PROTECT THEM EYEBALLS

12-26-07
BY CORKY CARROLL

A couple of weeks ago I did a column on a common eye problem experienced by surfers called pterygiums.  I got about four emails as a result of that from surfers who all got cancer of the eyes.  One of them is Bill Nelson from San Clemente.  I asked him to tell you his story and here it is in his own words:
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     “Thanks for the article on pterygiums.  I experienced a bout of them about eight years ago, but my encounter turned out to be much more, which I feel your readers should be aware of.  I am 52 years old and have been a deputy for the Orange County Sheriff's Department for the past 22 years.  For the past 17 years I have been assigned to the Harbor Patrol where I currently work in Newport Beach.  I'm on the water everyday and working in the sun is certainly a part of my job.

     My first signs of pterygiums was a small growth in the white portion of my left eye.  Fortunately, a co-worker of mine had just had a pterygium removed from one of his eyes and he was able to educate me as to what they were.  Although I was feeling no pain or discomfort, I confronted my doctor with the problem.  I was told that a pterygium was no big deal and was given eye drops to hopefully take care of the problem.  I was dealing with an HMO and we all know they are reluctant to refer a patient to a specialist because of financial concerns.

    As time passed, the growth in my eye increased in size.  I kept returning to the doctor and was told that nothing would be done to remove the growth until it grew into the colored part of my eye.  After about two years and many different prescription drugs, various eye-drops and even a cortisone shot directly into my eye, my HMO agreed to send me to a specialist and have the growth removed.  By now the pterygium had become itchy and irritating.

     The specialist scheduled my removal procedure and ensured me that it was a common practice.  I had the surgery and the following day removed my eye patch and looked in the mirror to see that the growth still appeared to be on my eye.  I thought the doctor had screwed up.  That afternoon I received a phone call from the doctor and he asked me if I was sitting down.  He sounded somewhat alarmed.  Then he told me that the pterygium was not a pterygium.  It was cancer.  The "C" word.  He said he had never seen such a thing and was making phone calls.  Stick by the phone.

     I was referred to the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA and was ordered to be there the next day.  I met there with Dr. Robert Maloney who would be handling my case.  He was straight-forward and told me he was not sure how far the cancer had progressed and that it must be removed.  If not, it would kill me.  As a worse case scenario he told me that if he had to take my eye, he would take my eye.  Great.  He scheduled surgery in two weeks.  I asked him why he was waiting for two weeks?  My doctor in Orange County sounded so alarmed that I thought they would lay me on the table right there and then.  He explained that the cancer in my eye had probably been there for years and was just now surfacing and becoming apparent.  He also explained that what I had was very rare and that most Ophthalmologists would probably never see this condition in their careers.  He ensured me that two weeks would make no difference.

     After two surgeries and a rather large "chunk" being removed from the side of my eye, the growth had been removed.  Dr. Maloney said that he would not be satisfied the problem had been cured for five years because the cancer might had traveled to other parts of my body (like the lymph nodes).  I was monitored for those five years and it appears that the surgery was a success.  My eyesight is fine and I'm now left with only a scar on the side of my eye.

     I'm writing this just to give your readers a "heads-up" that skin cancer isn't always on the skin.  "Skin cancer" on the eye is very rare, but it does occur.  Pterygiums are no big deal and are easily removed.  But be aware that a larger problem might be lurking.  And always protect your eyes like you do your skin.  Good polarized sunglasses are a must and just as important as any other sun protectant.  And most importantly, enjoy the ocean!”
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This is good advice and something to think about very seriously.  Eye cancer is what killed my mother and I guarantee that you do not want it happening to you.

 

 

ANOTHER YEAR IN THE LIFE

The Wave ~ 12-26-07
By Corky Carroll

I am sitting here on my deck looking at my laptop and thinking how I can’t believe that yet another year has passed and it seems like I was just sitting here getting ready to write this same column a year ago.  Time flies when your life is totally out of control, ha ha ha ha. 

 

Looking back on 2007 it was a year of big ups and big downs in my life. There was a lot to be really grateful for and some incredible memories.  And there were some not so great things too.  But at the end of it I am still sitting here in the same spot getting ready to write, well actually writing, one more New Year’s column.  I am more or less healthy other than a little eye problem that I am trying to get under control.  All my body parts are still functional and my memory is at least three percent of what it should be.  That’s not as bad as it could be.  Heck, I know dudes my age that don’t even have the faintest idea of who they are anymore.  I don’t know who they are either, but at least I know who I am.  I think.

Looking back on this past year I think the highlight for me was our family trip to Disneyland in February.  Living here in the beautiful Orange County we all take Disneyland for granted.  Most everybody who lives here has been there a zillion times so it’s not that big a deal anymore.  But this year we were able to bring the muy bonita Karlitas’ two kids and her sister Pily and her two kids up from Mexico and along with my wonder son Tanner we had a huge family Disney vacation.  Pily’s kids had never been out of Mexico before and don’t speak English so it was an amazing experience for them as well as the rest of us.  We had five kids all ranging from nine to eleven plus the three of us adult kids.  When I look at the photos from that trip I can’t help but smile.  It’s so good to do things as a family. 

The low point of my year was in the fall when the muy bonita Karlita and I split up.   We are still great friends though so even though I am a single boy again she is still a major part of my life and I am happy for that.  She is the most amazing woman that I have ever known and I am the better for having had my time in her life.  But I did go through a deep dark time dealing with that.  Nonetheless, here I am sitting here looking out at the surf and thinking that as soon as I get done with this column I am going to paddle back out for my second session of the day.  Being able to surf everyday has a way of making things easier to deal with.  

So what’s ahead in the New Year?  Lets all hope it’s gonna be great in ’08.   I have given up with my yearly plans to loose weight and get in better shape and all that bla bla bla.  I am actually in fantastic shape, considering the shape I’m in.  I have lost some weight and I can still turn left and right and on the rare good day tuck myself into a barrel or two.  I wish I looked better but who can afford that kind of plastic surgery?  Not me, that’s for sure.  But then who’s lookin’?  The only scary part is accidentally walking by the mirror the first thing in the morning.   Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  What is that?  Oh noooooo.  It’s me.   I gotta get a new mirror.  The one I have now has little words on it that say, “objects in this mirror are not really as horrible as they might look.” 

What I really want to do in the coming year is get better at doing what I am doing.  Learn more about myself and what makes me happy and try to refine my life to the point that I don’t stress over little things and can take the time to really enjoy the good things.  I am lucky in my lifestyle and maybe I have not appreciated it as much as I should be doing.  I have absolutely no money in the bank but who cares.  I have some great friends and I get to write to all of you every week so in a sense you are all my friends too.  All four of you who read this every week, not counting the canary and parakeet.  I love you guys.  

So at midnight on New Year’s this year, if you can think of it, join me in a toast to the coming year and let’s say in unison, “Let it be great in 2008.”