MRF-Logo2019-Horizontal-RGB
Sharing hope/joy
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Sharing hope/joy

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Sharing hope/joy

  • Post
    • May 15, 2011 at 4:25 pm
    rainsberger.tony
    Participant

      Hi All,

      Just wanted to share a little joy/hope:

       

      This brief history of my wife's journey with melanoma. 

      6/06:  Initial diagnosis, stage IIIC with lymph involvement in her left armpit. Partial basin resection, several large moles removed (primary never identified), clean PET scan

      7/06-8/07:  Treatment: adjuvuct therapy with leukine 

      8/07:  Disease progression, stage IV

      Hi All,

      Just wanted to share a little joy/hope:

       

      This brief history of my wife's journey with melanoma. 

      6/06:  Initial diagnosis, stage IIIC with lymph involvement in her left armpit. Partial basin resection, several large moles removed (primary never identified), clean PET scan

      7/06-8/07:  Treatment: adjuvuct therapy with leukine 

      8/07:  Disease progression, stage IV

      8/07-11/07:  Treatment: IL-2 with partial response but significant growth as well

      12/07 – 7/08:  Treatment: Off trial chemo cocktail – avastin, taxol, carboplatin

      8/08-9/10:  Treatment: Clinical trial compassionate use Ipi(now called Yervoy) along with several surgeries to remove localized growth that didn’t kick her off the trial

      9/10:  Treatment:  Dacarbazine, cisplatin, vinblastine

      12/10-Present:  NED

      I feel it is important to note that my wife is a firm believer in the power of intention and the importance of visualizing the outcome you wish to create.  While we have had our share of tears and fears, she works at creating a positive attitude; it pervades her daily life.  She spends hours visualizing/feeling: “what it is like to live in a healthy, cancer-free body”, makes gratitude lists, listens to positive affirmations, and works with a counselors and support groups.  Given any opportunity she will celebrating the little victories and does a great job of looking beyond the set backs to the next victory, always hopeful of the next treatment.  She decided long ago that a scan simply indicated when a treatment change was necessary and told her oncologist to skip the minutia of numbers associated with every little lesion. 

      There is no research suggesting that this particular treatment path would help a patient reach NED.  Maybe it is her particular disease, maybe her treatment sequence, maybe her ever-present faith in good, maybe a combination.  Personally, I believe that miracles happen every day, faith and hope are important, and while medicine/science are wonderful tools, they certainly don’t have all of the answers.

    Viewing 3 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 15, 2011 at 5:09 pm
        rbruce
        Participant

          Thanks so much for sharing this.  I am newly diagnosed stage IV and I crave every bit of hope I can find.  I admire your wife so much for the ability to stay positive as that is my greatest challenge.  I am meeting my Onc tuesday to decide which treatment I go on based upon scans taken this past week.  Please tell your wife that she "touched" me with her beliefs and handling of her disease.  I am going to make a list today of what she practices and implement it in my life.  Thank you and God Bless.  Robert

            • May 15, 2011 at 5:16 pm
            rainsberger.tony
            Participant

              You might find the Healthjourneys.com website helpful if guided imagery, visualization and affirmations speak to you.  My wife highly recommends the CDs/ MP3s available there as what she believes it is her most powerful tool for working w/ her mind.  Of course that is a totally personal thing, but I send you positive energy for fnding what works for you.

              • May 15, 2011 at 8:40 pm
              Vermont_Donna
              Participant

                Hi,

                I appreciated you posting this as this is how I also live my life and I basically think the same way when it comes to my melanoma cancer diagnosis or any health problem that I have. I am very positive and do alot of visualization and use many affirmations, similar to what your wife does.

                I may have had some "scanxiety" in the beginning years of my melanoma but now look at them as a tool to gain information I need to know, such as progress or areas needing treatment, and to monitor how treatment is going etc.

                I am a spiritual person, not religious, so I do not seek solace in organized religion or prayer. I do believe in a Higher Power and feel I live my life with attunement to the Universe.

                I wish many happy and vibrant years ahead for you and your wife. 

                In light and love,

                Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                • May 15, 2011 at 8:40 pm
                Vermont_Donna
                Participant

                  Hi,

                  I appreciated you posting this as this is how I also live my life and I basically think the same way when it comes to my melanoma cancer diagnosis or any health problem that I have. I am very positive and do alot of visualization and use many affirmations, similar to what your wife does.

                  I may have had some "scanxiety" in the beginning years of my melanoma but now look at them as a tool to gain information I need to know, such as progress or areas needing treatment, and to monitor how treatment is going etc.

                  I am a spiritual person, not religious, so I do not seek solace in organized religion or prayer. I do believe in a Higher Power and feel I live my life with attunement to the Universe.

                  I wish many happy and vibrant years ahead for you and your wife. 

                  In light and love,

                  Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                  • May 15, 2011 at 11:23 pm
                  Vermont_Donna
                  Participant
                    Hi,
                    I appreciated you posting this as this is how I also live my life and I basically think the same way when it comes to my melanoma cancer diagnosis or any health problem that I have. I am very positive and do alot of visualization and use many affirmations, similar to what your wife does.
                    I may have had some “scanxiety” in the beginning years of my melanoma but now look at them as a tool to gain information I need to know, such as progress or areas needing treatment, and to monitor how treatment is going etc.
                    I am a spiritual person, not religious, so I do not seek solace in organized religion or prayer. I do believe in a Higher Power and feel I live my life with attunement to the Universe.
                    I wish many happy and vibrant years ahead for you and your wife.
                    In light and love,
                    Vermont_Donna, stage 3a
                    • May 15, 2011 at 11:23 pm
                    Vermont_Donna
                    Participant
                      Hi,
                      I appreciated you posting this as this is how I also live my life and I basically think the same way when it comes to my melanoma cancer diagnosis or any health problem that I have. I am very positive and do alot of visualization and use many affirmations, similar to what your wife does.
                      I may have had some “scanxiety” in the beginning years of my melanoma but now look at them as a tool to gain information I need to know, such as progress or areas needing treatment, and to monitor how treatment is going etc.
                      I am a spiritual person, not religious, so I do not seek solace in organized religion or prayer. I do believe in a Higher Power and feel I live my life with attunement to the Universe.
                      I wish many happy and vibrant years ahead for you and your wife.
                      In light and love,
                      Vermont_Donna, stage 3a
                      • May 15, 2011 at 5:16 pm
                      rainsberger.tony
                      Participant

                        You might find the Healthjourneys.com website helpful if guided imagery, visualization and affirmations speak to you.  My wife highly recommends the CDs/ MP3s available there as what she believes it is her most powerful tool for working w/ her mind.  Of course that is a totally personal thing, but I send you positive energy for fnding what works for you.

                        • May 16, 2011 at 2:40 pm
                        shellebrownies
                        Participant

                          Robert,

                          My husband is right in the same boat as you. His Stage IV diagnosis came as a complete surprise to us. I am a firm believer in positive thinking and try to keep Don as positive as possible.  I pray that your results are good and they get you some helpful treatment right away!

                          Also, look at some of the success stories on this site. There are people beating this disease, even at Stage IV!

                          Keep in touch and let us know how you do!

                           

                          Michelle, wife of Don, Stage IV

                          • May 16, 2011 at 2:40 pm
                          shellebrownies
                          Participant

                            Robert,

                            My husband is right in the same boat as you. His Stage IV diagnosis came as a complete surprise to us. I am a firm believer in positive thinking and try to keep Don as positive as possible.  I pray that your results are good and they get you some helpful treatment right away!

                            Also, look at some of the success stories on this site. There are people beating this disease, even at Stage IV!

                            Keep in touch and let us know how you do!

                             

                            Michelle, wife of Don, Stage IV

                          • May 15, 2011 at 5:09 pm
                          rbruce
                          Participant

                            Thanks so much for sharing this.  I am newly diagnosed stage IV and I crave every bit of hope I can find.  I admire your wife so much for the ability to stay positive as that is my greatest challenge.  I am meeting my Onc tuesday to decide which treatment I go on based upon scans taken this past week.  Please tell your wife that she "touched" me with her beliefs and handling of her disease.  I am going to make a list today of what she practices and implement it in my life.  Thank you and God Bless.  Robert

                            • May 15, 2011 at 9:05 pm
                            Carol Taylor
                            Participant

                              Amen! That positive attitude and being grateful is why I started writing my Attitude of Gratitude blog.

                              http://letsgivethanks.blogspot.com/2010/11/benefits-of-attitude-of-gratitude.html

                              That's the first one back in late November 2010.  And it goes into the benefits of being grateful and how to develop that.

                              I've also written a post about being grateful for melanoma; I have found blessings as have other people I know with various cancers. Melanoma isn't going to drag me down. I'm in control of how I react to it.

                              Miracles DO happen every day! Faith and hope are absolutely crucial, and you are quite right about medicine and science. 

                              There is, though, research that backs up the health benefits of being grateful:

                              http://women.webmd.com/features/gratitute-health-boost

                              http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201005/giving-thanks-the-benefits-gratitude

                              God knew all along and science is just getting on board. All the best to your wife!

                              Grace and peace,

                              Carol

                              • May 15, 2011 at 9:05 pm
                              Carol Taylor
                              Participant

                                Amen! That positive attitude and being grateful is why I started writing my Attitude of Gratitude blog.

                                http://letsgivethanks.blogspot.com/2010/11/benefits-of-attitude-of-gratitude.html

                                That's the first one back in late November 2010.  And it goes into the benefits of being grateful and how to develop that.

                                I've also written a post about being grateful for melanoma; I have found blessings as have other people I know with various cancers. Melanoma isn't going to drag me down. I'm in control of how I react to it.

                                Miracles DO happen every day! Faith and hope are absolutely crucial, and you are quite right about medicine and science. 

                                There is, though, research that backs up the health benefits of being grateful:

                                http://women.webmd.com/features/gratitute-health-boost

                                http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201005/giving-thanks-the-benefits-gratitude

                                God knew all along and science is just getting on board. All the best to your wife!

                                Grace and peace,

                                Carol

                            Viewing 3 reply threads

                            Tagged: 

                            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                            About the MRF Patient Forum

                            The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                            The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                            Popular Topics