Why am I eating eggs?

I had eggs down on my shopping list, because I decided I should eat them more than once a week (when we go to Sunday brunch).  But now I can't remember why I'm supposed to eat them more often.  Oh- I found it--the yolk has carotenoid, the same substance that's found in deep yellow/orange fruits and orange and dark vegetables.  And that may help prevent development and growth of melanoma.  Which is why I bought a mango (deep yellow); tried to buy apricots but realized I have no idea what they look like, or whether stores even sell them fresh; had broccoli last night and will have carrots tonight.  Not to mention rosemary (somewhere someone said something about herbs and preventing melanoma).  And purple grapes and red wine (for the resveratrol, which may inhibit formation of melanoma).

I had a stomach ache this morning--not sure if it was something I ate yesterday, or anxiety over my impending surgery, or both or neither.  I was worried about teaching yoga feeling that way--unlike an office job, where you can still function when you don't feel well, yoga requires one to be "on"--guiding the practice, demonstrating poses, answering questions.  I took a Pepto Bismol and was fine for the class--felt very comfortable, in fact.

Maybe it's my body adjusting to more fruit, or different fruits.  Melons!

It's all right, Ma

My son asked me today how I was feeling about the surgery and everything.  I thanked him for asking; it gave me an invitation to speak slightly openly about my fears and concerns.  I said I was more curious than concerned about the surgery--how much beyond the cancerous splotch will they cut out; what kind of would closure will they opt for--open, stitches or skin graft.  But I said I was focused more on the future--since the research says once someone gets melanoma they're likely to have it elsewhere.  I said I was researching what I could do to prevent future occurrences, to the extent that prevention is possible at this point.  Hence the focus on diet--eating the melons and grape in the fruit medly that comes with our Mexican food, for example, instead of the pineapples and strawberries (I can't eat everything).  And I mentioned that I'm wearing a stronger sunscreen on my face.  But I also said I look at all the spots on my skin and wonder which ones might become cancerous.  I don't really know how much he took in, and I stopped before I started to sound to obsessive and worried.  But I was glad he asked.

A whiter shade of pale?

I use Neutrogena spf 55 for my sunscreen, at my dermatologist's recommendation.  But I've been using CeraVe a.m on my face (also at her recommendation).  CeraVe contains ceramides, which are supposed to be good for the skin, and is available at drug stores for around $15--quite a bargain compared to the expensive department store products.  But CeraVe a.m. doesn't say it's broad spectrum, so I thought I needed to switch to something that would block both UVA and UVB rays.  (According to Wikipedia, UVA rays can increase the rate of melanoma--and many sunscreens do not block UVA rays.)

CeraVe has a new facial sunscreen product that's SPF 50 (CeraVe a.m. is SPF 30) and the tube says it's a broad spectrum sunscreen.  I'm looking at the two products side by side--the difference is that CeraVe sunscreen face lotion has more zinc oxide (4.7% vs 3.5% for a.m.) and also has titanium dioxide; CeraVe a.m. does not have titanium dioxide.

According to WebMD, the following ingredients protect against the melanoma-causing UVA rays:  ecamsule, avobenzone, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  (Neutrogena has avobenzone.)  So the CeraVe sunscreen face lotion has better  UVA protection than CeraVe a.m.  I tried the sunscreen face lotion this morning--I looked like I was making up to be in a Noh drama--I got that "ghostly white" look that one website said used to be a problem, but no longer was with newer versions of products containing zinc oxide.  Oops, they were wrong.  The CeraVe instructions on the back of the tube say the product "...spreads easily and dries with a clear finish..."  Clear white, that is.

I'm not giving up on the CeraVe sunscreen--I really like CeraVe products.  And if the sunscreen face lotion helps protect against (more) melanoma, then I'll just have to look a bit ghostly.

They drink ouzo, don't they?

The Mediterranean diet--that's what one web site says can help prevent cancer.  But what does that mean beyond "eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts"?  Are they including pizza?  After all, Italy is on the Mediterranean, isn't it?  I don't see much reference to the types of carbs people eat--I didn't think Mediterranean countries were big on whole grains.

Red wine, apples, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, citrus fruits when consumed in large quantities (?).  Did I mention red wine?  That's what one web site says can help prevent melanoma.

Most skin cancer-related websites don't even mention diet--they just focus on protecting the skin from the sun.  But I'd like to do more--it hopefully can't hurt and may help.

Here's the dietary run-down after scanning several websites and articles that do mention diet and melanoma:

Antioxidants can help protect the skin from harmful sun effects--foods include fish, beans, carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, green tea.  I'm leaving out foods I'm not going to eat, like chard.

Apegin (a flavenoid, whatever that is) may help prevent melanoma from forming, according to an article on Livestrong.com; foods with apegin include onions, broccoli, celery, tomatoes, apples, cherries, grapes.  Tea and wine also contain apegin.  (Article wasn't specific--green tea and red wine?)

Resveratrol is a flavonoid, also found in red wine, which may inhibit the formation of melanoma (according to the same Livestrong.com article, written by Sara Ipatenco (June 12, 2011).  "Adding a glass of red wine to your daily diet is one way to increase your consumption of this beneficial antioxidant."  I'm already on the case--switched from one glass of white to one glass of red each day.

Tumeric, an ingredient in curry, has certain anti-cancer propertie.  Same Livestrong article--she in turn is citing the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).

Carotenoids are found in deep green and yellow/orange foods--carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, as well as dark green vegetables.  May help prevent development and growth of melannoma.

The one rigorous study I found (googling "diets that prevent melanoma") says the most consistent result was that "greater intake of carotenoids are associated with decreased risk for melanoma, while greater alcohol intake may increase the risk for the disease."  So there you go--supporting my assertion that the more research you do, the more confused you'll get.  (The study is "Diet and Melanoma in a Case-Control Study" Amy E. Millen et. al. (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention June 2004 13; 10420.

I only read the abstract of the above study, but I see no indication that the authors controlled for the type of alcohol consumed.  So I'm holding out hope that the red wine drinkers may have had different (better) outcomes than the beer drinkers (for example).

And the UMMC website (last updated May 7, 2013, so much more current than the 2004 study) cites resveratol as a substance that may help protect the skin from sun-related damage.  In addition to apigenin, curcumin (tumeric), and resveratrol, the UMMC website also cites Quercetin--a flavonoid (there's that word again!) found in apples and onions--as a skin-protecting substance.

Guess I'll start eating those cantaloupe chunks they give me with my quesedilla.

Wrists and knees and table balance

I specialize in teaching yoga to seniors, and strive to help improve their strength, flexibility and balance.  But I also have to modify poses and moves based on who's in the class.  One of the sequences I really like to do is table-child-table balance (where you balance on one knee and hand, while the opposite leg and arm are extended.  The pose improves balance and strength, but since you're close to the floor, it's a safer way to practice balance than standing.

But especially in two of my classes, people either have knee or wrist issues that make table and table balance difficult.  In another class, one lady has rheumatoid arthritis, and her wrists are swollen and painful.  I've offered modifications to people--for wrist issues, they can rest on their fists, for knees they can do poses and moves in a chair or near a wall.  For the arms, people can also balance on their forearms, but that is more challenging for the low back, especially if they aren't able to keep a firm low belly.

I'm thinking I should eliminate table and table balance from my senior repertiore--but then I need to add other poses and moves to compensate.  I may still try to do low plank and puppy/down dog, which start with table but don't stay there.  We'll see.  I'll need to add more seated work, and more standing (including at the wall).  Chairs aren't an option in two classes--the chairs they have are too big and cumbersome.  And I tried the folding chairs in another class, but they seemed to get in the way more than anything.  And I don't think people will want to sit in chairs--I think they pride themselves on being able to do "real yoga"--once they start sitting in chairs, it's "chair yoga".  For old people who can't do "real yoga".  Or maybe I'm just imagining that.  They all are able to get up from the floor to standing and back down again--a big plus.  I just need to be creative.  With senior yoga, the range of poses may be more limited than with a regular class, but there are more options for creative warm-ups, stretches and balances.

I wish I had a network of senior yoga instructors to consult with and learm from; mabye through Yoga Alliance we can develop that.

wrong order

I did it again--I ordered something at a restaurant that I order frequently, and got the name wrong.  The first time was a few weeks ago, when I ordered a mimosa at a local Mexican restaurant.  I meant to order a chispas (very refreshing!) but the wrong word came out.  And I didn't realize it until I got the drink.  My husband and son said they wondered, since I never order mimosas there, but they didn't say anything when I ordered.  Then last night, at our favorite steak place (our favorite restaurant, really--Ray's the Steaks), I ordered the usual--or so I thought.  I always get filet mignon with blue cheese sauce--it's so good, it's hard to think about ordering anything else.  But I asked for blue cheese dressing; the waiter repeated the order (now I know why--I'm probably the first person who asked for blue cheese dressing with their steak); my husband and son said nothing.  Until my son and I got our steaks.  He ordered blue cheese sauce with his steak, and I noticed his sauce looked darker than mine.  That's when they told me I had ordered blue cheese dressing.  They had wondered, but said nothing.  I asked them to say something the next time I mess up an order.

Is this normal memory loss/confusion?  The other day, I couldn't remember the name of my type of cancer, even though the word melanoma goes through my head hundreds of times each day now.  When I tried to retrieve the name while talking to my husband, I couldn't.

I keep looking at this discoloration on my leg, wondering if it will turn into (or is) cancer.  And the splotch on my face near the splotch that's melanoma.  Will the surgeon cut that out while he's at it--it's so close to the spot he'll be removing, and it's starting to look more ominous to me.

Hostas, crape myrtle, magnolia, glossy abelia, spirea--names of plants in our yard that I have trouble remembering.   I look at the plants and say the names over and over to help remember. Add melanoma to the list.

No water

Ugh.  The county workers have been outside our house for hours, making a muddy mess.  Apparently our next door neighbors complained about their water pressure, so the county is digging up the street to replace the pipe that goes to their house.  Not sure whether our house is the only one affected, but I wish they had let me know.  They first couldn't tell me whether they would need to turn off the water, then they did without telling me.  So I went out to ask them when they thought they could turn our water back on and they said several hours.  Hopefully by the middle of the night.  One toilet was working, now none are.

Guess I can use my witch hazel wipes to clean my face tonight; I won't be able to sleep if you face isn't clean.  And with this melanoma spot, which feels like it's clawing at my face,  I want to feel as clean as possible.

I just wish they had notified us in advance; we could have prepared better.  Looks like they got started and had no idea what they were in for or how long it would take.  At least the rain has held off.  But then again maybe it would wash the mud away.