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Scan Results…..
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Scan Results…..

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Scan Results…..

  • Post
    • August 2, 2010 at 4:32 pm
    debbieVA
    Participant

       MPIPers…

      It’s that time again…. happy and blessed to say …ALL’s CLEAR.  Been a long journey since 2006, but thrilled to remain NED and Healthy! 

      The important take away is….always have hope.  Never give up.  I can still picture my Medical Oncologist at Johns Hopkins telling me I had ‘6-9 months, Stage 4 prognosis usually under a year’..and all he offered me was a vaccine trial.   I have exceeded my ‘expiration date’ by 34 months and remain NED.  

       MPIPers…

      It’s that time again…. happy and blessed to say …ALL’s CLEAR.  Been a long journey since 2006, but thrilled to remain NED and Healthy! 

      The important take away is….always have hope.  Never give up.  I can still picture my Medical Oncologist at Johns Hopkins telling me I had ‘6-9 months, Stage 4 prognosis usually under a year’..and all he offered me was a vaccine trial.   I have exceeded my ‘expiration date’ by 34 months and remain NED.  

      Always be your own ADVOCATE.  Find alternatives, go for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinion.  Don’t stop until YOU are ready to stop.  Be the Captain of your medical team.  Find a Melanoma Specialist to Co-Captian and the rest of your support team will fall in place.  

      Wishing you all good health and happiness…

       

      Debbie Stage 4 NED (IL-2 Complete Responder, 57 infusions 2007-2008)

      PS….Like the set up of MPIP BB….looks good !

    Viewing 15 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 2, 2010 at 4:57 pm
        Kimmer
        Participant

          Well Hello Fabulous!

          What great news…so glad to hear that the scan was clear.  Awesome.

          You give great advice, ya know?

          Take good care, K.

          • August 2, 2010 at 4:58 pm
          lhaley
          Participant

            Love your wonderful news and all of the hope it brings to others!!!  Also love the picture with the snow in the background!! Gives me that "cool" feeling.

            You go girl!!  Read the article about your volunteerism.  You are definitely an example of living every moment to the fullest!!

            Linda

              • August 2, 2010 at 5:01 pm
              Sharon in Reno
              Participant

                Good Morning,

                This is just wonderful news and I couldn’t agree more with your advice. Keep kicking butt and thank you very much for sharing. love, Sharon in Reno, Stage IV

              • August 2, 2010 at 5:36 pm
              Amy Busby
              Participant

                {{{{HUGS}}} from me to you hon!  so glad & appreciative & thrilled about your continued good health and active, robust life

                you live life to the fullest and for that reason (among others) you lady are my idol!

                love,

                Amy

                • August 2, 2010 at 5:41 pm
                Tim–MRF
                Guest

                  Debbie:

                  This is great–always good to hit another milestone with clean scans.  Thanks for the update.

                   

                  Tim

                  • August 2, 2010 at 6:10 pm
                  dian
                  Participant

                    Diva!

                    I’m so very very thrilled for you! thanks for the great news!

                     

                    dian

                    • August 2, 2010 at 6:32 pm
                    SusanE
                    Participant

                      Debbie, Congratulations. I am so happy for you. We are looking forward to the day that we can say this too.

                      Do I understand then that IL2 is your magic bullet or did you do a vaccine trial?

                      Thanks,

                      Susan

                       

                        • August 2, 2010 at 7:25 pm
                        debbieVA
                        Participant

                           Hi Susan….

                          NO, no vaccine trial.  I felt with mets to both lungs, I needed to hit it hard and fast.  Left Johns Hopkins, found a doctor closer to home (only 2 hours away) and started IL-2.  After 4 weeks of treatment, my doctor felt IL-2 was too toxic for me and stopped treatment.  I found a Melanoma specialist at UVA who finished up the third round of treatment.  

                          IL-2 can be deadly…..so can Melanoma…..best to hit the IL-2 when you are strong instead of weakened by disease progression.  

                          Wishing you the best….

                          debbieVA

                        • August 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm
                        akls
                        Participant

                          So happy for you Debbie!!  That’s the best news!

                          Amy S. in Michigan

                          • August 2, 2010 at 7:38 pm
                          King
                          Participant

                             I am so happy, Debbie and am very happy that you shared the news with your MPIP family.  It gives others hope as you know.  

                            Stay Strong
                            King

                            Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets

                            • August 2, 2010 at 8:42 pm
                            leni currie
                            Participant

                               NICE!!!!!  So happy for you – 

                              • August 2, 2010 at 9:39 pm
                              ValinMtl
                              Participant

                                Debbie, so happy for you..you give me inspiration and hope. I’m seeing the doctors tomorrow.  Have been having a rough time with tumor growth, my leg is a nightmare. Now on temodar..I’ll see what they say…it’s all so tiring.  Val

                                • August 2, 2010 at 9:50 pm
                                Sharyn
                                Participant

                                  Hey Debbie, this is great news! And your advice is spot on! I’m starting ipi soon, and if that doesn’t work, I have IL-2 on the back burner.  Hope I won’t need it, but if I do, I hope I respond as well as you have. I hear ya on outliving the prognosis. I was given 3 yrs in 2006, and in 2008 I was told I had a 20% chance of still being alive in 2 yrs. Well, 2 yrs is up, and I’m still here! — and with no plans of going anywhere for a long time! :>) And I’ve been stage IV  for over 18 months. Enjoy a long healthy relationship with NED. Ain’t he a great guy?

                                  Hugs

                                  Sharyn

                                  Stage IV

                                  • August 2, 2010 at 10:12 pm
                                  James from Sydney
                                  Participant

                                    Hi Debbie

                                    i am so pleased to hear your news you bring so much hope to the good people on this Board.

                                    best wishes

                                    James

                                    • August 2, 2010 at 10:22 pm
                                    jim Breitfeller
                                    Participant

                                      Debbie,

                                      At 34 months NED you are approaching a C U R E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I am right behind you.

                                      The wonders of the Immune system. How to jump start it. It is all in the Science!!!!

                                      Take care,

                                      Jimmy B

                                      • August 3, 2010 at 12:24 am
                                      Eehgads
                                      Participant

                                        dVa,

                                        So happy to read the good news. You keep on keeping on and loving life.

                                        Nothing seems to have slowed you down.

                                         

                                         

                                         

                                        • August 3, 2010 at 1:51 pm
                                        Carver
                                        Participant

                                          Wooohooo. Great news Debbie. As ever, Carver

                                          • August 3, 2010 at 4:42 pm
                                          jag
                                          Participant

                                             Great post debbie, you inspire quite a few people.

                                            John

                                        Viewing 15 reply threads
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