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| 25 years ago, at about this time of year, while anxious over finishing my Ph.D, the irregularity that I thought was pimple did not go way after a few days. Over the course of a few weeks, I tried to ignore it, but it called out to be checked every day. During this time, it did not seem to change much, but one day's change was not readily perceptible. Then my friends began to ask me if I had bumped my head. This told me two things.... |
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1) This was not a pimple. and 2) It was growing. |
| After a few days of denial, I took a close look at the new unwelcome visitor. The growth was painless. I could pinch my forehead near the temple and roll the nodule below the layer of skin. The size was about that of an English pea. It seemed to have a hard center with softer coating. Clearly something was not right, and it was expanding. |
| This was before Google and WebMD. My family had very little history of cancer. Most of my relatives died when their Southern diets slowly closed their coronary arteries usually sometime after 70. I was had recently turned 26, was obese, but in general good health. I had recently learned to swim, and this was beginning an exercise program. The last time I was a patient in the hospital was when I had my tonsils out at 3 years old. I had no major diseases save those common to most children: allergies, chicken pox, colds, etc. After a few agonizing days, I decided to it was time to see a doctor. |
| Stay tuned for more of the story. |
| (Cancer Chronicles is a series of status updates that account the events of 25 years ago when I went through a bought with cancer. Its purposes are multi-fold: catharsis, education, information, celebration, etc. ) |
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