I've talked a lot about Art on my blog, but haven't really touched on the Soul side of things. Today, though, is Carcinoid Awareness Day, and my beloved husband John has carcinoid.
Despite the watered down name it's been given, carcinoid is cancer - a neuroendocrine cancer. It is slow growing, and if it's surgically removed before it spreads, a person might be cured. Unfortunately, mostof the hallmark symptoms (called carcinoid syndrome) don't show up until the cancer has already spread.
The carcinoid mascot is a zebra because in medical school, doctors are taught "If you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras." Carcinoid is one of the rare zebras and often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. My little zebra above is flushing bright red because that was one of the symptoms that John had for years before diagnosis. We were repeatedly told that it was a food allergy. Guess what, it wasn't.
Here is the official Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day site if you'd like to learn more.
To my husband John - keep kicking it in the butt and Happy Birthday! :-x