Aloha warriors, sorry for my absence from the board. I needed time away from thinking about the melanoma and just get on with life.
I just got results from my most recent scan, and I am celebrating a full year since my last surgery which cleaned house of my major tumors. All clear, with no new progression. I have been off all medications, for the year, and want to offer a message of hope.
Old-timers know I battled hard for four years. I did it all. Surgeries, radiation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies. It seemed nothing would stop the beast. I was just beating it back, waiting for the next drug treatment approval. Right up until my biggest surgery last December, which removed my spleen, engulfed with a grapefruit sized tumor, plus two other abdominal tumors, I had mostly non-stop progression.
I have been lucky in that along with good care, my tumors have not attacked vital organs, but had non-stop invasive tumors pop up in many areas. I have plenty of scars and damage, but here I am, feeling great when the statistics had me most likely dead by now. It seems that although I was thought to be a non-responder to most everything, maybe, there is some lasting impact from the treatments.
Rather than get into any more details, I want to just thank those who supported me, and shared their wisdom and experience throughout these years. If not for the advice I received here, I doubt I would be in this wondrous position. I also feel so badly for those we lost, and hope their families are doing as well as possible. I hate this insidious beast.
I've been lucky, and have been my own advocate for my care. Not fallen for the natural remedy peddlers who prey off of peoples fears. I found a wonderful specialist who saved my life. While this has just been one year, and I know I may need to go to battle again someday, I just want to wish all my brothers and sisters here, a wonderful holiday season. Hang in there, be strong, and be well.
Gary
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