Roger
May 30, 2003, 12:34 PM
All of my life I’ve enjoyed working outdoors. Early on I did construction work, and later I switched to professional gardening. Last year, when I was diagnosed with melanoma on my face, I realized that I was paying a high price for all those years of working in the sun. (No, I didn’t wear a hat and I thought sunscreen was for sissies.)
I thought the surgery was bad but assumed that was it. I had heard of lymphedema because my wife’s friend has it. However, I assumed it was something that happened to women after breast cancer treatment. When my face and neck started swelling I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. I got a diagnosis, but getting treatment has been tough.
I have a lifelong interest in photography and I used to climb mountains just for the thrill of getting a really great shot of the distance. I must say, I got some really good pictures; however, lately climbing isn’t as easy as it used to be, so I’ve switched to close-up photography. I’m enclosing one of my favorite pictures in this new category. That butterfly stayed still just long enough for me to capture him on film!
I thought the surgery was bad but assumed that was it. I had heard of lymphedema because my wife’s friend has it. However, I assumed it was something that happened to women after breast cancer treatment. When my face and neck started swelling I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. I got a diagnosis, but getting treatment has been tough.
I have a lifelong interest in photography and I used to climb mountains just for the thrill of getting a really great shot of the distance. I must say, I got some really good pictures; however, lately climbing isn’t as easy as it used to be, so I’ve switched to close-up photography. I’m enclosing one of my favorite pictures in this new category. That butterfly stayed still just long enough for me to capture him on film!