Helga and her family.
With the warmer weather on its way and Memorial Day weekend kicking off the beach/lake/pool season comes the threat of melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Helga, a mom of two daughters, ages 6 1/2 and 9, shares her story on finding out she had melanoma and what happened next. Plus, advice from Breezy Mama go-to dermatologist, Dr. Vi on treatment, prevention and more.
How was your melanoma discovered? A routine check? A suspicious looking mole you discovered and had a dermatologist look at?
I was Read More…
Emily in the Oncology playroom the day she's admitted to CHOC.
If you read my piece on my son getting Swine Flu, you know that it takes a lot to freak me out. Well, I guess fate decided to test me, because the day that story posted, I was told that my nine-month-old daughter, Emily, had a mass in her abdomen, which could very likely be a cancerous tumor. It was time for me to freak. –Alex
It all Began. . .
I took Emily to her nine month appointment on a Thursday and put her on the scale like I always do. She had only gained three ounces since her six month appointment. I knew she was small, but didn’t think much about it, and never realized that she wasn’t gaining any weight at all. Her pediatrician, Dr. Conti, was very concerned. He proceeded to examine her, and spent extra time palpating her stomach. Again, I didn’t think much about it. Dr. Conti went and got Dr. Carruth, who normally sees Emily, telling me he wanted Dr. Carruth to feel her stomach as well. Dr. Carruth orders a blood test to be done, and I’m thinking something must be wrong with her intestines, which is causing her to not gain weight. Dr. Carruth says the blood test will confirm if there’s Read More…
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