DON'T MESS AROUND WITH IT!!

It was on February 2, 2003 when I first went to see about the painful "lump" on my left forearm. It was actually the first time I had really genuinely considered the possibility that it might be something serious. By this time, it was really more than a lump. But, not unlike many of us who think it can't or won't happen to us, I had convinced myself that it was another lipoma, a relatively common and harmless mass of fatty tissue. After all, I had several others, and had even seen a doctor about one probably two decades before. So I had discounted this one as the same, ignoring the fact that it was painful and continuing to grow and even interfering with some muscular functions. It was a classic case of being in denial. It was because of my family's insistence that I gave in after repeatedly putting it off and made an appointment to see about it.

Even heading into the doctor's office, I still felt no real fear about it. That, however, was about to change. After a quick examination of the arm, I immediately sensed a sobering urgency as the doctor wasted no time in ordering x-rays. Suddenly, for the first time, it occurred to me that this growth in my arm just below my elbow really might be something like cancer. This was the moment of truth for me. And it was terrifying. There in the radiology waiting area, unbeknown to my wife, my mind was flooded by thoughts and fears. A question dominated my thoughts, appearing over and over and drowning out everything else -- "Young man, if this turns out to be cancer, just how are you going to apologize to your family for not seeing about this earlier?" I can only imagine what Helen was going through at the same time.

The next couple of weeks were a blur of activity -- scheduling, traveling, appointments, scans, biopsies, more appointments --and, as they say, the rest is history. Our battle with cancer had begun. Living in the world of cancer and being around hundreds of people touched by it, I have learned many things about cancer and life since that day. One is blatantly obvious to me. It is more than a slogan: Early detection is so important. Men are notorious for being "too strong" to see a doctor. Most of us live in denial and think we are immune to such things. I never went to the doctor about anything unless I had no other choice. It could have cost me my life. I waited way too long to see about my arm. Go see about that lump. Find out about that unexplainable pain. Don't mess around with it. Do it now. Do it for the ones you love.