Genuine Curiosity

Author Dwayne Melancon is always on the lookout for new things to learn. An ecclectic collection of postings on personal productivity, travel, good books, gadgets, leadership & management, and many other things.

 

Lifehack: An ounce of prevention

As a very frequent flyer, I wanted to share a best practice I picked up from a friend of mine, John Palazza. After noticing that John always had a bottle of hand sanitizer with him, I realized this small idea would be handy to get rid of traveler germs as I made my way through airports and other places where the unwashed masses may gather.

I have seen the following things on planes and in airports:

  • very grungy airline tray tables that haven't been wiped in who-knows-how-long

  • people leaving public restrooms without washing their hands (not me, I assure you)

  • people of all ages coughing and sneezing all over the place

  • other things I'd rather not mention

I then see people eat off those airline tray tables.

I believe this is why I have always had at least one good bout of flu or something more exotic every year. For example, I caught German measles (aka Rubella) after a flight full of coughers about 3 years ago - apparently my childhood vaccine didn't work the way it should've.

But that didn't happen this year! I've been using John's little trick since last summer, and I've now officially made it through a season of heavy winter travel without getting the flu, or even a cold. I attribute it to the wondrous anti-germ powers of my travel-size Purell hand sanitizer, complete with its own handy little rubber harness that allows me to attach it to my briefcase.

I then sanitize my hands before and after meal and beverage service on the flight, and when I get off the plane.

If you travel a lot, why not give it a try? John puts the "Pal" in Palazza.

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Will you know it when you see it?

Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of protecting yourself from the sun so you don't get skin cancer, and the importance of spotting it early.

Today, I want to share some further tips for preventing skin cancer, and give you information about how to identify it so you'll know it when you see it.

Prevention

The best way to lower the risk of melanoma (or any other form of skin cancer) is to avoid too much exposure to the sun and other sources of UV light.

  • Avoid being outdoors in sunlight too long, especially in the middle of the day when UV light is most intense.

  • Protect your skin with clothing, including a shirt with long sleeves and a hat with a broad brim.

  • Use sunscreen and lip balm. They should have an SPF factor of 15 or more (I recommend SPF 30 or better). Apply the sunscreen correctly. Many people do not use enough--a palmful is best. Put it on about 20 to 30 minutes before you go outside so your skin can absorb it. And you should put it on again every two hours. Use it even on hazy days or days with light or broken cloud cover. Don't stay out in the sun longer just because you're using sunscreen as that defeats the purpose.

  • Wear sunglasses. Wrap-around sunglasses with 99%-100% UV absorption give the best protection.

  • Avoid other sources of UV light such as tanning beds and sun lamps.

  • Be especially careful about sun protection for children. Teach your children to protect themselves from the sun as they get older. People who suffer severe, blistering sunburns, particularly in childhood or teenage years, are at increased risk of melanoma.

You should also keep an eye on any moles you have, since skin cancer often begins with a 'normal looking' mole. Statistically speaking, men are more likely to develop skin cancer on their back or torso, while women are more likely to get it on their legs.

While we know where men and women are more likely to get skin cancer, it's important to note that you can get skin cancer anywhere on your body, even places that you've never had a sunburn. Since your skin is really a single organ, a sunburn on one part of your body can cause cancer to develop on another part of your body.

Check suspicious moles with your doctor and have them removed if needed.

What does "suspicious" mean?

Spots on the skin that change in size, shape, or color should be seen by a doctor right away. Any unusual sore, lump, blemish, marking, or change in the way an area of the skin looks or feels may be a sign of skin cancer.

A normal mole is most often an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised. It can be round or oval. Moles are usually less than 1/4 inch in diameter, or about the width of a pencil eraser. Moles can be present at birth or they can appear later. Several moles can appear at the same time.

Once a mole has developed, it will usually stay the same size, shape, and color for many years. Most people have moles, and almost all moles are harmless.

Sometimes, Change Is Not Good

It is important to recognize changes in a mole-- such as its size, shape, or color-- that suggest a melanoma may be developing. You should see your doctor if you have a mole or growth that worries you. Your doctor may have you see a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin problems. There are methods that help doctors tell the difference between a harmless growth and one that might be cancer. Using these methods could mean that a biopsy is not needed.

Know Your ABCD's

The ABCD rule can help tell a normal mole from a melanoma:

A asymmetry-- one half of the mole does not match the other half.
B border irregularity--the edges of the mole are ragged or notched.
C color--the color of the mole is not the same all over. There may be shades of tan, brown, or black, and sometimes patches of red, blue, or white.
D diameter --the mole is wider than about 1/4 inch (although doctors are now finding more melanomas that are smaller).

Some melanomas do not fit the descriptions above, and it may be hard to tell if the mole is normal or not, so you should show your doctor anything that you are unsure of.

I repeat: When in doubt, have it checked by a doctor or dermatologist. It took my doctor all of 2 seconds to know that my mole was trouble.

And, once again, check out the American Cancer Society's site for the full scoop.

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What's your cup of tea?

Last weekend I heard a story from a Monsignor at church, and I kept thinking back on it all week.  I'd like to share it with you.

The story he told is about a woman named Hannah, and it goes like this:

A bald, emaciated man lay in the hospital bed exhausted and weak after a bone marrow transplant for leukemia.  His nurse tiptoed in.

“Mr. Jensen. I am your nurse, Hannah”.  He barely nodded.

Hannah checked his vital signs, and asked,  “Would you like some soup?”

He shook his head, no - "I just want to sleep," he said.

Hannah came back later with medication.  He took it and sank back against the pillow.  Hannah offered him the paper but he did not want it. Feeling defeated and concerned, she left.

She went to the nurses’ kitchen to pour herself a cup of tea.  Then she changed her mind, grabbed the large teapot, and placed it on a tray with some toast and two cups.  Then she headed for Mr. Jensen’s room.

“Would I be disturbing you if I have my tea here in your room?" Hannah asked.  “I would like to watch the news, if it is all right.”

“Not at all,” Mr. Jensen said, but he was clearly taken aback.

Hannah turned on the TV, then poured herself a cup of tea.  “I brought an extra cup, if you would like some,” she offered.

“Maybe I will have half a cup,” he said.

Jensen and Hannah watched the news in silence, until he nodded off.  As she got up to go, he asked, “Are you in tomorrow?”

“I am, and I will have tea with you again tomorrow, if you would like.”

“Yes, I would like that” he answered.

The next night Mr. Jensen had two cups of tea and a piece of toast – his first solid food in a month.  The third night he and Hannah talked about their families, their hometowns, their lives outside the hospital.  The fourth night, he got out of bed and sat in a chair.

A few days later, Hannah found Mr. Jensen’s room empty.  He had recovered enough to go home to recuperate.

Some time later Hannah was downtown shopping when she heard a familiar voice.  “Hannah it is good to see you”, said Mr. Jensen, as he gave her a big hug.

“This is Hannah, “ he said, introducing her to his wife.  “She saved my life with a cup of tea”.

We have lots of opportunities to make a difference in others' lives.  Most of these happen (or don't) based on spur of the moment decisions in our hearts and minds.  

We all know that productivity is the collective result of small actions. Don't underestimate the power of small gestures of kindness, either.

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Update: 30+ Weeks in the Zone (and counting...)

From a traffic perspective, the post below is one of the most popular posts on this blog. I had to get new "head shot" pictures taken for work today, and thought I'd share the "before" and "after" photos with you. A bit less hair, a lot less weight.

Before (2001): After (2005):

I'm now almost a year into The Zone diet, down about 60 pounds from where I started (now at 206 lbs), and still loving the diet. And it's still true that I made no changes to my exercise habits during this period - in fact, I was working out more in 2001 when the "before" picture was taken.

You can do it, too. See below for my recommended steps.

[March 14, 2005] This is a departure from my normal range of topics but one I want to share, nonetheless. Last July or so, I decided it was time to start eating better. In the past, I've had bouts with "Eat To Live," "Protein Power," and spent a while as a disciple of the Atkins lifestyle. None of them really felt sustainable over the long haul (at least for me), and they were hard to maintain while traveling.

Last year, I read up on The Zone Diet (Dr. Barry Sears) and decided to give it a try. It seemed like a sensible diet (in terms of what you eat) and, like other diets that have been raging of late, helps control your insulin levels to prevent blood sugar spikes. The basic design of a "Zone compliant meal" is that it consists of 40% carb calories, 30% protein calories, and 30% fat calories.

I started out following the plan by reading what's unofficially known as "The Zone for Dummies," officially known as "A Week In The Zone." I've been with it ever since, and have gone from about 265 lbs. to about 215 lbs. in that time (I'm 6'4"). According to the body mass index calculators in the book (and on www.zonediet.com), my body has gone from 29% fat to about 17% during that time.

I've had to donate a couple of sizes of clothing to Goodwill along the way, and seem to have hit a stable weight that I can maintain.

Pointers for anyone considering this diet:

  • Start with "A Week In The Zone."
  • Stick with it for at least a month and you'll see results, as well as begin to recognize what a "Zone meal" looks like
  • Follow the eating schedule (and all the snacks, especially the snack just before bedtime) as closely as you can so you won't get hungry
  • Invest in Zone Perfect bars, and make sure you bring some along when you travel. They kill hunger pangs, can serve as breakfast, and are great for the snacks between meals.

There is one aspect of the Zone that (in my opinion) is the key: At the beginning of the diet, you follow instructions in the book to figure out what you should be eating each day. Then, you start eating that way from day one. Your body eventually catches up and you maintain that amount of food going forward. This is different from others where you get to some target weight and start changing your diet - the changes are what made me stray from the path in other diets.

I now feel better and fitter than I've felt in probably 25 years, and am a big believer in the Zone as a sustainable way of eating. Let me know if you have any questions - I'd be glad to share what I've learned.

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