Page 140 - The Freckled Eye - Book

That's why going to the doctor is so important. Even when you feel nothing seems
wrong. You need to create a base line for your body, so that you and your doctors
know what’s normal for you. I remember mom always saying your body is a chemistry
set. Everyone's is different and she was right. That's why having yearly blood tests, a
full eye checkup and overall health screening every year is so important. It's all about
establishing a base line for "your" body.

Had I followed that advice, I'd have known about the moles in my eyes a lot earlier,
which would have answered some of the doctors early questions. We would have been
able to save several month of waiting. Time is of the essence with cancer. Catching it
as fast as possible can mean the difference in life and death.

By the way, I did say moles. I have moles in both my eyes. Luckily, the mole in my left
eye is fine, for now. But I’ll have to watch it, for the rest of my life. At least we have a
base line on it now and if anything changes with it, will know right away, since I’ll be
closely monitored for the next 10 years.
Dr. Phan had told me that my eye melanoma had nothing to do with not wearing
sunglasses, but I'm going to protect my eyes no matter what.

As a young kid and even into adulthood, I never really wore UV protected
sunglasses. I’d sun burnt my eyes over the years, not to mention my skin. I should
have taken better care of myself overall. But here I was, and there’s nothing I can do
but move forward. All I can say is, do the best you can to keep your body in balance
and in the best possible health you can (especial through your mid-life age), as soon as
you can.