In June of 1987 a surgeon stuck a knife in me, carved out a lump in my armpit that turned out to be melanoma. Stage III with an unknown primary it was. Yes, you read that right, June of 1987……………twenty four years ago.
Following that knife fight, melanoma lay silent in my body until 1996 when it then reared its' ugly head and made me Stage IV. Since 1996 I have had had six recurrences, still have active disease and still am Stage IV with months to live………………..or so the story goes.
In June of 1987 a surgeon stuck a knife in me, carved out a lump in my armpit that turned out to be melanoma. Stage III with an unknown primary it was. Yes, you read that right, June of 1987……………twenty four years ago.
Following that knife fight, melanoma lay silent in my body until 1996 when it then reared its' ugly head and made me Stage IV. Since 1996 I have had had six recurrences, still have active disease and still am Stage IV with months to live………………..or so the story goes.
Well over a third of my life and damn near half of it has been saddled with melanoma wanting to murder me. In the process I started a business, lost a business, made a fortune, lost a fortune, had a wife and got bled by a wife, loved and lost true love in my arms with her last breath.
Over the years of being here I have physically met people, touched them, embraced them, been in their homes, shared with their families and watched them die from melanoma.
Each time a friend would die, I screamed to who would listen "take me instead", and so far, whoever decides that says no.
I do not know why I am alive and others are not and that bothers me.
But, whatever the deal is, all I know is to keep banging on melanoma……………..and that is just what I am doin
Charlie S
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