hazel's blog

Still N.E.D. - and an update on melanoma research

Our annual trips to Johns Hopkins for Robert’s participation in a follow-up study after his melanoma vaccine trial have become fairly routine. Leave about 7 a.m., check in by 8:30, CT scan and brain MRI, go see the blood-sucker, fit in lunch somewhere along the way, and then see Dr. Lipson early in the afternoon. Today we were home about 2:30. Easy up, easy back, and no news is good news. No evidence of disease.

A future for freelancers?

I was surprised, to say the least, when a longtime friend and fellow journalist recently lamented about the state of the news industry today. He was complaining about staff cuts in newsrooms of all kinds (broadcast, print, digital), layoffs and forced retirements, sparse staffing, and, generally, what he perceives to be a lack of quality standards in the media today.

Back to the routine

The main reason I’ve hated working so much since May 15 may not be what you think. True, I didn’t have time for blogging or reading much. I didn’t like getting up earlier. I was tired at the end of the day. I didn’t sleep as well. But the main reason I hated it was that I gained five pounds.

Two years NED!!

Results from Robert's scans on Monday are in, and they show no evidence of disease!!! Such good news as we approach the two-year mark after surgery that took the remaining detectable melanoma out of his body.

Surprisingly, I had only a little scanxiety this time around. There are several possible explanations for this change.

A new look!

At last, the beginnings of a new theme for my website! I am approaching the point where I want to migrate content from by-words.com to this website, and I've created a tab for Editing & Publishing, my business (officially now known as Hazel Becker, Editing & Publishing LLC). Progress ... but yes, a work in progress!

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