Latest news with #Gee
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Boy, 15, with advanced melanoma recalls early symptom that doctors said was a sign of puberty
Before a wrestling tournament in early 2020, Samuel Gee, then 15, underwent a skin check to make sure he didn't have ringworm that could spread to others. During the inspection, a referee pointed something out to Gee. 'They're like, 'What's that?' I was like, 'I don't know. It's just a spot I had since I was little,'' Gee, now 19, a biomedical engineering student at Texas A&M, tells 'They were like, 'Well, we'll let you wrestle this time, but you have to get it checked out.'' Gee visited a dermatologist and learned that the mole was cancerous. Soon after he was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma. 'I was definitely surprised,' he says. 'I was in shock.' A changing spot While Gee had the mark on his back for as long as he could remember, it started to look different in the months before the wrestling tournament. 'It almost looked like it was drying out,' he says. 'I had the mole ever since I was young, but over the years it gradually (became) raised.' Still, he thought little of it. At the time, he was grappling with another unusual health change. About a month prior to tournament, Gee noticed a puffy bump in his upper right leg. 'I had some serious swelling,' he says. 'I thought it was an inguinal hernia.' Inguinal hernias occur when part of the intestine pokes through the abdomen near the groin and can look like a bump, according to the Mayo Clinic. A visit with a pediatric surgeon revealed what it was. 'He was like, 'It's not a inguinal hernia, but likely a swollen lymph node,'' Gee recalls. 'He's like, 'It's just from puberty. … Come back in a few weeks if it hasn't gone away.'' Gee then visited a doctor about the mole and underwent a biopsy, which revealed that he had melanoma. It had spread locally, causing the swollen lymph node in his leg. Doctors considered Mohs surgery, where skin is cut away layer by layer to remove the cancer with clear margins, but Gee needed immunotherapy first. At the same time, school moved online as the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns had begun. That helped Gee manage some of the symptoms he experienced from immunotherapy. 'I would get fatigued a little bit. It would make me nauseous,' he says. 'It was a very day-to-day thing. Some days I would feel fantastic. Some days I would feel like I needed to throw up or I was really tired.' In January 2021, Gee underwent surgery and had the melanoma and lymph nodes removed. Following surgery, he completed several more rounds of immunotherapy before he finished treatment. 'I was disease free,' he says. 'That was when they said, 'OK you're cured.'' Melanoma occurs most often in 'older white males,' and the average age of a patient with metastatic melanoma is in their 60s, says Dr. Hussein Tawbi. But it does occur in younger populations. 'The No. 1 cause of cancer in women between age 30-40 is melanoma, for instance,' Tawbi, director of personalized cancer therapy in the department of melanoma medical oncology in the division of cancer medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer center, tells But 'pediatric melanoma is relatively rare," he adds. People often develop skin cancer, including melanoma, because of sun exposure. Tawbi urges people to start using sunscreen regularly in childhood, as sun exposure in adolescence and young adulthood increases the risk of metastatic melanoma later in life. 'It's a very direct relationship between sun exposure and a higher incidence of melanoma,' he says. "We do recommend people to start using sunscreen as early as possible.' He also urges people to undergo regular visits to a dermatologist to undergo skin checks. 'Early diagnosis is still key,' Tawbi says. 'If you find the melanoma early enough, it is still largely curable with surgery alone.' Experts talk about the ABCDEs of skin cancer to help assess if a mole or mark on the skin is cause for concern. Any of these qualities should prompt a visit to the doctor: A: Asymmetry, when a mole doesn't appear the same on both sides B: Border, when the outside of the mole looks jagged or uneven C: Color, when the hue of the mole changes, becoming lighter, darker, white, red or blue D: Diameter, when a mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser E: Evolution, when a mole changes or appears to be different Surgery can cure 95-99% of early melanomas, Tawbi notes. For those who have advanced stage melanomas, either Stage 3 or 4, immunotherapies can often extend lives. Since about 2010, checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy — a type of treatment that uses the body's immune system to better fight cancer — have transformed melanoma treatment. '(They've) absolutely changed everything and started resulting for long-term survival for patients,' Tawbi says. 'The survival for melanoma has actually increased by 10-fold.' Before checkpoint inhibitors, the median survival time for metastatic melanomas like Gee's was seven months. Now it is 72 months, he adds. 'That's pretty pretty impressive,' he says. 'The only way we got patients to have better survival rates in the last 10 years has been purely through research.' Before being diagnosed with cancer, Gee thought he would pursue electrical engineering or computer science. After his experience as a patient and seeing how technology improves medicine, he's majoring in biomedical engineering. 'Seeing all those cool machines and wanting to make those threw me into biomed engineering,' he says. Today, he's a 'total sunscreen freak." 'I'm all about the sunscreen now,' he says. 'I hope people will start wearing their sunscreen. … That's really what I want to get across is wear sunscreen, don't tan on purpose.' Gee also hopes his story helps other young men with melanoma feel less isolated. 'You really don't see that too much. When I was first getting started, they were surprised. They didn't know what doctor to put me with. You just don't see it,' he says. 'It's so rare for … adolescent males to get melanoma and it can be stressful.' Having cancer at a young age provided Gee with new insight into what's important. 'I've got a new perspective on life,' he says. 'It's very important that we take care of ourselves, and I think a lot of young people neglect that.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen Diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma at 15 Says Doctors Initially Dismissed Cancer Symptom as Sign of ‘Puberty'
Samuel Gee, now 19, has shared how he underwent a biopsy and found out that a mole that he had on his back since he "was little" turned out to be cancerous He was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma at the age of 15 The teenager told one of the symptoms he had was a "swollen lymph node," which doctors initially dismissed as being down to "puberty"A 19-year-old boy is recalling being diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma at the age of 15, and how doctors initially dismissed one of his symptoms as a sign of "puberty." Samuel Gee told that he had gotten the mole — which he had on his back since he 'was little' — checked out in 2020 following the advice of a wrestling referee, who noticed the mark during one of his matches. He said the referee told him that he had 'to get it checked out,' and so he underwent a biopsy at a dermatologist. It turned out to be good advice as doctors determined the mole was cancerous and Gee was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma at the young age of 15. 'I was definitely surprised,' Gee recalled of his reaction to getting the news to the outlet. 'I was in shock.' The college student noted to Today that the mole 'looked like it was drying out' and said that the mole changed over the years since he was 'young' and 'gradually [became] raised' — a symptom of melanoma. However, Gee said he didn't really focus on it, as he was more focused on 'swelling' which had popped up on his right leg. He said he initially thought it was an 'inguinal hernia,' which is 'when tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles,' according to the Mayo Clinic. A pediatric surgeon eventually identified the issue to him, but wasn't aware of the cause. 'He was like, 'It's not a inguinal hernia, but likely [an] swollen lymph node,'' Gee told Today. 'He's like, 'It's just from puberty … Come back in a few weeks if it hasn't gone away.'' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Gee later learned that it was also related to his cancer. He said that doctors told him his melanoma had spread locally, which caused the swollen lymph node in his leg. To treat the cancer, the teenager underwent immunotherapy — which he said was easier to manage under the COVID-19 lockdown. 'I would get fatigued a little bit. It would make me nauseous,' he says. 'It was a very day-to-day thing. Some days I would feel fantastic. Some days I would feel like I needed to throw up or I was really tired.' After undergoing immunotherapy, Gee eventually underwent surgery to remove the melanoma and lymph nodes from his body. He then underwent additional rounds of immunotherapy before he was officially declared 'disease free.' According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the 'most common type of cancer' in the U.S., and while melanoma 'accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers,' it 'causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.' The American Cancer Society predicted that approximately 105,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2025 and about 8,400 are 'expected to die of melanoma.' The organization noted that while it is more common for older adults to be diagnosed with melanoma, 'it's one of the most common cancers in young adults.' As for Gee, who is now an engineering student at Texas A&M, he said he is taking his skincare seriously — especially when it comes to going out in the sun. 'I'm all about the sunscreen now,' he told Today. 'I hope people will start wearing their sunscreen. … That's really what I want to get across is wear sunscreen, don't tan on purpose.' He further said that he has a 'new perspective on life' since his cancer treatment, adding, 'It's very important that we take care of ourselves, and I think a lot of young people neglect that.' Read the original article on People
Eater
20-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Logan Circle's Viceroy Hotel Wants to Offload Its Marquee Restaurant
The days are numbered for the Viceroy Washington D.C.'s food and beverage outlets. The 3,750-square-foot restaurant space, petite rooftop pool bar, and lobby-level coffee shop are all up for grabs, per a newly posted call for bidders. Two years after opening, the posh, 178-room hotel off the buzzy 14th Street NW corridor unveiled its glamorous American restaurant Dovetail in 2022. A big Hollywood party for White House Correspondents' Dinner weekend christened the promising indoor-outdoor venue. Vet chef James Gee, who formerly led the kitchen at I'm Eddie Cano (Chevy Chase) and Cittanuova (East Hampton), sent out catch-all menus bursting with colorful produce, seafoods, and plump Roseda Farm burgers and steaks (1430 Rhode Island Avenue NW). Gee tells Eater he parted ways with the LA-based hospitality company last month. The incoming operator would also handle all catering capabilities for the boutique hotel. Italian spirits company announces first D.C. restaurant The team behind Ivy City's popular amaro distiller Don Cicco & Figli opens Tarì Trattoria in the Union Market district next month (300 Morse Street NE). Founder Francesco Amodeo turns to his Amalfi Coast roots with whitebait fritters dipped in almond pesto, house-made rabbit pasta with thyme, and Campania's favorite dessert (eggplants, candied fruits, almonds, and chocolate). Seafood flown in from Italy, Japan, and beyond will be dry-aged on-site, and dishes are prepared with olive oil and sea salt in lieu of butter. Mixologist and Barmini alum Alex Pisi plans to make a spiked edition of Italy's rocketship popsicle on an edible licorice stick. The 32-seat dining room, framed with old photos of Amodeo's fisherman uncle at work, is joined by an even-bigger alfresco situation out front. Meet Frederick's new 7th sister Downtown Frederick, Maryland's Ordinary Hen closed on Saturday, May 17, and the historic mansion site already has a new name and menu (228 North Market). Under the direction of chef Christian Blouin, formerly of Firestone's, and new ownership, 7th Sister plans to celebrate the mid-Atlantic legacy of the Houck sisters, who built the mansion in the heart of Frederick. Dishes include oysters dressed in blackberry mignonette and seared crab cakes flanked with whole grain mustard. Reservations go live on Thursday, May 29. Jake's Tavern grows up Shaw's six-year-old neighborhood destination known for its drafts, burgers, wings, sports, and secret back patio outfitted with a boat is ready to expand up top. Per an announcement on social media, its long-awaited second floor with a TBA name plans to 'open soon' for private events, DJs, and game-day watch parties. Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Survey reveals employees' top peeves at work
Slacking colleagues top the list of people's workplace frustrations, according to new research from Acas. A survey of 1,000 workers by the conciliation service revealed that half of those polled cited colleagues not doing their jobs properly as their biggest work-related annoyance. Other grievances included colleagues taking credit for others' work, overbearing bosses, and rude customers or staff. 'Anger over a lack of recognition, rudeness, their boss or a colleague seen as not pulling their weight can impact productivity and escalate to conflict if left unresolved at work,' Acas head of individual dispute resolution Stewart Gee said. 'Unresolved emotions over things that seem unfair can have a detrimental effect at work and it is important for workplace conflict to be addressed at the earliest possible opportunity. 'Acas's aim is to prevent, manage or resolve conflict. An informal resolution through an initial chat or mediation can help organisations prevent the cost and stress of more formal procedures such as an employment tribunal.' Acas recommended that employers encourage staff to raise issues informally, adding that dealing with conflict positively and quickly can build trust and improve relationships. 'Conflict at work is estimated to cost UK organisations £30 billion each year and getting the basics right plays a key part in helping to reduce it,' Mr Gee said. 'Workers can also help. Speaking to a manager early is almost always better than waiting for it to become a larger issue that requires a more formal response. 'This might also avoid costly discipline and grievance procedures.' In January, Conservative shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Britons must increase their work ethic in order to compete on a global scale. Mr Philp claimed that while working at Sainsbury's, delivering newspapers, and cleaning people's vehicles in his early teens, he cultivated a strong work ethic. "I found that working hard brought its own reward and I've kept doing that ever since,' he said. "It is something I would like to infuse more into our national culture as well." Asked if he thought a belief in hard work was something that was missing in Britain, he replied, "I do a bit." The latest figures show Britain's jobless rate rose unexpectedly and the number of workers on payrolls has fallen by the most since the height of the pandemic. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
North Texas educators talk pros, cons of new bill that would allow young children to be suspended from school
Texas lawmakers are working on a bill that could change how children are disciplined in school. It's called House Bill 6. If passed, this would allow suspensions for students from pre-K to second grade – students ages 4 to 8. Under HB 6, students can be suspended if there's an offense related to weapons; if students threaten the immediate health and safety of others; or if they repeatedly or significantly disrupt the classroom, as determined by the campus administrator. If passed, the bill would allow in-school suspensions up to 10 days and out-of-school suspensions up to three days. Are those students too young to be suspended? To get answers, Lacey Beasley spoke with Kennedale ISD's superintendent and director of counseling services for their take. Kennedale ISD has a disciplinary program to prevent suspensions at all ages. Kennedale ISD superintendent Dr. Chad Gee said a lot of behavior issues go back to life at home. "I will say that Kennedale is not against it. I think there must be some guardrails in place," Gee said. "We are a district of innovation, so we previously already put in place on that plan to be able to suspend students below third grade, but we limited it to two days. Not three days, like the normal suspensions are." In an interview with Lacey Beasley, Gee and Stephanie Devlin, director of counseling services at Kennedale ISD, talked about the pros and cons of the bill. The following conversation was lightly edited for clarity. Lacey Beasley: Do you think that pre-K to second grade age, is that too young to be suspending students? Gee: This is where HB 6 comes into play, and this is where our district of innovation comes into play. We were experiencing students with very severe behaviors that were compromising the classroom environment. I watched a 5-year-old tear up a kindergarten classroom, and when I say tear it up, I mean destroy it. It's real. And how are those teachers supposed to educate all the students in their classrooms with that going on? We don't necessarily have the resources to deal with a lot of those behaviors, so I see the purpose with HB 6. Devlin: It's never our first go-to in any grade level, especially at this grade. Multiple interventions and conversations are done prior to reaching the point of putting a student outside of school. Beasley: If home life is not okay, then there's no way school life can be okay. Gee: How are they supposed to learn when they're dealing with all these other things in their life? It could be food insecurity. We see kids who witness things that they shouldn't be witnessing. Devlin: I remember sitting in a training hearing, if they're mad or sad, they can't add, which is the simplicity of that is so true even for adults. We can't control that in their homes. We can control that here.
