September 20, 2005
Putting It Off
Tropical Flowers Taken at the Maunaloa Macadamia Nut farm near Hilo Hawaii
"Hoku, I have to find a doctor. This patch on my arm is getting worse..." I have noticed it and remarked upon it for months but the journey seemed to make putting off the dermatologists visit pretty easy... So today we found a local man and made the appointment. Woody has had dozens of tiny cancers taken off of his face and arms, neck and back. This fair skinned green eyed man has spent his life in the sun... As a tiny child in tropical Panama, his birthplace, then hundreds of afternoons playing on play grounds, then coaching on those same playgrounds as a parks and recreation director. Golf, life on California's High Desert and now three years in the burning Kona Sun have left his skin a mess. He's unconcerned.
Im as bad as he is. I have not had medical insurance since 2002, so it becomes a great excuse to avoid annual exams and the dreaded momogram...(one was enough, I was bruised and sore for a month and am so large that Im unsure that it matters or not.) I check myself out, and things have been ok...
Until now... maybe
About a month ago I notice a irritation behind my left ear. Hey, its my phone ear and Ive been on the phone a lot...Well four weeks later its the size of a elongated golfball and is heading into my scalp. It hurts all of the time now, and is not a skin related issue. This is deep deep under the skin, and the nurse at the dematologist's nurse said to get into a ear nose and throat doctor ASAP.
With all of the cancer in my family, I was dumb to wait this long, but I figured it was only an infection, and it maght well be. But the look on that ladies face unnerved me. I have a number for a doctor to maybe see tomorrow. Unlike Hawaii, where it was hard to see any professional (doctor, dentist) on a cash basis, people seem to be open to it here and I am glad. I am going to do my best to not put this off.
I will report in and let you all know what is going on
PS I wont be seeing a doctor untill 9-22. Everyone is booked solid and this man is in surgery the next two days but wants to work me in on his first office day. Thanks be to God.
