Mid-August 2014 –  Summer has been in full swing for a couple of months now, but August has been a “gross” month for me and most everyone in the MidSouth.  As the saying here in the South goes, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” And how very true it is.  Since I was initially diagnosed with melanoma, summer has been an awkward time time of the year for me.  I love being outdoors.  I love doing things on and around the water.  Frankly, I love getting hot and sweaty (as long as I’m not all dressed up)!  For obvious reasons, I have to be very careful about future sun exposure and take as many precautions as possible.

The Dog Days Indeed!

Now, with the medication I’m on, summer has become a real drag.  My cancer drug, Imatinib, has several side effects associated with the sun and summer: sun exposure, skin blotches, heat sensitivity, and plain old tiredness.  Unfortunately, I suffer from all of these side effects.  So, I stay inside during the hottest part of the day, constantly wear hats, put on ounces of sunscreen, and do yard work either very early in the day or sometime after 5 PM.

Even with trying to stay out of the “heat of the day,” I still get very tired, very quickly.  I guess not being able to “play in the sun” is a small price to pay for still being on this planet.  I know my “shadow” wishes we could stay outside more often.  Even Nixie, however, gets tired during these long summer days.  I guess we both should be living way up North.

The journey continues…..