After 30 years of bicycling, I now have skin cancer

January 6, 2010 / / 28 comments

I always wear a helmet when I ride. I wear polycarbonate sunglasses to protect my eyes. And padded bike gloves to cushion my hands and prevent road rash if I should fall.

I ride defensively, keeping a close look out for dangerous, careless and otherwise inattentive drivers. As well as dogs, pedestrians, tourists and other cyclists. And bees, of course.

But none of that prevented the sun from shining down on my unprotected face, causing a single, minute cell to mutate. And eventually, develop into a tumor hiding in plain site on the side of my nose.

It could have happened when I lived in Colorado, riding 50 miles a day, seven days a week, in the rarified high-altitude air that lets more of the sun’s damaging rays penetrate. Or maybe it began in San Diego, where the near-perfect weather invited leisurely, day-long rides around the bay or up the coast.

It might even go all the back to my childhood, when family doctors still said the sun was good for you, and suntan lotions magnified, rather than blocked, the sun’s damaging rays.

It doesn’t really matter. It’s done, and I have it.

See the skin cancer in this photo? Neither did the first three doctors I showed it to.

I have skin cancer.

For the first 10 or 15 years of my riding career, it would never have occurred to me to put sunscreen on my face. In those days, it was used to prevent sunburn, not skin cancer. And as a year round cyclist, I had a dark enough tan that sunburn wasn’t an issue.

Eventually, the various warnings about skin cancer got through my thick skull, and I started wearing an SPF 8, then a 25.

Now I wear an SPF 50 on every exposed surface, every time I ride.

Funny thing is, I noticed a hard little spot about the size of a pinhead on my nose three or four years ago; three different doctors dismissed it as harmless.

It was the fourth, a dermatologist, who didn’t.

My doctor had referred me to have something else checked out; she quickly determined that was harmless. But as long as I was there, I pointed out that other spot once again.

As first she agreed with the other doctors, since it lacked the irregular shape and discoloration typical of skin cancers. Then she looked at it again, this time under magnification, and spotted a raised outer ridge and central depression typical of basal cell cancer.

Still, she was reasonably certain it wasn’t cancer. But decided to do a biopsy just to be sure.

Then about a month ago, I was on my bike when my cell phone rang. The doctor said the biopsy had confirmed a basal cell carcinoma. As she put it, “There’s no such thing as a good cancer. But if you’re going to have cancer, this is the one you want.”

The good thing about it, she explained, was that, unlike a squamous cell carcinoma or the more serious melanoma, this type of cancer grows slowly and doesn’t spread. It can be removed surgically, with no further treatment required.

No radiation, no chemo.

But now that I’ve had the first one, I’ll be at greater risk of a recurrence, for the rest of my life.

Unfortunately, its location in the middle of my face meant that she couldn’t do the surgery. It requires a specialist capable of getting all the cancer while minimizing the scarring. She got me a referral, and I made the appointment.

For tomorrow.

As I understand the procedure, they’re going to remove all the cancer they can see, then biopsy it on the spot. If it shows they got it all, they’ll patch me up and send me home; if not, they’ll repeat the procedure until the biopsy comes back clean.

A little discomfort, a few weeks to heal and — hopefully — a small, barely noticeable scar.

I’ll be fine. Really.

But if you want to help, there is something you can do. Put on some sunscreen before your next daylight ride, and every one after that. And if you notice any unusual spots or bumps on your skin, or any moles that change shape or color, show it to your doctor; if it doesn’t go away, don’t take “it’s nothing” for an answer.

Because clearly, drivers aren’t the only danger we face out there. And nothing would make me happier than to know that my cancer helped prevent yours.

If you feel compelled to do something more, consider a donation to the American Cancer Society, so maybe they can find a cure before you or someone you love needs it.

I have skin cancer.

With a little luck, a few hours from now, I won’t.

Category: Health / Tags: , ,

A simple act of roadway courtesy

January 5, 2010 / / 8 comments

I have always believed in riding courteously, remembering that sharing the road is a two-way street. And that I have no less — or greater — right to it than anyone else.

So I didn’t think twice when I pulled up to a red light at a narrow intersection, and noticed the car behind me had its blinker on. I simply lifted my bike and made a couple quick sidesteps to the left so he could get by and make his right turn.

What happened next surprised me, though.

As he rolled past, the driver lowered his window, waved and said “Thank you; thank you very much” — sounding so much like an Elvis impersonator that I could barely keep from laughing.

Still winded from the sprint that got me there, the best I could manage in response was a nod and a smile, combined with a friendly wave. But he got the idea.

And just for a moment, we truly saw each other, not as adversaries competing for the same limited piece of pavement, but as real human beings.

Whether he’ll remember that the next time a cyclist is blocking his path, I have no idea. Or whether I will the next time an impatient driver follows too close or cuts me off.

But it only took a simple act of roadway courtesy, and its acknowledgement, to make me truly visible to another road user. And to lift my spirits for the rest of my ride.

And the rest of my day.

……..

Enci Box makes the case against Class 1 bike paths. L.A.’s best bike plan probably isn’t the one LADOT proposed; meanwhile, LADOT pleads poverty as an excuse not to attend future Bike Advisory Committee meetings. Will Campbell Embraces the Brilliance on a recent ride near Jefferson and Crenshaw. Flying Pigeon explains how to make your own Jasbeschermers clip; if you can pronounce it, you probably already know what it means. Making negligent driving fatalities a crime in the DC area. Bike Portland offers an in-depth examination on the lack of bike insurance. A candidate for mayor of Columbia, MO says vote for him “Because most Columbians drive cars and not bikes.” Denver lowers speed limits and adds bike lanes and traffic calming to around Washington Park (see LADOT? It can be done…). Hagerstown, Maryland includes cyclists in designing their new bike plan (see LADOT? It can be done…). The Orlando newspaper wants to know if cyclists have a right to the road. A look at 10 years of bike culture in America. Your Japanese-made bike now probably comes from China, but look for an increase in U.S. made bikes. Cycling casualties — serious injuries and deaths — in the British city of Leeds increased 10% in 2008; somehow, that works out to a fifth, according to the headline writer. Finally, this is why you never leave your sleeping children in your bakfiet; evidently, that’s just what they do over there. But at least the thief was honest responsible.

Category: General / Tags: , , , ,

Unfinished business: Alejandro Hidalgo & Dr. Christopher Thompson sentencing

January 5, 2010 / / One comment

Jesus Castillo, a 44-year old day laborer from Sonora, Mexico, was riding his bike — his only form of transportation — on Glendale Boulevard in the early hours of Sunday, April 19th last year.  As he rode south, he was struck and killed by a car driven by Alejandro Hidalgo, who fled the scene in his Mitsubishi Gallant.

Fortunately, a witness was able to take down the license number, and police were able to take Hidalgo into custody less than two hours later, as well as tracking down a passenger in his car who indicated that Hidalgo had been driving under the influence.

According to recently married cyclist/attorney DJ Wheels, last November the District Attorney had offered Hidalgo a plea bargain that included prison time for the three charges he faced. Since he hadn’t received an update from the D.A.’s office, he decided to look into the case, and discovered that Hidalgo is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday.

According to Wheels,

I decided to request a copy of the docket today at the clerk’s office.  I learned that on November 12, 2009, the district attorney requested that count 1 for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated (Penal Code 191.5a) be changed to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence (Penal Code 191.5b).

Hidalgo then changed his not guilty plea to no contest on this particular count.  Judge Craig Richman entered his conviction under 191.5b, a felony, and ordered him to return for sentencing on January 6, 2010 in Dept. 35 at 8:30 am.

There were still two counts of drunk driving on the original complaint, but the minutes do not state whether those were vacated as part of the plea bargain.

It should be noted that 191.5a requires a state prison term of 4, 6 or 10 years. On the other hand, 191.5b, requires imprisonment for 16 months, 2 or 4 years.

We’ll have to see what sentence the judge imposes. But even four years seems like a relative slap on the wrist for killing another human being, simply because someone felt compelled to get behind the wheel after having a few too many — or maybe merely capable of making it home in that condition — then running away and leaving a man to die in the street.

Meanwhile, Dr. Christopher Thompson is scheduled for sentencing at 8:30 am this Friday at the Airport Courthouse, after being convicted on five felony counts for intentionally injuring two cyclists in Mandeville Canyon on July 4th, 2008.

And in another tragic case, a ghost bike was installed for Robert Painter, the cyclist killed by yet another hit-and-run driver in North Hollywood last month.

……….

A reminder that it’s not just cyclists who are vulnerable to hit-and-run drivers. Will notes upcoming rides, including his rapidly growing, Five Seven Eight Presidents Ride. Biking through the snow in Cambridge, Mass. Advice on sharing the road from a cycling instructor in my old home town. New York remembers cyclists and pedestrians killed last year. Yes, that really is an impressive bike rack. How people who don’t live in SoCal keep warm on winter rides. Where are Singapore cyclists supposed to ride when there’s no good place for Singapore cyclists? 2,500 Aussie cyclists ride to raise safety awareness. A road raging driver in the UK beats a cyclist after a near collision. Finally, yet another Facebook page for people who love to see cyclists get hurt; evidently, the well of human compassion online doesn’t run very deep.

Category: General / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Just a quick reminder why we live in Southern California

January 3, 2010 / / 6 comments

A cycling surfer relaxes on Surfrider Beach in Malibu.

I hate to rub it in.

Really, I do.

I know winter riding in colder climes can be invigorating. And at times, breathtaking. I even did it myself when I lived in Denver, unwilling to give up a single day of riding that didn’t call for strapping on x-country skis, instead.

But seriously. Weekends like this just serve as a reminder how lucky we are to be here.

L.A. may have a long way to go to catch up with bike-friendly cities like Copenhagen or Portland. Or even Long Beach, for that matter.

But times like this, it ain’t bad.

……….

Streetsblog announces the Bike and Transit Stories of the Year, along with the Livable Streets Person of the Year — who should come as no surprise — as well as the worst stories of the year. Five great places for CA cyclists, including a misnamed South Bay Bicycle Trail. Bike-friendly Boulder, CO works to improve bicycle parking. A Louisville, KY writer says that cars vs. bikes may be an unsolvable problem. A tragic death in South Carolina reminds local cities why they need to make their streets safer for cyclists. Bikers irk motorists in the country’s most dangerous state for cyclists. Even Gulf Coast Alabama adopts a Complete Streets policy. Washington cyclists are forced off the road by an erratic driver. Infrastructurist names the rise of cycling #7 on the top 10 stories of the decade. A 34-year old Bicycling editor could find himself competing as a domestique in this year’s Le Tour. Tour undiscovered Paris by bike; no, not the one in Texas. Finally, a Charleston cyclist becomes last year’s 11th murder victim — 10 years after he was attacked while riding.

Category: General / Tags: , , ,

Special New Years edition open thread

January 1, 2010 / / Comments Off on Special New Years edition open thread

Unless there’s breaking news, I don’t expect to write anything new for the next few days. So let’s open it up for your comments — feel free to say anything you want on any even remotely bike-related subject.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

Looking forward to better cycling in 2010. And beyond.

December 31, 2009 / / 4 comments

I’m not much on looking back.

I understand it’s a popular activity, especially this time of year, when everyone recites the only Bobby Burns poem they know, even if they never heard of Robert Burns. Or know what the words mean.

A time when many people take a long look at the year’s highlights, or lowlights, as the case may be. And try to wrap the year up in a tidy little bow.

I’m not going to go there.

Sure, it’s been an interesting year, from the Bike Summit and 5th Council District election, through the proposed bike plan and the Good Doctor’s trial and conviction. And a year that’s seen the average daily readership of this blog increase over 500% from this time last year.

For which I sincerely thank you.

But for me, the past is just that. Take a look at what happened, learn whatever you can from it, then leave it behind.

And get on with your life.

Still, I was truly honored today when L.A. Streetsblog recognized this blog for getting the candidates in the CD5 race on record for supporting cycling in L.A. — support that the eventual winner, Council Member Paul Koretz, clearly demonstrated in the recent bike-only Transportation Committee meeting.

Although I have to agree with Streetsblog’s Damien Newton that the job Stephen Box did in getting virtually every candidate in the 2nd District race to endorse the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights was truly amazing. And probably would have gotten my vote, as well.

I was also humbled by a recent comment Joe Linton made on Streetsblog expressing appreciation for my own work on this blog — both because of what he had to say, and because I truly believe Joe has done more than anyone else to promote cycling in Los Angeles and make this a better, more livable city for all of us.

But I’d rather look forward than back. So here are my priorities for the coming year, in no particular order:

Improved police training, so police officers can enforce the law and investigate cycling accidents fairly and without bias — intentional or otherwise. And develop a better, two-way relationship between cyclists and police.

Adoption of an effective Los Angeles bicycle anti-harassment ordinance.

A workable bike plan that has the support of cyclists and city government, and improves upon the still-unimplemented 1996 plan. And more importantly, one that the city is actually committed to building.

Reorganization of the Bikeways department to give it real authority within the LADOT; otherwise moving Bikeways out of LADOT, either under the mayor or to another department that will actually support its efforts.

Adoption of a statewide Bike Safety Bill, including a minimum three-foot passing distance and banning the failure to see a cyclist as a defense for any accident or infraction, along with statewide adoption of the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights.

Reintroduction and passage of AB766, the Safe Streets Bill, which would allow cities to halt the mandatory increase in speed limits on streets where the majority of drivers speed.

Increase the penalties for hit-and-run drivers, including automatic revocation of the driver’s license and seizure of the vehicle for the first offense.

Ensure that every candidate for public office is on the record as to whether or not they support cycling prior to any election.

Educate cyclists and drivers about bicycle law, cyclists’ rights and safe riding practices, as well as how to share the road in a safe and mutually courteous manner.

So what are your cycling priorities for 2010?

………

Joe Linton notes small improvements on the Arroyo Seco Bike Path (sorry Joe, that’s only two mentions today). A driver in the Valley demonstrates the latest rack for transporting multiple bikes. The Dept. of D.I.Y. provides missing signage for the Bay Area’s first bike box. Bostonist hates fixies and everything they stand for. A rider in America’s most dangerous state for cycling endorses Road ID for reasons that should be obvious. A more in-depth look at turning the streets over to Indonesian cyclists on New Years Eve. UK constables employ decoy bikes to catch thieves red-handed, while Bristol’s city center may be car-free within five years. Finally, that amazing cyclist from the popular You Tube video is about to go Hollywood in a major action film.

Have a Happy New Year! But whatever you do New Years Eve, please do it carefully — I want to see every reader back here again in 2010.

Category: General / Tags: , ,
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