Hi Everyone,
Just popping in because I think of all of you often, even though I've been out and about "living life" as they say. Wanted to share some good news & a bit of hope, as such posts were so helpful to me when I first joined these boards in 2015.
I am 6 months from an intense summer battling some stubborn brain mets – 5 altogether with 4 recurrences, 2 that bled and needed back-to-back crainiotimies in June/July, followed by partial (not whole) brain radiation in August. It was a real touch-and-go summer during which I prepared my will and everything else you do when you really don't think you're going to make it.
Well last week I got the results of my second follow-up brain MRI after the surgeries, and everything is stable and clear! A little necrosis surrounding one spot but nothing out of the ordinary or unexpected, and most importantly, NOTHING NEW! My body, too, has remained stable and clear for a year now (since last February).
I am feeling better and more hopeful than I have since I was first diagnosed with muscosal melanoma in spring of 2015. I am back to work full-time, and my energy level is nearly back to normal (except a day or two after my maintenance pembro every 3 weeks when I'm hit with fatigue, like today).
Healthwise, 2017 is off to a fabulous start after an extraordianarily rocky 2016 that, on top of the brain met scenario, included some of the most extreme side effects of the ipi/nivo protocol. Along the way, these boards taught and encouraged me to get second opinions for optimum care.
All this is to say….hang in there fellow warriors!! You are all in my heart daily and I do check in every now and then without posting, to both follow many of your stories as well as stay informed with the latest research and anecdotal tales. Whenever you're here, you're doing what you're supposed to be doing – connecting and educating yourself to be your own best advocate.
So be well, be aware, and believe 🙂
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