About 5 1/2 years ago, in April 2003, I received news that changed my life forever: I was diagnosed with melanoma.
It all started in November 2002. My partner Eric and I were sitting in our family room, watching TV and cuddling with our cats Mulder and Tabby. My feet were up on the ottoman. Eric looked over at me and remarked, "What's that on your foot?"
On the bottom of my foot was a small purplish mark, what Eric described as something that looked like a blood blister. We kept an eye on the mark and when it didn't go away and, in fact, grew larger, I went to the doctor who recommended excising the lesion. I agreed to do so and in April 2003, I went under the scalpel and had the lesion removed. Five days later, my doctor called with the news that the lesion had tested positive for melanoma.
I was shocked yet grateful for many reasons. Shocked to find out that I had cancer at the age of 39. Grateful because Eric had spotted the lesion and mentioned it to me. Truth be told, had he not spotted the lesion, it's most likely that I would not be typing this post right now. You see, the lesion was on the bottom of what is a club foot. A foot that has undergone numerous surgeries over the years. One surgery, back in the late 1960s/early 1970s, involved the fusion of my ankle. Because my ankle is fused, I cannot see the bottom of my foot without the aid of a mirror. Had Eric not spotted the lesion and mentioned it to me, who knows how long it would have been before I learned of the lesion's existence.
I was fortunate because the melanoma was in its very earliest stages. No further treatment, no radiation, no chemo, was needed. Nonetheless, finding out that I had cancer gave me a much needed kick in the ass. I began reflecting on my life and the dreams I had forgotten or neglected. Key among those dreams was writing.
So I decided to pursue my writing anew and what a whirlwind it has been! I enrolled in Rosemont College's new MFA in creative writing program, graduating in May 2007. I had a few stories published, wrote a play and a novel, and got a freelance job as an arts and entertainment journalist for Edge Publications. It's been lots of had work yet incredibly gratifying. At last, that longtime dream of being a writer is reality.
Flash forward to July 2004. I was out in Las Vegas for my brother's wedding. While there, I bonded with my brother's longtime best friend and his wife. One night, we ran into each other in a mall and went to get something to drink and snack on in a dessert cafe. It was an amazing experience to bond with them and to share with them my experience and how it changed my life.
Flash forward to September 2008. Last night, I had a call from my aforementioned brother who filled me in on the latest happenings in his life. He then shared some news about his friend. A few months ago, his friend went in for a haircut and his barber noticed a mark on his head, right by his hairline. My brother's friend went to his doctor and soon got the news that he has melanoma. I was floored when my brother told me this, stunned by the irony and humbled by the fact that my cancer was caught early. You see, unlike me, my brother's friend didn't get good news. He is in stage 4, the final stage of melanoma. My heart breaks for him, for his family, for his friends. And I feel incredibly grateful that I was given a second chance at life, humbled anew by the chances given me.
