Our Stories
Help us start a Self chec™ Community of Caring Voices

Become a partner in an on-going tapestry of our personal stories -- reminding and inspiring others to take care of themselves will inspire us too, to take better care.

All you need to do is send us your personal self-checking story and attach a photograph of you doing something you love, or being with someone you care about. Please give us written permission to use the photograph and edit your statement, if needed.

To send us your story. CLICK HERE

Paul and his niece Micaela talking
For years I’ve seen brochures in my doctor’s waiting room about testicular and other male cancers and never reached for them. That’s why I was surprised last week, when handed a Self chec kit by someone I know, to find myself reading the information in more detail than ever before. I suddenly realized that I have never really done a self-examination looking for testicular lumps or discussed the question of colonoscopy with my doctor.

I myself am a medical doctor, and you would think I should know these things, however the subject of cancer is a frightening one and one that many people, like myself, face only when they or someone they love have been diagnosed. Preventive self-examination is highly effective, yet still creates anxiety. However last week, on being handed the kit by someone who cares about me, I found myself able to read it calmly and without anxiety. This resulted in my being able to process the information, discuss it with my friend and learn about self-examinations in a way that I have not done before.

I believe there is enormous value in the Self chec process of spreading information from one caring person to another. Rather than just another well-packaged brochure, the Self chec method is in fact an ingenious community based strategy. I look forward to handing packages to the people I care about.

Varenne and Bob at a jazz festival
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 54 and died just before her 60th birthday. We miss her so much! During the last 12 years, I've had 3 operations for the removal of breast tumors. Two were found due to my monthly self breast exams. Thank God, all were benign. I never miss my annual mammography exams or doing monthly self exams. I have a lot to live for... two absolutely beautiful daughters, great family and friends and a wonderful man in my life.

I am pictured here with my honey enjoying a jazz festival in Maryland ... something we have done every year for the last 11 years. And, I pray for many more to come. Don't take the gift of life for granted -- schedule your annual check-ups and definitely do monthly "self-checks"!

Sherry and Bear
NEED A NAP? POOPED? GET A COLONOSCOPY
If you haven't had one of these babies, you don't know what you're missing.You've heard what they do, with the tube, and the light, and stuff, and you've managed to keep putting it off, right? Well, let me tell you, don't wait another minute, because you're in for a treat. Yes, sir, yes, ma'am, I mean a TREAT. The night before isn't anything to write home about (although you're up pretty late, so you'd have time to write home). Suffice it to say, you see a lot of action. And you are, in every sense of the word, pooped.

By the next morning, you've lost a few pounds (a big perk), and you're on to The Procedure. The Procedure itself is GREAT. Here's how it goes: You take off your real clothes, and get into one of those standard issue fashion statements, the blue sheet thing. And of course, you don't tie it, and of course, it opens in the back, which (sigh) makes sense. So you're preparing for the worst, the embarrassment, the whole enchilada (you probably haven't eaten an enchilada-or anything else in a day or so, so food images come readily)--when in comes the anesthesiologist, with the needle and a good story. She finds a vein (okay, that wasn't so great, but it gets better) gives you a pillowy pillow!-- says, turn over on your side.   Okay. I say, can I prop the pillow up, get comfy? She props up the pillow. Better? It's heaven. I say, You know, I could use a good nap.

Two seconds later, I wake up in another room. She claims it's over. I'm still waiting for it to start. I'm not convinced anything happened, but the doctor says, you're fine. See you in five (years, I think). Best rest you'll ever have. Just don't drink any red stuff (like what, iodine?). And afterwards, have a steak, have a beer, have champagne and chocolate cake.

Anyway, thanks to Self chec , I had a relaxed and wonderful cozy little nap. In the middle of the workday. That's not only allowed, it's endorsed. So, go, knock yourself out. Afterwards, you'll probably want one every month. And ladies, if I had to choose between this and a mammogram, NO CONTEST.

Ellen teaching art to her young student
In 1999, I had two successful surgeries for melanoma. The suspicious birthmarks were discovered by my dermatologist during my regular skin checks. Because I have irregular birthmarks and have had severe sunburns, as a child, I schedule routine skin examinations during the year to catch skin cancer and melanoma early. My dermatologist and naturopath recommended that I strengthen my immune system by eating healthier, taking supplements, cutting down on stress and avoiding toxins, along with checking my own skin regularly, wearing sun protective clothing and sun block and avoiding the sun during peak hours. It's working. I haven't had a suspicious lesion in eighteen months.

Stephen's story
When I (finally) arranged to have my first colonoscopy, I didn't know exactly what to expect. Of course, I knew that it was foolish for me to have waited as long as I had: until age 54. I'd also done enough homework to know that the whole thing boils down to five steps: (a) carving out a couple of days when you're in town and able to prepare for the procedure, (b) fasting for the entire day before the procedure, while drinking lots of fluids, (c) during the evening before the procedure, swigging a solution designed to clean out your bowels, (d) going in and getting the procedure done, (e) arranging for a friend or loved one to accompany you home and then taking it a bit easy for the rest of the day (while you break your fast with a good, hearty meal).

From family, friends and colleagues who'd gone through the procedure, I'd heard that the only hard part--really, just an inconvenient part--was cleaning out your system. They were right: no big deal. In fact, the day of fasting (and hydrating) felt sort of refreshing. Staying near the john that night (and using it countless times) wasn't the cat's meow, but I'd found some light reading and a good ball game to watch, so the time went fast.

At the health center where I went for the procedure, my physician greeted me with the inevitable questionnaire and disclosure documents. As he outlined what would happen, I heard that I would be semiconscious (thanks to two small injections), that there would not be any pain, and that I'd be done in well under an hour--possibly as little as 20 minutes. All this turned out to be quite accurate. In fact, afterward I had (admittedly-dim) memories of actually watching the doctor's TV monitor as he performed the procedure, which was amazing to see. Aside from feeling somewhat mellow during the rest of the day (except for intense enjoyment of that first post-fast meal), there was simply nothing of note. The whole day was almost pleasant, and certainly not problematic. And knowing where I stood--or rather, how my colon was--was a tremendous relief. Thanks to Self chec's reminders, I have peace of mind.

Madhu's story
Self-checking and Self chec are so important I'm doing fine. What a curveball! I had a mammogram and routine breast exam in December. Mammogram showed nothing but the doctor pointed out a couple of lumps she said I should have checked out. Scheduled another mammogram in June, by which time I noticed that one of the lumps had doubled, not in size, but it had become two lumps. Still, the June mammogram showed nothing! But I told them that the lump had doubled, so they did a sonogram and lo and behold! There it was. It looked just like it felt. Two little lumps, connected, kinda like dumbbells. Amazing. Anyway, so they did a core needle biopsy and found that it was cancer. Had a lumpectomy. Went to India to see my parents for two weeks. Got back. Now I'm starting radiation and tamoxifen. It's SO important to know your body. Had I not noticed the change in my breast, I could have been in a much different situation.

Janet and her family
“Regarding my mom, I was 29 when I lost her to colon and liver
cancer. Since then, I vowed to take very seriously my good
health (not a guarantee but a gift in this life). In addition to eating well and working out daily, I have chosen to think of early detection as life affirming and not simply perfunctory. I get my mammogram on my birthday every year. And I treat my once-every-three years colonoscopy as a spa day that I actually look forward to. Last time, I did the necessary pre-screening cleansing (not my favorite part), went in and got the best IV! Spent the following day getting a massage, doing my nails and toes and basking in a good report from my doctor.”

Rick
I'm always going to the doctor - I go regularly - and I hear all the time through Public Service Announcements, etc., that there are things I should get regularly: testicular exam, chest x-rays (as a smoker), etc. And I do GO to the doctor, but often these tests just never happen. I think one way we could attack this problem is to a) empower people like me to ASK about the tests we're supposed to be getting, and not just assume the doctor knows best, and b) remind the doctors of the importance of getting all these preventative tests done when people are already in the office: make the most of the visit.

Selfchec