I started this year with a list of things to do as I approach the age of 40.
Retirement Plan? My friend and financial advisor Dean Vetsikas is on it.
Will? My friend and lawyer James Bainbridge just sent it to me.
Physical? My doctors say that I should lose some weight, but otherwise things are great after a few bumpy years.
Dermatologist? The dermatologist. I just couldn't bring myself to make an appointment to see a dermatologist. The sun-loving women in my life are seemingly always waiting for pathology results regarding irregular moles. My physician friends tried to recommend a colleague known for her Manolo Blahniks. I even posted a Wall Street Journal article imploring that high-risk indviduals get annual full-body skin cancer scans. I was rattled.
But when melanoma came back to a good family friend, I made the call. The usual suspects told me how invasive the visit would be. They described how I'd leave with bandages. I was not excited about my potential experience. They could not have been more wrong.
Dr. Edward "Ned" Ryan is a thoughtul physician who uses dictation and technology to map skin imperfections on his patients' bodies. He was excited by my lack of moles, but agreed that my fair skin and mountain of freckles made me succeptible to skin cancer. He was glad to hear that I so often fish in long sleeves, pants, shoes, a hat, and sunglasses. The best news: He didn't find anything suspicisous and looked forward to seeing me next summer.
That was the best 20 minutes of my week. Why will you visit your dermatologist? Let us know when you do. #TeamIHateCancer