cancer

Gentlemen; get your check up.

/ antonioyrocinante / Leave a comment

Gentlemen, when was the last time you had a check up?

For me it had been a couple of years. I am not a fan of the American health care system (what system?), so I kept postponing my check up until I could do it for “free” in Spain.

I like to think that I take care of myself; try to eat healthy, do some sort of exercise almost every day, all that stuff, so I was not expecting any surprises…

But my blood test told a different story: my PSA level was a bit higher than it should be for my age group.

The PSA is the level that points to your prostate health. I had to find a urologist who then did two different tests, then an MRI scan, and eventually a biopsy. Needless to say, it is all a bit stressful.

Fortunately, the final results came in all clean, but we do have to keep an eye on my numbers with yearly check ups.

Of course, the scary bit is the word Cancer. So if you want to avoid the stress of having that word keeping you up at night, get your check up. You are welcome.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PanCAN

/ antonioyrocinante / 1 Comment

Luciano Pavarotti, Steve Jobs, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Aretha Franklin, Patrick Swayze, Joan Crawford, Dizzy Gillespie, Alex Trebek. What do these people have in common with my father?

They all died of pancreatic cancer.

My father died in 2015, so when an opportunity arose a few months ago to volunteer at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PanCAN, I signed up.

The purpose of PanCAN is to help folks with pancreatic cancer. We sponsor researchers and doctors, clinical studies, and then we help divulge the findings and help patients:

Our mission is to take bold action to improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer by advancing scientific research, building community, sharing knowledge, and advocating for patients.

PanCan Mission Statement

PanCAN’s main event is a 5k fundraising event held across the US on the 29th of April. There was a lot of preparation involved in organizing the event. I drove to the Burt Aaronson Park in Boca Raton on the Friday before the event to help set up.

I returned on Saturday to see thousands of people signed up to do the walk -and more importantly, to fundraise. The event was an enormous success. I spent all morning running around getting this, helping with that, bringing something to someone, setting it up, breaking down, cheering walkers, staffing the Photo Booth, etc. it was exhausting but extremely rewarding!

I cannot wait to start helping with next year’s walk!

Oh, if I have inspired you to donate or to explore this further, click here! Thanks!

The awesome band!

Public Service Announcement (PSA): Wear a hat and sunscreen (and a shirt)!!

/ antonioyrocinante / Leave a comment
The spot comes off

 “Out, damned spot”

Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Shakespeare

As they say: with great power comes great responsibility, since I have the powerful platform that is my blog, it is my job to tell you to wear a hat and sunscreen when the sun is out – and sometimes also when it is cloudy – oh, and a shirt.

You see, I recently noticed a not very nice looking spot on my schnoz, snout, smeller, horn, sneezer, nose. It grew and grew to the point where I had to do something about it.

I sent a photo to my sister who has a dear friend dermatologist Dra. Isabel Aldanondo, who told me it could be actinic keratosis, which can turn into cancer, and should get it looked at Stateside…

So, I searched for a dermatologist close to home and booked an appointment.

Dr. Nielsen is one of the nicest doctors I can remember dealing with. He listens, he explains things, he manages the small talk, and then he grabbed his ice gun and froze my spot: let it go, let it go, and it went – well, after falling off, getting a crust and have that fall off, and finally healing! I recommend Dr. Nielsen without reservations, he and his staff are professional, attentive, courteous, gentle and just overall nice.

In conclusion: use sunscreen, wear a hat, and when possible a shirt, and check your body for weird looking new spots.

You are welcome.