Elbow Lump

Hi Mark,

10 years ago I was feeling as you are now but our daughter was 13 and our sons were grown.  I wanted to be here to see our daughter graduate from high school but felt that wouldn't happen.  I'm stage IIIC, in the last third of that category – not a good place to be

I am now, as of last Sunday, 10 years NED and life is good.  I like to say so far so good as you just never know but the thought of it returning is not in the front of my thoughts anymore.  I did surgery and interferon, got through 9 months of it, but there are MANY in here who have done other treatments and some who are doing the watch and wait and they are still going strong. 

Our daughter has graduated from high school AND college and is getting married next June.  I've had three more grandchildren since I went to 3C at the age of 46 and we have another on the way.  Hang in there, with more time behind you and this diagnosis life will get better and this won't consume you.  I can't say strongly enough what a difference this site made to me, to see others doing well at my stage.  Good luck to you!

DebbieH, stage IIIC, NED 10 years after interferon and no scans

Hi Mark,

10 years ago I was feeling as you are now but our daughter was 13 and our sons were grown.  I wanted to be here to see our daughter graduate from high school but felt that wouldn't happen.  I'm stage IIIC, in the last third of that category – not a good place to be

I am now, as of last Sunday, 10 years NED and life is good.  I like to say so far so good as you just never know but the thought of it returning is not in the front of my thoughts anymore.  I did surgery and interferon, got through 9 months of it, but there are MANY in here who have done other treatments and some who are doing the watch and wait and they are still going strong. 

Our daughter has graduated from high school AND college and is getting married next June.  I've had three more grandchildren since I went to 3C at the age of 46 and we have another on the way.  Hang in there, with more time behind you and this diagnosis life will get better and this won't consume you.  I can't say strongly enough what a difference this site made to me, to see others doing well at my stage.  Good luck to you!

DebbieH, stage IIIC, NED 10 years after interferon and no scans

Hi Mark – my husband is stage 3a and he just celebrated 2 years NED in August (no treatment except surgery).   A couple of weeks before his oncology appointment he developed pain in his elbow.  I thought it was melanoma.  Nope, it was tennis elbow.  One time he had 2 lumps in his groin area.  I freaked out of course.  It was a skin rash from the hot tub.  He had a scratch in his throat for 2 months..I thought it was a tumor.  It wasn't.  My list of "freak outs" goes on and on.   So I am definately not the one to talk about how to deal with the anxiety, but I can tell you that most all of us are in the same boat.  

All my best to you

Emily

Hi Mark – my husband is stage 3a and he just celebrated 2 years NED in August (no treatment except surgery).   A couple of weeks before his oncology appointment he developed pain in his elbow.  I thought it was melanoma.  Nope, it was tennis elbow.  One time he had 2 lumps in his groin area.  I freaked out of course.  It was a skin rash from the hot tub.  He had a scratch in his throat for 2 months..I thought it was a tumor.  It wasn't.  My list of "freak outs" goes on and on.   So I am definately not the one to talk about how to deal with the anxiety, but I can tell you that most all of us are in the same boat.  

All my best to you

Emily

Mark,

I'm almost 3 years NED.  I know it seems inevitable that it will come back, but Debbie H is the perfect example of someone who has overcome the "odds".  The thing that helps me the most besides knowing about all of the other long-term survivors is to remember that everyone is different.  The past 6 months I've found myself not worrying as much.  I even have days when I don't think about it at all.  I didn't ever think that would happen.  My girls are now 16 and 10 and I keep telling myself I will be here to see both of them graduate.  Be sure to be aware of changes in your body that you should check out, but try not to spend too much wasted time worrying.  I had an experience recently with my thyroid and I had to have a biopsy.  I wanted to get the results but my endo. doesn't give out results on the phone so it was no news is good news.  It took all I could do to get through the week of waiting to hear if I needed to come in.   Then the month passed and by the time my next appt. came around I had forgotten I'd even had the biopsy.  I think that incident taught me that many people have worse situations than I do and I need to realize I'm not the only cancer patient in the world.  I know it's sometimes hard for me to remember that.  Hang in there and good luck with everything.  Enjoy life!

Amy S. in Michigan

Mark,

I'm almost 3 years NED.  I know it seems inevitable that it will come back, but Debbie H is the perfect example of someone who has overcome the "odds".  The thing that helps me the most besides knowing about all of the other long-term survivors is to remember that everyone is different.  The past 6 months I've found myself not worrying as much.  I even have days when I don't think about it at all.  I didn't ever think that would happen.  My girls are now 16 and 10 and I keep telling myself I will be here to see both of them graduate.  Be sure to be aware of changes in your body that you should check out, but try not to spend too much wasted time worrying.  I had an experience recently with my thyroid and I had to have a biopsy.  I wanted to get the results but my endo. doesn't give out results on the phone so it was no news is good news.  It took all I could do to get through the week of waiting to hear if I needed to come in.   Then the month passed and by the time my next appt. came around I had forgotten I'd even had the biopsy.  I think that incident taught me that many people have worse situations than I do and I need to realize I'm not the only cancer patient in the world.  I know it's sometimes hard for me to remember that.  Hang in there and good luck with everything.  Enjoy life!

Amy S. in Michigan

Hi Mark,

I am very sorry that you have to live with Melanoma. It is normal to live with the fear in you, that melanoma could reappear. But you cannot constantly think of bad things, you know? As far as I know from my aunt`s experience with melanoma (she was diagnosed with melanoma stage 3 in 2007), during the treatment, she tried to stay positive, active and live fully! Well, she also tried out natural medicine in order to activate her immune system and strenghten the body. She lives in Latvia, and the most effective treatment method with or without combining it with chemo, is considered virotherapy. Well, she was happy with the outcome and no side-effects. 
So try to focus on the good things and people in your life, and explore the possibilities to calm down your worries!
wishing all the best!

Hi Mark,

I am very sorry that you have to live with Melanoma. It is normal to live with the fear in you, that melanoma could reappear. But you cannot constantly think of bad things, you know? As far as I know from my aunt`s experience with melanoma (she was diagnosed with melanoma stage 3 in 2007), during the treatment, she tried to stay positive, active and live fully! Well, she also tried out natural medicine in order to activate her immune system and strenghten the body. She lives in Latvia, and the most effective treatment method with or without combining it with chemo, is considered virotherapy. Well, she was happy with the outcome and no side-effects. 
So try to focus on the good things and people in your life, and explore the possibilities to calm down your worries!
wishing all the best!