One Year Anniversary
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One Year Anniversary

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › One Year Anniversary

  • Post
    • September 10, 2015 at 2:03 pm
    _Paul_
    Participant

    What an odd thing to celebrate – my one year anniversary of stage 4'ness. When my oncologist told me I was stage 4 on 9/10/14 he said the "conventional" survival was less than a year. Googling revealed several sources citing that 7 months was the median survival.

    But here I am and not dead yet!

    I am truly (as are all late stage survivors) on bonus time. Without all the help from my team at SCCA, and the considerable melanoma research that has been and continues to be undertaken all over the world I am pretty sure I would not be able to type these words in. Also, I have learned so much from all the contributors to this site that has allowed me to make intelligent decisions about the path I am on.

    I have absolutely no idea if this will just be a respite from the disease or a long term durable response, but I do know enough not to waste my bonus days!

    I am just so humbled and so incredibly grateful.

    – Paul

Viewing 29 reply threads
  • Replies
      • September 10, 2015 at 2:15 pm
      jbronicki
      Participant

      Happy Anniversary (that is odd to say 🙂 )  Glad you are still here Paul and wishing you a very durable response and many more anniversaries. 

        • September 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Jackie!

        • September 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Jackie!

        • September 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Jackie!

      • September 10, 2015 at 2:15 pm
      jbronicki
      Participant

      Happy Anniversary (that is odd to say 🙂 )  Glad you are still here Paul and wishing you a very durable response and many more anniversaries. 

      • September 10, 2015 at 2:15 pm
      jbronicki
      Participant

      Happy Anniversary (that is odd to say 🙂 )  Glad you are still here Paul and wishing you a very durable response and many more anniversaries. 

      • September 10, 2015 at 2:35 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Paul,

      May you celebrate many more.

        • September 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Richard!

        • September 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Richard!

        • September 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Richard!

      • September 10, 2015 at 2:35 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Paul,

      May you celebrate many more.

      • September 10, 2015 at 2:35 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Paul,

      May you celebrate many more.

      • September 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm
      arthurjedi007
      Participant

      Congrats Paul. We are passed our expiration date. Hehe

      Over 26 months for me and all this time stuff still grows and new stuff shows up but I'm still here.

      Artie

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:00 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Artie. Sorry to hear about your experience so far at MD Anderson. I am praying that once you get past the beaurcratic bullshit that things will improve. You are one of my heros on this site.

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:00 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Artie. Sorry to hear about your experience so far at MD Anderson. I am praying that once you get past the beaurcratic bullshit that things will improve. You are one of my heros on this site.

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:00 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Artie. Sorry to hear about your experience so far at MD Anderson. I am praying that once you get past the beaurcratic bullshit that things will improve. You are one of my heros on this site.

      • September 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm
      arthurjedi007
      Participant

      Congrats Paul. We are passed our expiration date. Hehe

      Over 26 months for me and all this time stuff still grows and new stuff shows up but I'm still here.

      Artie

      • September 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm
      arthurjedi007
      Participant

      Congrats Paul. We are passed our expiration date. Hehe

      Over 26 months for me and all this time stuff still grows and new stuff shows up but I'm still here.

      Artie

      • September 10, 2015 at 5:06 pm
      Mat
      Participant

      Congratulations Paul!  I also recently "celebrated" my second cancer anniversary.  Looking forward to many more for both of us.

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:03 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Hey Mat,

        Thank you and congratulations on 2! 

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:03 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Hey Mat,

        Thank you and congratulations on 2! 

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:03 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Hey Mat,

        Thank you and congratulations on 2! 

      • September 10, 2015 at 5:06 pm
      Mat
      Participant

      Congratulations Paul!  I also recently "celebrated" my second cancer anniversary.  Looking forward to many more for both of us.

      • September 10, 2015 at 5:06 pm
      Mat
      Participant

      Congratulations Paul!  I also recently "celebrated" my second cancer anniversary.  Looking forward to many more for both of us.

      • September 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm
      Bubbles
      Participant

      Oh, Paul.  Congrats on being one year POST Stage IV melanoma!!!  Wonderful news.  (The "post" part anyway!!!) Yes, I think your words ring true for many of us.  If asked, "Are you going to die?"  While the answer for everyone is obviously, "Yes"…..we can add…."But, not today!"  I wish you a ba-zillion more "post" melanoma days and years!  Celeste

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:07 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks a bunch Celeste. Bubbles is such an appropriate nick name for you since you are like a fountain of positive energy!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:07 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks a bunch Celeste. Bubbles is such an appropriate nick name for you since you are like a fountain of positive energy!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:07 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks a bunch Celeste. Bubbles is such an appropriate nick name for you since you are like a fountain of positive energy!

      • September 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm
      Bubbles
      Participant

      Oh, Paul.  Congrats on being one year POST Stage IV melanoma!!!  Wonderful news.  (The "post" part anyway!!!) Yes, I think your words ring true for many of us.  If asked, "Are you going to die?"  While the answer for everyone is obviously, "Yes"…..we can add…."But, not today!"  I wish you a ba-zillion more "post" melanoma days and years!  Celeste

      • September 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm
      Bubbles
      Participant

      Oh, Paul.  Congrats on being one year POST Stage IV melanoma!!!  Wonderful news.  (The "post" part anyway!!!) Yes, I think your words ring true for many of us.  If asked, "Are you going to die?"  While the answer for everyone is obviously, "Yes"…..we can add…."But, not today!"  I wish you a ba-zillion more "post" melanoma days and years!  Celeste

      • September 10, 2015 at 8:22 pm
      mrsaxde
      Participant

      I'm glad you're still with us! Hang in there!!

      I've done ipi. Now I'm on Keytruda. If that doesn't do it for me, I'll just move from new treatment to new treatment for as long as possible, and hopefully stay around long enough to get to the treatment that is the cure.

      All my best to you, Paul!

      -Bill

        • September 11, 2015 at 12:55 am
        tschmith
        Participant

        Great news, Paul!  Keep up the good fight!  My crystal ball says long term durable response…music to all of our ears!  Looking forward to seeing another happy post on September 10, 2016.

        Terrie

        • September 11, 2015 at 12:55 am
        tschmith
        Participant

        Great news, Paul!  Keep up the good fight!  My crystal ball says long term durable response…music to all of our ears!  Looking forward to seeing another happy post on September 10, 2016.

        Terrie

        • September 11, 2015 at 12:55 am
        tschmith
        Participant

        Great news, Paul!  Keep up the good fight!  My crystal ball says long term durable response…music to all of our ears!  Looking forward to seeing another happy post on September 10, 2016.

        Terrie

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:11 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Bill. I know we are getting closer to a cure, and the treatments keep getting better. So absolutely right, we just have to stick around!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:11 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Bill. I know we are getting closer to a cure, and the treatments keep getting better. So absolutely right, we just have to stick around!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:11 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Bill. I know we are getting closer to a cure, and the treatments keep getting better. So absolutely right, we just have to stick around!

      • September 10, 2015 at 8:22 pm
      mrsaxde
      Participant

      I'm glad you're still with us! Hang in there!!

      I've done ipi. Now I'm on Keytruda. If that doesn't do it for me, I'll just move from new treatment to new treatment for as long as possible, and hopefully stay around long enough to get to the treatment that is the cure.

      All my best to you, Paul!

      -Bill

      • September 10, 2015 at 8:22 pm
      mrsaxde
      Participant

      I'm glad you're still with us! Hang in there!!

      I've done ipi. Now I'm on Keytruda. If that doesn't do it for me, I'll just move from new treatment to new treatment for as long as possible, and hopefully stay around long enough to get to the treatment that is the cure.

      All my best to you, Paul!

      -Bill

      • September 11, 2015 at 4:21 am
      DZnDef
      Participant

      Happy anniversary, Paul!  I don't think that's a weird thing to celebrate at all.  I hit my one year (post-recurrence) anniversary last January and still going strong too!  Enjoy all of your "bonus days" and may you have too many to count!

      Cheers!

      Maggie

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:12 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Maggie and congratulations to you too! Bonus days all around!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:12 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Maggie and congratulations to you too! Bonus days all around!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:12 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks Maggie and congratulations to you too! Bonus days all around!

      • September 11, 2015 at 4:21 am
      DZnDef
      Participant

      Happy anniversary, Paul!  I don't think that's a weird thing to celebrate at all.  I hit my one year (post-recurrence) anniversary last January and still going strong too!  Enjoy all of your "bonus days" and may you have too many to count!

      Cheers!

      Maggie

      • September 11, 2015 at 4:21 am
      DZnDef
      Participant

      Happy anniversary, Paul!  I don't think that's a weird thing to celebrate at all.  I hit my one year (post-recurrence) anniversary last January and still going strong too!  Enjoy all of your "bonus days" and may you have too many to count!

      Cheers!

      Maggie

      • September 11, 2015 at 11:08 am
      dodgedh2
      Participant

      Happy Anniversery! I am Stage 4 (unknown primary) and I have been NED for 7 years and 3 months now. With all the latest developments in treatment, there are so many tools to help fight this disease (which weren't available when I first was diagnosed). Just keep fighting, and take one day at a time. Statistics you find on the web don't mean anything. They are outdated (due to the advances in treatments). This is a great group to keep in touch with. There are sevaral long-term, late-stage survivors on here. Another good group is the "Melanoma Warriors & Cancer Club Friends" group in Facebook. It is a closed group, but only to filter out spammers. A simple email to the admin for the site will get approval to join.

      Without these two groups, I wouldn't have had the energy to make it this far in our fight. Hopes and prayers that you also achieve NED for many happy years. 

      • September 11, 2015 at 11:08 am
      dodgedh2
      Participant

      Happy Anniversery! I am Stage 4 (unknown primary) and I have been NED for 7 years and 3 months now. With all the latest developments in treatment, there are so many tools to help fight this disease (which weren't available when I first was diagnosed). Just keep fighting, and take one day at a time. Statistics you find on the web don't mean anything. They are outdated (due to the advances in treatments). This is a great group to keep in touch with. There are sevaral long-term, late-stage survivors on here. Another good group is the "Melanoma Warriors & Cancer Club Friends" group in Facebook. It is a closed group, but only to filter out spammers. A simple email to the admin for the site will get approval to join.

      Without these two groups, I wouldn't have had the energy to make it this far in our fight. Hopes and prayers that you also achieve NED for many happy years. 

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:17 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks for the Facebook suggestion dodgeh2, I sent my requesty to Danielle to join the group. And thanks for the wishes to achieve NED. That would be fantastic.

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:17 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks for the Facebook suggestion dodgeh2, I sent my requesty to Danielle to join the group. And thanks for the wishes to achieve NED. That would be fantastic.

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:17 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thanks for the Facebook suggestion dodgeh2, I sent my requesty to Danielle to join the group. And thanks for the wishes to achieve NED. That would be fantastic.

      • September 11, 2015 at 11:08 am
      dodgedh2
      Participant

      Happy Anniversery! I am Stage 4 (unknown primary) and I have been NED for 7 years and 3 months now. With all the latest developments in treatment, there are so many tools to help fight this disease (which weren't available when I first was diagnosed). Just keep fighting, and take one day at a time. Statistics you find on the web don't mean anything. They are outdated (due to the advances in treatments). This is a great group to keep in touch with. There are sevaral long-term, late-stage survivors on here. Another good group is the "Melanoma Warriors & Cancer Club Friends" group in Facebook. It is a closed group, but only to filter out spammers. A simple email to the admin for the site will get approval to join.

      Without these two groups, I wouldn't have had the energy to make it this far in our fight. Hopes and prayers that you also achieve NED for many happy years. 

      • September 11, 2015 at 6:50 pm
      dfeng
      Participant

      We will cerebrate many manys after this.

      • September 11, 2015 at 6:50 pm
      dfeng
      Participant

      We will cerebrate many manys after this.

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:18 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        That sounds like an excellent plan D. Feng. I am with you!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:18 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        That sounds like an excellent plan D. Feng. I am with you!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:18 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        That sounds like an excellent plan D. Feng. I am with you!

      • September 11, 2015 at 6:50 pm
      dfeng
      Participant

      We will cerebrate many manys after this.

      • September 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm
      ET-SF
      Participant

      We met Wednesday with ET's new oncology team at Inova and spoke with Dr. Venna.  He commented that melanoma may soon become a manageable chronic illness.  There's certainly hope!

      So happy anniversary!  Here's hoping for many more!  🙂

      • September 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm
      ET-SF
      Participant

      We met Wednesday with ET's new oncology team at Inova and spoke with Dr. Venna.  He commented that melanoma may soon become a manageable chronic illness.  There's certainly hope!

      So happy anniversary!  Here's hoping for many more!  🙂

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:21 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thank you very much SF! ET is very luck to you have on her side!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:21 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thank you very much SF! ET is very luck to you have on her side!

        • September 22, 2015 at 4:21 am
        _Paul_
        Participant

        Thank you very much SF! ET is very luck to you have on her side!

      • September 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm
      ET-SF
      Participant

      We met Wednesday with ET's new oncology team at Inova and spoke with Dr. Venna.  He commented that melanoma may soon become a manageable chronic illness.  There's certainly hope!

      So happy anniversary!  Here's hoping for many more!  🙂

Viewing 29 reply threads
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