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One Year Anniversary

Forums General Melanoma Community One Year Anniversary

  • Post
    kwb
    Participant

      Today is the one anniversary of my Stage 2, Clark's Level V melanoma removal from my upper-back.  Doctors removed about a tennis ball-sized amount of tissue, then had to go back in about a week later to "clean up" the margins.  I had a 3.5 inch by 6 inch skin graft from my thigh to cover the "flap" created by the plastic surgeon.  I'm about fully recovered as far as movement and stamina are concerned.  However, I still get minor aches and pains when I do to much heavy lifting or other activities.

      Today is the one anniversary of my Stage 2, Clark's Level V melanoma removal from my upper-back.  Doctors removed about a tennis ball-sized amount of tissue, then had to go back in about a week later to "clean up" the margins.  I had a 3.5 inch by 6 inch skin graft from my thigh to cover the "flap" created by the plastic surgeon.  I'm about fully recovered as far as movement and stamina are concerned.  However, I still get minor aches and pains when I do to much heavy lifting or other activities.  I still can't seem to exercise as much as I used to, and, unfortunately, swimming is almost completely out.  I will see a plastic surgeon in a few weeks to look at the scar tissue (including what's left of my "flap").  It may require an additional procedure.

      In February of this year, while still recovering from November's surgery, I had two (2) in situ melanomas removed – one on my upper cheek, the other on my upper back (on the other side).  Needless to say, this past winter and spring were not pleasant for me or for my family.

      I hope and pray that everyone who suffers through this disease continues to get better and gets the best possible treatment.

      Unfortunately for me, I feel that every visit to the dermatologist is just another "shoe waiting to drop."

       

       

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        scots
        Participant
          Congrats on your one anniversary .

          Scot

          scots
          Participant
            Congrats on your one anniversary .

            Scot

            scots
            Participant
              Congrats on your one anniversary .

              Scot

              BethA in VA
              Participant

                One year is great!  Celebrate the good news.  You will always be waiting for the next shoe to drop, but while you wait..don't forget to.live.  Don't spend time worrying, as it solves nothing.  I hope you will be one of the lucky ones and you will never see another melanoma report.  Good luck.    BethA   3/B

                  NYKaren
                  Participant
                    Congrats on a year.
                    I’m “managing” IIIC metastatic cutaneous Mel–everything helps a little but nothing gets me NED. It helps me to remember where I was a year ago–traveling back and forth to Yale-New Haven for IL-2. Not fun, to say the least!
                    Tomorrow I start a brand new clinical trial.
                    Good luck to us both!
                    NYKaren
                    Participant
                      Congrats on a year.
                      I’m “managing” IIIC metastatic cutaneous Mel–everything helps a little but nothing gets me NED. It helps me to remember where I was a year ago–traveling back and forth to Yale-New Haven for IL-2. Not fun, to say the least!
                      Tomorrow I start a brand new clinical trial.
                      Good luck to us both!
                      NYKaren
                      Participant
                        Congrats on a year.
                        I’m “managing” IIIC metastatic cutaneous Mel–everything helps a little but nothing gets me NED. It helps me to remember where I was a year ago–traveling back and forth to Yale-New Haven for IL-2. Not fun, to say the least!
                        Tomorrow I start a brand new clinical trial.
                        Good luck to us both!
                      BethA in VA
                      Participant

                        One year is great!  Celebrate the good news.  You will always be waiting for the next shoe to drop, but while you wait..don't forget to.live.  Don't spend time worrying, as it solves nothing.  I hope you will be one of the lucky ones and you will never see another melanoma report.  Good luck.    BethA   3/B

                        BethA in VA
                        Participant

                          One year is great!  Celebrate the good news.  You will always be waiting for the next shoe to drop, but while you wait..don't forget to.live.  Don't spend time worrying, as it solves nothing.  I hope you will be one of the lucky ones and you will never see another melanoma report.  Good luck.    BethA   3/B

                          DonJ
                          Participant

                            Congratulations on your milestone.  Don't worry about the other shoe, you can't control that.  Hope is what keeps us going and you should never loose that.  We battled melanoma four years with our Daughter (Interfuron, IL-2, clinical trials, CTLA-4, etc) and the one thing that kept us going was hope from the medical staff.  This went on for four years.  Without hope we may not have made it past the second year.

                            Keep your head up and enjoy each day!

                            DonJ
                            Participant

                              Congratulations on your milestone.  Don't worry about the other shoe, you can't control that.  Hope is what keeps us going and you should never loose that.  We battled melanoma four years with our Daughter (Interfuron, IL-2, clinical trials, CTLA-4, etc) and the one thing that kept us going was hope from the medical staff.  This went on for four years.  Without hope we may not have made it past the second year.

                              Keep your head up and enjoy each day!

                              DonJ
                              Participant

                                Congratulations on your milestone.  Don't worry about the other shoe, you can't control that.  Hope is what keeps us going and you should never loose that.  We battled melanoma four years with our Daughter (Interfuron, IL-2, clinical trials, CTLA-4, etc) and the one thing that kept us going was hope from the medical staff.  This went on for four years.  Without hope we may not have made it past the second year.

                                Keep your head up and enjoy each day!

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