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10years and cruising
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10years and cruising

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › 10years and cruising

  • Post
    • April 29, 2018 at 1:24 pm
    jag
    Participant

      Hello everybody, 

      Very sorry that I didn't give myself a shout out for being disease free 10years in March.  I remember how inspiring that used to sound.  My treatments involved biochemotherapy, interleukin 2.  Lung removal surgery and 6 brain surgeries, SRS and patch brain radiation, lots of prayers and a supportive wife.

      My philosophy was never give up until you know all of the options are out, and know all of your options in case scans come back with bad news.  I used to get daily google alerts for melanoma survivors and new melanoma therapys to have knowledge and inspiration.  

      The other reseource I used was clinicaltrials.gov.  I used to study those expermental therapy's like a Sears toy catalog seeing which trials would apply for me.

      Since my last brain surgery, (2010 for getting rid of radiation necrosis) I have started my own housecall veterinary business (with my wife) had a son (Jedd (named after the great Jedd Wolchok)) who will turn 6 on May 5, torn down a house and put a new one in it's place,  

      So, to sum it up,  There is life after melanoma survival and just because the chips are down doesn't mean you are out of the game.  When I go to church I often pray for the people who are fighting and their loved ones supporting them and those that have been lost(see I haven't forgotten my peeps).

      I wish everybody well.

      Best Regards,

      John

    Viewing 12 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 29, 2018 at 2:47 pm
        gopher38
        Participant

          Wow.  Quite a story.  Well done.

          • April 29, 2018 at 2:49 pm
          Bubbles
          Participant

            Amen!  Thanks for sharing.  Live large!!  celeste

            • April 29, 2018 at 3:39 pm
            stevek1959x
            Participant

              Congrats and thanks for posting from a newbie.  LIke you, I always like when I have options – it gives me reason to keep going.

              • April 29, 2018 at 4:25 pm
              AMcReader
              Participant

                I stumbled across your profile and previous comments a few weeks ago and your story has given a Stage 4 newbie like me even more hope and strength. I’m 32 with a 2 month old baby who was born two weeks before I found the mass in my brain and two smaller spots in my lungs…so, I am not going down without the fight of a lifetime. 

                Your story is amazing. Thank you for sharing it and always coming back to keep all of our spirits up!

                • April 29, 2018 at 5:01 pm
                sister of patient
                Participant

                  Love it!!! Sharing these stories is soooo important!! Thank you John, may NED be yours forever!! Best wishes to you and your family!!

                  Barb

                  • April 29, 2018 at 6:22 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant
                    Hey John! Nice to see you post, can’t believe Jedd is 6! Time flies and glad everything is going well!
                      • April 29, 2018 at 8:32 pm
                      vivian
                      Participant

                        This is a wonderful post!  I remember when Jedd was born as if it were yesterday…Congratulations on his 6 years and your 10!

                        Lear

                      • April 30, 2018 at 6:26 am
                      doxiemom
                      Participant

                        Thanks for sharing. Hope for us all. 

                        • April 30, 2018 at 12:16 pm
                        bjeans
                        Participant

                          Wonderful! Read your post to my husband (the patient). I'm going to borrow your sears catalogue phrasing. A friend was just diagnosed with brain cancer (not melanoma) and clinical trials are not on his radar. Thank you. 

                          • April 30, 2018 at 8:50 pm
                          jbronicki
                          Participant

                            So happy for you and your family!  There literally is nothing better than these posts about long term survival as well as life going on during and after treatment.  Congratulations and you've done the community proud!

                            • May 1, 2018 at 12:54 am
                            Rick from NC
                            Participant

                              I second John's comments.  I'm coming up on 26 years NED after IL-2 complete response in 1992 at NIH.  I was 36 years old at that time; now I'm 62.  Complete responses are often durable!  I still read this site frequently and wish all of you the best.

                              • May 1, 2018 at 3:09 am
                              BrianP
                              Participant

                                Thanks for posting John.  Very inspirational.

                                • May 2, 2018 at 2:36 pm
                                Coragirl
                                Participant

                                  Thank you for this. My husband moved from stage 3 to 4 yesterday.. Your story gives us hope. 

                                  • September 23, 2020 at 12:39 pm
                                  [email protected]
                                  Participant
                                    great to hear that its possible…going through necrosis myself now …and love to here the good news stories..well done
                                Viewing 12 reply threads
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