We sure had a lot of fun tubing down the river in the 60's & 70's didn't we? Now we get to pay for all those sunburns (and I got some doozies). I've had two skin cancers removed and I get checked at least once a year by the Dermatologist.
Also, I had a Grandmother who had colon cancer and other family history so they had me start having colonoscopies at 40. I think I just had my 6th in November.
Had a little accident (they forget we don't wear pads) while officiating a high school football game in '07 & had to have my rotator cuff repaired in Mar.'08. It's finally back to about 100% now.
I'm amazed at how many of you ladies became nurses. Our oldest son was thinking in that direction before he decided on becoming the computer genius he is now. I'm glad he made that decision. He's my computer doctor.
You can count on Ed's and my prayers as well, for a complete recovery for your son. So glad it was caught early, and he's out of school for the chemo. Hopefully he'll be up and running by the time school starts in the fall. Ed and I get our colonoscopies routinely for preventive measures too.
I've probably had more skin cancers than most. I quit counting at #15. Mine is cumlative from my youth (swim team at Tempe Beach), & sunbathing with no SPF. I also have a Swedish heritage (blue eyes and fair skin) so am more prone. I've had it on my face, arm, back, chest, shoulder, and legs. I found most of them myself and get a yearly exams to keep on top of it, so no worries.
After reading about everything from up periscopes and skin cancer, I wonder how I've escaped all those fun things.
I've had stuff happen - a car accident in Dec. 69 left me with a painful lower back, so I started practicing yoga in 1978 and this turned out to be the cure for a lot of small ailments. I still practice and I used to teach it.
Then I started studying oriental medicine and now I practice qigong, which is exercise that induces chi flow in the body. I've studied with a qigong grand master and can do quite a few medical qigong exercises. They've helped my allergies, among other things.
I never had allergies by the way until I got contact lenses in the mid 70s. I had to get hard lenses and the soaking solution had something in it that made me allergic to everything with a vengence. I was miserable for years and tried every natural thing around - bee pollen worked the best, but the results were erratic. Qigong practice has pretty much ended my allergies.
The one thing I have learned about cancer from studying oriental medicine is that cancer cells get started when protein unbinds inside a cell. What the practice of qigong does is to keep the protein from unbinding. This is the finding of the NIH, and not me. Worth thinking about...
Thought I'd weigh in on the skin cancer front. My Nordic complexion (Swedish/Norwegian) has been no match for the Arizona sun. I had my first melanoma cut off around 1978. After a years chemotherapy and 100,000 units of vitamin A daiy (for a year), I am still kicking. I had a 2nd melanoma cut off last year, but required no special after care. When I walked into my Dermatologist's office and he looked at me, he ran out and bought a new Lexus! After heving many spots cut and frozen off I moved to Happy Jack when I retired. I am still outside in the sun most days, but can wear more clothes to cover up.
Thats a good place Don. My sisters have had a Horse Ranch in Payson for the last 20 years. I usually go through there during Holidays. Before I got Horses I used to run from Vegas to Payson often to go riding. I have always admired Happy Jack.
Thought I'd weigh in on the skin cancer front. My Nordic complexion (Swedish/Norwegian) has been no match for the Arizona sun. I had my first melanoma cut off around 1978. After a years chemotherapy and 100,000 units of vitamin A daiy (for a year), I am still kicking. I had a 2nd melanoma cut off last year, but required no special after care. When I walked into my Dermatologist's office and he looked at me, he ran out and bought a new Lexus! After heving many spots cut and frozen off I moved to Happy Jack when I retired. I am still outside in the sun most days, but can wear more clothes to cover up.
Ok Larry here is the scoop on the Bose 501's. I regret having to inform you that the aformentioned 501's are no more. I managed a tremendous amount of joy from the pair. Sometime around 1995 or so, I spent an entire day recessitating them. As I managed to toast the material that supports the metal cones (most likely due to way to much Allman Bros.), I decided to replace it. Having been a 'mechanical insulator' for 17 years prior, I took some rubber insulation and glued donuts on them. I got a few more years of some grand rock and roll out of them. Sadly, I had to retire them a couple years ago. I'm sorry to break this sad news. I had hoped to tell you in person, but finaly decided that the time was right.
I guess that qualifies as a medical experience. My heart is saddened, though. But what about the Marantz 1060? It's still going strong, right? Right? No, don't tell me it 'amped' out on ZZ Tops or rap or . . . Celine Dion. Don!
Better get back to aches and pains so everyone else can continue to enjoy this thread. Hey, I ever tell you about this ingrown hair I have that . . .
Hi Don!
Nice to hear from you. I'm sorry to hear about all the problems you have had with the melanoma, but glad that you got the medical attention. I'm glad you popped in to chat with us!
Carol
Bill,
Why do you have your dermatologist do your colonoscopy?
Has anyone else heard of or have 'Alien Hand Syndrome?' I was diagnosed with it this year. When the episode occurred I thought I was in the Twilight Zone. For a period of a few minutes, my brain and my body did not recognize my right arm and hand. It is a actual diagnosis. I had brain MRIs done and all were normal. I have only had the one episode. If you look it up on the internet, you will see that others with the syndrome have major problems with their alien hand hurting them and breaking things.
There was a day when I wish my hand had checked out on me. I put a bullet (32 Auto jacketed hollow point) through my left hand years ago when an old friend (Harold Straub) told me to 'pull the trigger'. It was the typical unloaded gun. If that wasn't bad enough, when the Tempe paramedics arrived, they had a lot of laughs at my expense. While one of them was wrapping my hand in bandages, I asked him why I wasn't going into shock. He replied 'look around you, somebody had to keep their wits about them'. My wife and Harold Straub completely freaked out on me. Also, don't ever believe it doesn't hurt when you are shot. Worst of all though, the injury really took a major toll on my already lousy golf game. I had 5 surgeries on my hand the following year, and have pretty good use of it today. The day of the incident, I was putting the finishing touches on an O.S.H.A. safety course I was to teach the following day. Sweet Irony.
I participated in a research study for older guys at the University of Washington, where they take unwanted ear hair and transplant it to bald spots on heads. Unfortunately, my transplants didn't take. But I hear a lot better!
I've never heard of alien hand syndrome, but I'm curious to know more. I will visit the website and see what I can learn. Is it a brain/body disconnect of some sort?
