butt baby with tan skin in the very brown container? We all craved that tan and now we have that potential melanoma history, both of us.

For years, sunscreen was not even a viable option; sunscreen was non-existent for many of us. Over time, I did use it on my nose which had seen so much burning and used it on my kids moderately. As years went by, I wore hats, covered up after a certain amount of sun time, and I felt good about the protection. After all, we all looked better tan and healthy, right?

Did you use tanning beds to give you that healthy tan OR as I use to do, tan before a warm weather trip? My logic was that I would use tanning beds so I wouldn’t burn on the trip…a base tan so that I would be able to be out and soaking up the sun on our vacation adventures. I truly was careful with non-excessive tanning and believed it was the safest way to not burn when traveling about. It now sounds so UNreasonable and whatever your reason it’s time to reconsider because next time it could be a radiation table as part of  adjuvant treatment.

The Joke’s On You (Or Pay Attention To Medical Information)

Knowledge about all cancers is developing faster than we can imagine. Is there a cure-all? No, but today, in relation to melanoma, the medical cancer research is finding more options for surgery, radiation, infusion, and each step is one closer to cure. Melanoma patients have a chance to live longer where at one time it was a certain death sentence. Those of us with metastatic melanoma now walk a tight rope, finding balance in our lives and hope in our cancer treatment.

I consider all that I’ve learned about this disease to be necessary to my life and truth be told, I would not have paid attention because it wasn’t relevant to me. Now, it stares me in the face every time I look in the mirror, my freckle face, pale and cancer free (we hope). I also have facial scars, I no longer remember how many, 6 perhaps, that serve as a road map to the land of the living. Never ashamed of those lines, I simply consider them my road to healing.

Practical (Joking Aside)

Beyond the medical knowledge that keeps me alive, is the desire to create a new culture of sun safety. I’m not going to be hiding inside and here are some sensible things to do as the warmer days come along:

1.  Stay away from tanning beds-super dangerous
2. Wear sunscreen
3. Wear SPF clothing or layers
4. Bring and wear the sunglasses
5. Create shade areas whether at the beach or at home-use them
6. Limit your time in deep sun
7. Check the UV ratings every day
8. Use umbrellas and sun tents some, glare from water and sand add to your sun exposure
9. Create a list of your sun gear and have it at the ready so when the next sun adventure happens you can be ready
10. Adventure after dark
11. Promote this sun culture with others, sign up, and share my blog;)
12. Have #sunsmarts fun, be practical, and

No Joke

The sun is strong this time of year and stronger yet to come. For winter adventures, sun screen matters and so it does now, RIGHT NOW! Cloudy days, it matters. Think your dark skin means you won’t get melanoma, talk to me about the people of all colors in the melanoma waiting room at Dana Farber Melanoma Center.  Create habits, remind loved ones, and develop a culture of sun safety.

Every single one of us has the possibility of melanoma in our skin history,right this moment. We also have options to be #sunsmart365 right this moment. We need to change the culture of what beauty is, how to love and enjoy our sun time, and to spread the word on how we can avoid being #AprilFools .    #melanomatheskin   #naturalskinrocks #MondayMorning  #sunsmarts #melanoma

Happy April Fool’s Day! “Make Way for Ducklings” in their Spring bonnets! Remember to learn from your mistakes and carry the knowledge of today with you (while wearing a hat, of course! xo

We can-cer vive!

Janis

 

 

Happy Happy Day

Yes, it’s been forever and no, you don’t need to worry. My focus continues to be on being healthy and finding balance as a cancer patient. Metastatic melanoma is just one of my many interests in life. If you feel a lag, know that I am just not writing, nothing less, nothing more! Or be in touch!

Spring is Here!

The first day of Spring! Hooray and the sun speaks of things to come; it may only be a whisper but those of us who disparage winter’s worth can feel the change-a comin’. Subtle and yet, as bold and brash as a billboard, Spring shows itself. I’ve noticed a few green shoots popping through, daffodils undoubtedly. I’ve scoured the scrub brush out back for the snowdrops, but think I’m over zealous. Not everyone jumps for the joy of a plant you forgot about or that you thought you lost!!!

Seeds are here, too! I planted a few things and look forward to doing more. Dahlia seeds are already popping up…of course, this is all indoor adventure to keep me smiling through the rain and snow that inevitably comes this time of year!

Happy Days

Today is also International Day of Happiness according to the United Nations. Nothing better than a day to declare happiness. Well, yeah, except why not try our best every day? Great to recognize that feeling of happiness with a special day; after all you and I have our own special day each year. How about making the effort to make every day one of happiness?

If you are challenged by disease, relationship, finance..whatever it may be, do you feel better for all your sadness, self pity, and sorrow? The best serum is courage; courage to drop your sorrows and make room for love and hope. Easier said than done when you are wallowing in your misery, but happiness is really not hard to come by.

Open up to let it in, grab for the positive, and see how happiness curls into every corner of your life. I firmly believe that each of us has only so much room for sorrow and pain before it takes us down and conversely, I believe that positive feelings of love, doing for others, and having fun can grow and multiply infinitely. And is contagious…catch some!

Misery Loves Company

Of course, I want to bring reading in to this post. As a librarian, I’ve always loved children’s books. I read everything but with all the amazing children’s authors out there, I return to what is dearest to my heart. Happiness is around every corner, every page if you choose to find it.

The 2017 Newbery winner was The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. What an amazing novel with many accolades, and add my thoughts to the collection of positive reviews.  Recommended for children in grades 4-6, I would expand that target to any reader in 4th grade or older. This could be a particularly pertinent read for a 13th birthday or a coming of age event. Adults, read it!

Not a big fantasy reader, I couldn’t wait to pore over each chapter, most of which are reasonably short in length. With magic, a tiny dragon, missing babies, and a town drowning in sorrow, who wouldn’t want to keep reading to see which witch is witch? The real magic comes in Barnhill’s words; she will have your children clamoring for more with the richness of plot, descriptiveness of place, and the authenticity of characters.

And no, I don’t want to give a spoiler but the sorrow that consumes the community in this book…well let’s just say some thrive on  that sorrow and self-pity, while others work hard to bring happiness in to their lives. Oh yes, this is a children’s book but if you read deeper, I know Barnhill shares a message we all can find if we so choose. #melanomatheskin #cancer #happyday #happyspring #wecancervive #melanoma #Wednesdaythoughts #review #choosehappiness

Happy Day! Happy Life!

We can-cer vive!

Janis

 

 

 

 

14 GroundHog Day Facts And Why You Need to Celebrate This Underground Movement

See the Light

Quoting an author I love, Paulo Coelho.

Those who know me, know my favorite day of the year is Ground Hog Day. Life is short so sometimes it’s a wonderful thing to be silly! For many years, I have advocated for this holiday which is severely underrated and under promoted. You might even say it’s an underground movement!

Ironically,  the days I am most interested in celebrating are sun related, kind of a strange one for the melanoma cancer patient, right? Winter solstice, Fourth of July, and yes, Ground Hog Day being tops on my list! So why do I love GH day? It’s a low maintenance holiday: no major gift giving, no seasonal decorations needed, and no pressure to get it all done! It’s our time to wish each other a Happy Ground Hog Day, to consider and talk about Spring (YAHOO, it is possibly happening again!!!!), and to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel (literally).

I’ve taken to some subversive tactics over the years. My love of literacy has afforded me that annual opportunity to propagandize Ground Hog Day at my libraries, surely tainting those young minds and developing an unsuspecting following. Why, sometimes even elders understand this devotion; I  hear from a grandmother every year as we exchange Ground-Hoggedly Greetings!

Storytimes have included books such as Footprints and Shadows,  Shadow,   and  a reading of Stevenson’s poem My Shadow. One of my favorites is Moonbear’s Shadow and the list goes on and on. Take into consideration that the shadows we see are created by seeing the light! Projects might include: going out to measure your shadow and discussing the varying lengths at varying times, learning some basic shadow theater hand puppets, or weather activities such as painting the weather for that day or studies in black, gray, and white!

In Fact

1. Ground Hog Day is always celebrated on February 2nd
2. It’s half way between the official start of Winter and the official start of Spring
3. Groundhogs are also variously referred to as woodchucks, whistle-pigs, or land-beavers.
4. The name whistle-pig comes from the fact that, when alarmed, a groundhog will emit a high-pitched whistle as a warning to the rest of his or her colony
5. The name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood. Or chucking. It is derived from the Algonquian name for the critters, wuchak
6. One of the largest rodents, part of the squirrel family
7. Lives underground with pathways and burrows, having a separate winter den
8. Hibernates generally from October to March, depending on location
9. Hibernation can mean their body temperature drops to about 41 degrees (normal 98.6 degrees like us)
10. Breeding season is March-May with a 30-32 day gestation period
11. Litter of 2- 6 young (called pups or kits) though can have more
12. Kits stay with their Mama about two to three months after being born in mid-April to May
13. Youngsters disperse and leave mom’s burrow by Fall. However, about  thirty five percent of females stick around until after their first birthdays, right before mom’s new litter arrives
14. Groundhogs are super for study of hepatitis B-induced liver cancer. In fact, if infected with Woodchuck Hepatitis B virus, the animal always goes on to develop liver cancer, making them useful for the study of liver cancer and of hepatitis B.

Punxsutawney Phil Lives

So here’s my truth, rodentially speaking, I really don’t like rodents at all. NOT AT ALL! And what’s more, whatever Phil proclaims weather-wise, it NEVER has relevance in the Northeast. We are shoveling winter off our doorstep or burrowing for the next 6 weeks and more guaranteed PERIOD! We will be demonstrating squirrelly behaviors and gnawing for warmer days!

Some think I’m absolutely foolish, others have embraced my desire for some mid-winter FUN! I’ve had staff make me ground hog shaped brownies, been given donuts with a ground hog poking out the hole, and a super-tacky Ground Hog necklace. I’ve gifted others “a just because” package to brighten their mid-winter blues (though Ground Hog Day is far more than “just because” in my mind!), and found awesome Valentine’s cards with those furry not-so-little rodents on them (multi-tasking the holidays of February!).

Remember this is a no stress holiday! Wish those around you a Happy Ground Hog Day. Rejoice in the knowing that Spring will happen (it will, right?). Grab your seed catalogs or a good book, put on the tea water, and celebrate the day, celebrate you! Did you notice how late the sun set last night as the thermometer dipped to the negatives with hurricane force winds? It’s really very positive, this Ground Hog Day inspiration, the light I mean, not the shadow! #melanomatheskin  #GroundHogDay #FridayThoughts #WorldReadAloudDay #bookreview #melanoma #skincancer #followthelight #smile

Please sign up for my blog, let me know how you will celebrate in the comments,  and thanks for spreading the Good word! Happy Ground Hog Day to you and yours!

We can-cervive!

Janis

“Becoming”, by Michelle Obama…And Our Becoming

Let It Be

Whoa! Amazing how time gets away from us. I’ve known I wanted to post in my blog, that I needed time to just let it be, and that other priorities had precedence. Not making excuses as it’s just the way it is! I find that I am always doing something so what the heck? Time can be such a game player!

Time seems to run from us, doesn’t it? And here I am, working on my melanoma and keeping stress to a minimum, part of a personal plan to keep life in balance while on a clinical trial drug called Yervoy. Creating space to improve my medical status has left me more challenged with time than when I raised my children, worked, and continued my education…all at the same time!

Becoming

Becoming takes on different meanings for all of us but truly brings us all to a place for vision, action, reflection, and hopefully life growth through the process. It reminds me a bit of literacy grants and projects where ideas are born, nurtured and loved, to one day take flight while we evaluate the success (and failures) of such work. I’ve applied this a bit to life as it is now….becoming.

So, have you read Becoming by Michelle Obama? I am a stickler with reviews because, well, some books just don’t do it for me! However, Becoming is a book I love. In a time when life seems hard (not written to be a bummer at all, but really there are some awful things happening around the globe), this book gave me hope and was a very enjoyable read!

Divided into three parts, the reader learns first about Michelle growing up, then as a forward thinking career woman who is a wife and mother, and lastly, as the First Lady who puts all she’s got into doing everything to the best of her ability.  She is so real and so honest in her depiction that at times I cringed to think about obstacles she had to overcome and the hard work she has put in to her life.

Neither stuck in the politics or the travesties in life, this book speaks about all of us, about our dreams, about our hard work. Hope does spring eternal and this is the perfect time to be reminded of this.

Love, education, and determination are three of the dominant themes that I found throughout Becoming. Fascination with this book really set in when I realized that these are the same things are central to my life, to most of our lives. I’ve read several books lately (when I should have been blogging!), but this book has stayed with me because of the hope that gets us through and beyond challenges of life.

Be-autiful

Cancer is there. Even if cured, we cancer patients will always wonder, ever so slightly about that one rogue cell. For many of us, we wonder if treatment is harder than the disease!  Reading positive books might just be another variation of meditation that leads to inspiration. What books have inspired you lately? Let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for more great reads!

Life is about becoming, the process does not end. Above is a worn piece of paper, a quote that long ago helped me through a tough time. It’s place was on the fridge and ironically, I stumbled upon it the other day buried in a bureau drawer, a beautiful reminder of earlier lessons learned. I’m not religious but it never hurts to recognize how far we’ve come. Becoming: it’s for me, it’s for you, it’s for all of us. We’re doing just fine! #becoming #bookreview #melanomatheskin #cancer #melanoma #naturalskinrocks #skincancer #wecancervive

We can-cervive!

Janis

 

6 Suggestions for Giving Tuesday

AWOL

I know, I’ve been absent for a while…longer than I want to consider

Melting down around 5 pm every day!

It’s been a tough run with Yervoy for the clinical trial I’m on. For whatever reason, my energy levels, which are not good, are less than non-existent. I’m putting up a great front though feel like the melting witch on the inside!

Immunotherapy would make me believe I have a super immune system, charging those T-cells to the infinite degree. I guess not because I’m coming down with a cold. Totally was hoping I was invincible, but hey, it’s good to know I’m still human even with all these chemicals racing to catch and kill cancer cells.

Upcycling Life

Enough of that. I’ve always been big on giving back, paying forward, or upcycling life. There, does that cover all the current lingo?!!!! Caring about others needs to be part of our lives every day. Kindness rules and with the crazy, scary world we live in, I truly believe that our goodness and love can win out. So do it every day, every way.

Doing good for others brings joy to our lives.

Today is Giving Tuesday. Being the draggy person I am, I’m thinking about my donation giving for the holidays but might not get to it today. That’s okay. If you are able, do it! I actually give to two groups for our Moms; you see our Moms don’t need a lot and are incredibly hard to shop for anyway. THE Moms love donations that we make to either Camp Sunshine or the Children’s Literacy Foundation. Vicariously, they too, are paying it forward.

I’ve created a small list of organizations that are near and dear to me. I have connections with each of them so feel free to ask me about them if you want to hear from a person on what they do. I love your comments! I share this with you as I’m not working much these days and hope that you might just find one that works for you. My favs include:

1. Camp Sunshine -an amazing retreat for families with terminally ill children offering smiles and love
2. Children’s Literacy Foundation -an amazing literacy foundation that encourages the love of reading with children
3. Dana Farber Cancer Institute -a world class medical facility that also cares for children with cancer
4. Hope Lodge, Burlington, VT -one of many Hope Lodge housing options around the U.S. for cancer patients
5. Hospitality Homes -a Boston-based program that offers housing to those requiring medical treatment
6. Your local library -what a great way to keep on giving when you donate to your library and ask that it be used for books…it keeps on giving!

And please do ask about my connection with each of these worthy organizations!

Giving Life, An Attitude of Gratitude

If you are thinking about donating money or time somewhere, hooray to you! Money may seem a cold, callous gift but it’s not when you consider how costly medical situations can be. Cancer patients hold their heads high, but whoa, the financial strain is tough! Let me know of your favorite places to volunteer or donate money. Positive begets positive in this life! Inspiration comes in giving!

We all do what we can. If your Giving Tuesday is as simple as opening a door, calling a friend, or smiling as you walk past a stranger, it’s all important to making this world a better place. And then make it a Giving Week which leads to a Giving Month which leads to a Giving Life. #melanoma #cancer #GivingTuesday #melanomatheskin #GivingLife #Wecancervive #volunteer #upcycling #LoveTrumpsHate

We can-cer vive!

Janis

Veteran’s Day and Military Brats

Yes, I’m one of those military brats. Lots of memories I could share but mostly today is a day to remember the veterans. My father, a young World War II vet rarely spoke of his years overseas. I believe it to be a wild time for a young aircrewman, as well as a life-threatening time for a well-trained partner to the pilot in two-seater. He and his pilot, an intricate team, working closely both physically and mentally to carry out missions, to come out alive.

Sounds of Silence Or What I Missed in the Quiet

Yikes! Dad was a gunner in that war. I don’t remember when I first learned of this but I know it confused me. How could this sweet, funny, social, loving father have fought in the war, any war? My father rarely spoke of his years overseas so it took me a long time to understand.

You see, being a military brat for me was just:

• moving ( a lot)
• learning how to make friends and build community
• knowing that Dad traveled often and around the globe
• thinking of my father as a teacher; he taught air radio technology and navigation to young recruits and “weekend warriors”
• realizing weekends with my Dad were rare and special

These were all things that happened AFTER his war years. For a long time, I didn’t even realize that my Dad was an unsung American war hero. Communication was not his strong suit and somehow, being a Navy brat meant going to strange Christmas parties on base, emphasis on NOT living on base, and wondering if Dad was on board the plane that flew so low and made the house shake.  I had little toys I packed in his suitcase so he would find my treasures when away. Wars were not part of my childhood understanding.

Lose Lips Sink Ships

You see I was a peace loving child of the 60’s, distraught to grow beyond the naivety of childhood and being to understand the atrocities of war through the black and white body bags of tv and Vietnam. Is this when I began to question what my father did in the war? Honestly, I have no recollection when I saw glimmers of what my father had sacrificed. Perhaps it was just the knowledge that her rarely spoke of his years overseas that said so very, very much.

I remember the carrier reunions of my youth, wild with conversation between the vets and more than a few drinks consumed, we kids ran wild, missing an opportunity to learn from the war discussions. I never learned anything at these parties, excepting perhaps that these veterans had much joy and sorrow shared, relationships like no other.

Over the years, my father began to share snippets about his active duty stints on the Essex, the Ranger, and the Randolph. Choosing never to climb the ranks, this veteran was in the cockpit, proud to be one of the best aircrew “white hats”. Different ships meant different pilots, training and building the comaraderie that would last a life time, the brotherhood of naval aviators.

My father felt life aboard the wartime carriers was “pretty good”.  As an enlisted aircrew, he didn’t have to stand watch, was paid $60-$90 extra a month for hazardous duty (in 1942), and was primarily off-duty when not on a mission. This all assuming you survived the rigors of war.

Heroes Among Us

My father was one of the lucky ones and fifty years after the war, he was recognized, along with 400 other vets and their wives, as the Yorktown dedicated an Enlisted Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor. This is not just enlisted crew from one war, but from several. If you are an American history buff, a visit to Patriot Point is well advised.

My siblings and I were included in this week of celebration, along with our parents, wartime friends of my father, and the one pilot of his that was still living. My father walked with a cane and oxygen down that aisle to see his engraved name along with others on the honor roll, tears streaming down his cheeks. Many of his buddies never lived for such an honor.

I know where my bravery and courage comes from and this pivotal moment with my father,  I understood. I truly understood. Yes, I’m still a peace-nic and believe in avoiding war at all costs. But in those silent tears, I felt the patriotism, the sorrow, the pain, the loss that was rarely mentioned.

My father protected our country, our rights, our freedoms. In humbly doing what he felt was right, my father quietly protected his family from the atrocities of war. My father believed we didn’t need to know the horror he lived with. At the ceremony, a fellow crewman,  Retired Captain Schultz stated the often heard phrase “Freedom is not free”.  I finally understood.

A plethora of medals, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses, were no longer hidden in his bureau. His flight logs and training maneuvers are kept at my brother’s, who has embraced my father’s military history. My brother recently revisited the Yorktown, a smaller display over the years, but a reminder of what our veterans sacrifice. Much of our father’s history went with him when he passed but we thank him for always protecting US.

Thank you all and may peace be with us all.

#VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #melanomatheskin #Freedomisnotfree

We can-cer vive,

Janis

PS The librarian in me just wants to mention a book that includes my father in it and is a strong depiction of airstrikes in the Pacific during World War II, Crommelin’s Thunderbirds by Lt. Cdr. Roy W. Bruce and Lt. Cdr. Charles R. Leonard

 

Melanoma and Self-Deceit Among Us

Warning! Content is Meant to Scare YOU!

Skin cancer is no big deal, right? I believed this as I continued to love beach days, boat days, and time outside from the moment I was born until a few years ago. I truly thought that I would never have skin cancer and if I did, it could just be removed in the doctor office and back to the beach we go!

Another melanoma excision, May 2017.

Metastatic melanoma is deadly; more than that, the things we cancer patients go through should be enough to scare everyone out of the sun. Multiple surgeries, embarrassing spot checks with a group of dermatologists, knowledgeable oncologists recommending radiation to live, and choosing to be part of a clinical trial as there is no known cure for this disease. Does any of that freak you out?

Ignorance is Bliss

I’m hoping it does! It’s not me wishing you any of what’s become my norm, NONE OF IT! What I’ve noticed is that ignorance is bliss when it comes to melanoma. There is some sort of selective hearing; mostly, I find the family and friends can’t deal. I never preach, I never tell others what to do. I think I might be the poster child for what can go wrong and  people don’t want to be reminded.

I still go to the beach, I still love the beach. Sanctuary, balance, and peace are found listening to the surf, watching the waves. I do it differently now. Beyond the usual sunscreen,  I wear SPF clothing. If sitting, I keep moving position even though I’m under an umbrella. Yes, I even have a shade tent. I PACK…for the beach.

Still my happy place but with modifications.

Sounds a bit much?  This is life with melanoma. I tend to go to the beach for walks now versus the day. Cloudy days are my favorite. I check the UV index often, not out of paranoia but I consider it knowledge for my day. My love of boating is painfully not fulfilled any more. Spot checks and clinical trial fatigue are the norm.

Melanoma, Normal-No-More

Does this sound extreme?  This is nothing compared to what I and others been through at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This is my life, no complaints as I’m so very happy to be here! Whether patient like Kevin S. Anderson who believed his melanoma was one and done, or me learning to live differently with the hope of many more years, lessons about skin cancer are costly.

Life changing forever, melanoma is now part of me. While I am disease free (YES!), cancer brings a whole new mind set and melanoma a whole new lifestyle. Please consider what you can do to incorporate sun safety into your life.  Sensible measures may save you from life altering melanoma.

Read about melanoma. Educate yourself about melanoma. Be afraid, be sun shy. Stay alive! And thanks for signing up to follow my blog! I love to hear from you in the comments!

We can-cer vive!

Janis

#melanomatheskin   #cancer  #sunsmart  #sunsavvy365 #melanoma

Vote Early, Vote Often

***I’ve decided to post this again. Infusion last week, fatigue this week. Please vote, whatever you believe in! It’s how democracy works! Elections matter!

Feeling the Blow

I’m already breaking a political promise; I vowed this blog wouldn’t get into my political beliefs. So like all those running for office, not all promises are kept! You see sometimes life changes our platforms, whether we approve or not! I’ve voted and hope you participate on November 6th if not before. I’d love to hear your thoughts on politics, voting, or cancer. Comments are encouraged and discussion most welcome!

After years of great health, I was dealt the first melanoma blow in 2015.  Determined not to have it be a knock out, I came back fighting. Until things didn’t feel right to me again, a facial excision left an area tender; my old boxing injury I joked. Except  something wasn’t right and I needed to believe in myself, to fight.

The Main Event (Round Two)

Doctors didn’t believe me and so time went by; we cancer patients have a love-hate relationship with time. (We want more of it, though hate it when it means waiting on test results). Finally, I requested a biopsy; metastatic melanoma again and recommendations that we now go to the medical epi-center of Boston, Dana Farber Cancer Institute being our choice. I was in the big ring now.

I’ve mentioned my cancer before and will again, but not in the context of politics. I could be the poster child for pre-existing conditions. My skin, like yours, holds onto its history; its damage, whether it be sun or other sources is pre-existing. My metastatic melanoma could have happened as a child, or just a few years ago. It’s been two hard punches to the left side of my face.

So, my pre-existing condition just may have been lurking for years, waiting for the optimum conditions to let cancer, medical diagnosis, doctors and dermatologists, become the new normal in my life. I’ve always listened to my physical being, but we cancer patients feel we’re caught cold when going another round. Pre-existing, why yes I am!

Saved By The Bell

Think pre-existing conditions aren’t relevant to you? Yes, I gratefully thought that previous to 2015. I agree that we want to cultivate hope and inspiration, not worry about the what-ifs that can drag us down with a one-two punch.  And any given day, you may be in a bout for your life, for your medical treatment.

Insurance discussion is a constant in our home, at our table now. I’m the lucky one because we have insurance to cover my clinical trial drug for now. At some point, we are going to make a decision on insurance expenses and/or treatment. Decisions are regularly made by people who can’t afford insurance premiums. Long before my health issues, I was deeply affected by those I love making tough life choices based on medical expense.

We Are The Champions

So, yeah! Vote early, vote often, but whatever you do vote! We’ve all fallen to the canvas a few times, all taken a few sucker punches. Life is like that. However you vote, at least you’re making a decision to participate, to get up and fight for what you believe in. An outcome, the decision, will be heard; if you vote, you’ve put it out there, given it your best shot!

Contenders, all of us, with our concerns and passions. Believe in yourself, have courage, and stay in the ring. There has never been a more important time to fill out a ballot. Voting is super easy and vitally important. I’ve taken to voting absentee; bringing the ballot home to research the questions and candidates more closely. Vote, vote, vote for what matters to you on November 6th (and wear your sunscreen;).

Next time, I promise not to talk politics. “And if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge…”!

#melanomatheskin #vote #melanoma #cancer #sunsavvy365 #Tuesdaythoughts #election

We can-cer vive!

Janis

Daylight Savings Ends Sunday; 23 Free Things To Do After Dark

Melanoma patients have to be sun shy. Does it mean I stay inside and watch the world go by? Hell, no! Modification is key to living the best life you can. Sun-safe habits are important and now integrated into my day. But have you considered night time in your plan? In the summer, that may be crucial to avoiding high noon sun time; as we fall back to end daylight savings for this year, we have a lot of darkness to consider!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

Okay so evening is not my strong suit. Immunotherapy drags me through my days and by the evening, I am weary from this new lifestyle. That being said, consider taking a rest during the day so you might be able to do a few of these things at night:

1. Walking is great and going for an evening stroll means you don’t have to worry about UV ratings. Wear what works depending on the season.
2. Nighttime gives us a completely different perspective. Enhance your other senses by using them! Allow your visual overload to relax, let the sounds of the night be your focus. Or your sense of smell, touch, or taste…have your bedtime snack outside by the fire!
3. Dress for the weather, bugs, snow, or whatever!

The Skies Have It

Consider your season and what you can do to get out after dark. Weather needs to be considered.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric on Pexels.com

Photo by Sourav Mishra on Pexels.com

Spring might mean:

4.  Walking in the rain.

5.  Night crawler-ing!

6. Considering the changes that come with this season but from the darkness.

7. Meditating outside.

8. Trying some yoga poses.

 Summer has great potential with:

9. Observing the end of day flights and songs of birds.

10. Watching lightning bugs (early July here in the Northeast).

11. Moonlight bike rides or canoe paddling, often offered via community calendars.

12. Slip, slop, slap and wrap as needed and go on that sunset cruise.

13. Step out for an ice cream, theater, or movie.

14. This meteor show, the Perseid Shower is a spectacular summer show. Seeing 5 meteors before 9:30 pm reminded me what a sight this is to enjoy.

Fall Brings Options Including:

15. Tell stories and have a bonfire. Read a passage from a favorite book.

16. Avoid light pollution when possible and actively observe the constellations changing as some such as Orion come marching back for winter viewing.

17. Space. com is a great resource for sky information and be sure to read the dates for the Geminid Meteor Shower, the brightest of the year in mid December.

18. When the moon is close to full or full, it creates a lot of light, so star viewing is not as crisp. Those naturally bright nights are a great time to find your way around outside and get adventuring.

19. Got leaves?! Make a pile away from tree, plop into your pile, and just look up. On a clear, chilly night the smells of Autumn along with night sky clarity will have you awestruck with the magnitude of beauty.

And Then, There’s Winter:

Isn’t it easy to hunker down and avoid the brrrrrr of it all? Push yourself each day to find pleasure in the night. Winter may be the most challenging; I know it is for me. The lack of light with daylight savings is abysmal. My best remedy is to get out, so gear up and do it. The winter nights are long and breaking up the doldrums might include:

20. Shoveling-Ha, you laugh. It’s a never ending project in the winter and why not chip away at it for a bit? Aches and pains are a reality with my clinical trial but I figure moving beats the alternative.

21. Reflection from the moon is intense during the coldest months. Dress for the weather, let the cold steal your breath away, and go for a walk, snowshoe, or cross country ski. It needn’t be long but that fresh air will give you inspiration!

22. Clear nights are perfect for stargazing. It’s cold out there so bundle up, grab your lounger lawn chair (it saves on neck discomfort), or lay down in a snowbank. Look up, look up!

22. Bright nights might mean building a snowman or decorating snowbanks with food coloring and water in a squirt bottle. Silly is okay because laughing is good for the soul and healing.

23. On a snowy night, step out and listen to the snow on your jacket, feel the wind, and stick your tongue out. Sometimes, it’s good to just know you are alive!

Finding Light In The Darkness

Modification is key to enjoying life when dealing with melanoma and other cancers. There are good days and bad days. There is pain, sadness, and loss. What do you do to find pleasure, even if you can’t be in the sun? What would you do if you could play after dark? Please do comment and add your suggestions!

Gift yourself moments like these; hope is found here. Build your new life knowing you have disease and create balance with the best moments. Cancer patients have challenges and those with melanoma have sun safety concerns.

After-dark adventures needn’t be long or complicated. Plan ahead, know the weather, and smile. Learn when the crickets chirp, when the moon phases are this month, and when that outdoor concert will be held.  Courage comes in small doses and moonshine provides inspiration!

We can-cer vive!

Janis

#melanomatheskin #cancer #melanoma #slipslopslapandwrap #naturalskinrocks #moonshine #daylightsavings  #timechange #Fridayfeelings