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My column last week on
cancer really seems to have struck a cord with
many of you. I had the largest number of emails on
that column of any I have done in the past seven years.
What is especially interesting is, that with a few
exceptions, most of the folks who emailed me did not
post any comments on the Bulletin Board.
There could be many reasons for that of course, but
it reminded me of a situation some years ago with a
dear friend in Montana. This gentleman is a rancher
and owns a great deal of land. That's measured in
sections, not acres. Anyway, he was gone for a week
or so. We had no idea where he was, and his family
wasn't saying. Eventually he showed up at the house,
and said he had open heart surgery in Vancouver,
British Columbia. Since he wasn't Canadian, we thought
it a bit odd. He 'confessed' he had gone to a private
hospital in Canada because he didn't want his bankers
to know he was having heart surgery. He was afraid
they would call in his loans if the bankers thought
he was in bad health.
At my age, I am hopefully past the stage in my life
where vanity might influence whether I have a particular
surgery or not (at least on my face) but I do understand
wanting to keep ones medical condition private. I went
public in the hope of getting folks to check themselves
for sun-caused cancers - and beyond that - getting an
annual physical exam.
I remember all too well when some friends, and former
students of ours in Michigan came out to visit and fish
the west. They spent a few days in Yellowstone National
Park, and then came up to the ranch in Wilsall, Montana
to spend some time with us. We were shocked when they
came to the door. Both were badly sunburned and wind
burned to the extent their lips were blistered! High
altitude, lack of pollution and beautiful sunny days
were all contributing factors. As I recall I slobbered
them both up with Aloe from my house plant which at
least took the pain out of it. I don't think I've
ever been that sunburned and fear they will have skin
cancer problems in the future too.
How many times have you seen someone steelhead fishing
in the winter with just a head band on? Just because
the sun is lower in the sky doesn't mean the rays are
that much safer! Skiers know the dangers - and they
use sunscreen!
Just to keep my husband, Castwell, and my doctor happy,
I've ordered a new fishing hat. This one is from Tilley,
sort of like an Australian Out Back hat, but it's
breathable, with a ventilated crown, and the dark
underneath the wide brim. Should keep the sun off
my face, but I will use the BullFrog sunscreen too,
SPF50.
Thanks for the many phone calls and emails wishing me
well with my little problem, the wonderful posts to
"get well quick" on the Bulletin Board, and especially
to the medical professionals who posted on the
Cancer Screening
topic on the Bulletin Board. If you haven't read that,
please do. It's important.
We fly out on Wednesday the 11th of February from SeaTac
airport to Houston, Texas, to Miami, Florida and on to
Nassau, Bahamas. We'll stay at the Crystal Palace and
fly on to South Andros Thursday on the afternoon flight.
We are taking the new laptop - so unless there is a
major disaster - I will put up a new issue next
Sunday at midnight from beautiful Emerald Palms,
S. Andros, Bahamas.
Wish you were going with us - but I promise to catch a fish just for you!
~ The LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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