Hi Everybody,
I was diagnosed with Stage IV in August 2013. We all remember that dark day of diagnosis and going through the denial, fear, anger, tears, prayers, and depression. Almost every warrior on this forum knows what it feels like to face the possibility of an early death. It's a terrifying, dark place that we all have to wrestle with when the doctor says "I have your biopsy and the results aren't good"
What got me through the darkness? It certainly wasn't the surgeons or oncologist at the hospital that first treated me, they gave me little hope. What made the difference for me were the warriors on this forum. The fighters like you who have been diagnosed before me. You gave me hope by giving me knowledge, support and best of all…the inspiration to fight hard and not give up Your words and posts were bright pin-points of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
Some of us never emerge out of the darkness after the diagnosis, they give up hope and don't seek out the information or contact the best possible specialists. Fortunately, because of you, I did start learning about Mel and sought out the best specialist I could find. Luckily, Dr. Weber at Moffitt was close by.
I've been in the GSK Mage 3 clinical trial since last October, getting the recMage vaccine plus the Poly ic:lc booster. While the trial resuls weren't promising on the previous stage of the Mage trial, I'm hopeful that it will be a success in my trial (it's more genetically targeted).
The good news is that I am NED!! But I know that I may not be cancer free, my body is fighting that battle every single minute.
For those of you coming to this forum for the first time, you have come to the right place. These melanoma fighters rock!! I have great respect and admiration for every one on this forum.
Thank you.
Frank
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