Someone here who had been diagnosed a long time ago..?

Be realistic.  If you had been diagnosed 20-30 years ago and are NED, would you be visiting sites like this on a regular basis?   Certainly there are MANY who fit this category but if you are NED, why would you stick around and post?  Maybe visit on occasion but they have no reason to stick around.  In my 15 years on this board, I have had many friends fit the "over 10" and some the "over 20".  The reality of "forums" and websites like this is the people who have issues stay around and the ones who are NED move on.

Janner

Stage 1b since 1992, 3 MM primaries

Be realistic.  If you had been diagnosed 20-30 years ago and are NED, would you be visiting sites like this on a regular basis?   Certainly there are MANY who fit this category but if you are NED, why would you stick around and post?  Maybe visit on occasion but they have no reason to stick around.  In my 15 years on this board, I have had many friends fit the "over 10" and some the "over 20".  The reality of "forums" and websites like this is the people who have issues stay around and the ones who are NED move on.

Janner

Stage 1b since 1992, 3 MM primaries

Be realistic.  If you had been diagnosed 20-30 years ago and are NED, would you be visiting sites like this on a regular basis?   Certainly there are MANY who fit this category but if you are NED, why would you stick around and post?  Maybe visit on occasion but they have no reason to stick around.  In my 15 years on this board, I have had many friends fit the "over 10" and some the "over 20".  The reality of "forums" and websites like this is the people who have issues stay around and the ones who are NED move on.

Janner

Stage 1b since 1992, 3 MM primaries

Janner is right.  I was diagnosed over 10 years ago and have seen many people hang out here for awhile then go off and live long happy lives.  I'm the oddity who continues to visit the board to learn about the new treatments and offer a little support when I can even though I'm ned.

Fen

Janner is right.  I was diagnosed over 10 years ago and have seen many people hang out here for awhile then go off and live long happy lives.  I'm the oddity who continues to visit the board to learn about the new treatments and offer a little support when I can even though I'm ned.

Fen

Janner is right.  I was diagnosed over 10 years ago and have seen many people hang out here for awhile then go off and live long happy lives.  I'm the oddity who continues to visit the board to learn about the new treatments and offer a little support when I can even though I'm ned.

Fen

You might find that kind of information more in long-term studies that give % statistics over X years by stage etc…

You might find that kind of information more in long-term studies that give % statistics over X years by stage etc…

You might find that kind of information more in long-term studies that give % statistics over X years by stage etc…

I agree with Janner and Fen, but will also say that countless people have benefitted from the fact that some people do stick around and continute to offer support and information.

You have probably read the statistics, that 10 year survival for Stage IIb melanoma is just under 60%. You should ignore that statistic, and here is why:

First, those numbers are a record of what has happened to a large group of people over the past many years. They say nothing about what will happen to a single person over the next several years.

Second, the treatment landscape for melanoma is changing rapidly, with more and more options being explored even for early stage patients. The impact almost certainly will be a major shift in those survival numbers once the data catches up.

Your best approach is to be grateful your melanoma was caught early, remain vigilant, and go on with your life. If you find yourself consumed with anxiety about this you may want to see a counselor who can help you sort through what you are feeling.

Tim–MRF

I agree with Janner and Fen, but will also say that countless people have benefitted from the fact that some people do stick around and continute to offer support and information.

You have probably read the statistics, that 10 year survival for Stage IIb melanoma is just under 60%. You should ignore that statistic, and here is why:

First, those numbers are a record of what has happened to a large group of people over the past many years. They say nothing about what will happen to a single person over the next several years.

Second, the treatment landscape for melanoma is changing rapidly, with more and more options being explored even for early stage patients. The impact almost certainly will be a major shift in those survival numbers once the data catches up.

Your best approach is to be grateful your melanoma was caught early, remain vigilant, and go on with your life. If you find yourself consumed with anxiety about this you may want to see a counselor who can help you sort through what you are feeling.

Tim–MRF

I agree with Janner and Fen, but will also say that countless people have benefitted from the fact that some people do stick around and continute to offer support and information.

You have probably read the statistics, that 10 year survival for Stage IIb melanoma is just under 60%. You should ignore that statistic, and here is why:

First, those numbers are a record of what has happened to a large group of people over the past many years. They say nothing about what will happen to a single person over the next several years.

Second, the treatment landscape for melanoma is changing rapidly, with more and more options being explored even for early stage patients. The impact almost certainly will be a major shift in those survival numbers once the data catches up.

Your best approach is to be grateful your melanoma was caught early, remain vigilant, and go on with your life. If you find yourself consumed with anxiety about this you may want to see a counselor who can help you sort through what you are feeling.

Tim–MRF

OK, so like I was stage 2A in 2002, became stage IV in 2009, NED in 2010 and remain that way today.  Does that count?  I guess that would put me still undead for 14 going on 15 years.

OK, so like I was stage 2A in 2002, became stage IV in 2009, NED in 2010 and remain that way today.  Does that count?  I guess that would put me still undead for 14 going on 15 years.

OK, so like I was stage 2A in 2002, became stage IV in 2009, NED in 2010 and remain that way today.  Does that count?  I guess that would put me still undead for 14 going on 15 years.

Thank you to everyone who is NED or stable, who stays active on the forum to help everyone else.  Your advice and continued support to those still struggling has been so appreciated by myself and my family (and many others, I'm sure).  The amount of shared knowledge and shared experience has been so helpful to us.  We started this journey with so much fear, due to the overwhelmingly negative statistics and negative information on the internet.  There are still those days, especially whenever something doesn't go as planned, but there are also days of hope.  I am hopeful for everyone on this board and hopeful for new advancements in the field every day.  Stay strong everyone!

Thank you to everyone who is NED or stable, who stays active on the forum to help everyone else.  Your advice and continued support to those still struggling has been so appreciated by myself and my family (and many others, I'm sure).  The amount of shared knowledge and shared experience has been so helpful to us.  We started this journey with so much fear, due to the overwhelmingly negative statistics and negative information on the internet.  There are still those days, especially whenever something doesn't go as planned, but there are also days of hope.  I am hopeful for everyone on this board and hopeful for new advancements in the field every day.  Stay strong everyone!

Thank you to everyone who is NED or stable, who stays active on the forum to help everyone else.  Your advice and continued support to those still struggling has been so appreciated by myself and my family (and many others, I'm sure).  The amount of shared knowledge and shared experience has been so helpful to us.  We started this journey with so much fear, due to the overwhelmingly negative statistics and negative information on the internet.  There are still those days, especially whenever something doesn't go as planned, but there are also days of hope.  I am hopeful for everyone on this board and hopeful for new advancements in the field every day.  Stay strong everyone!

Hello there,

Oh I remember being in your shoes and I was desperate to hear of someone, anyone, who was still ok years later.  This is where I found them!

I was stage 3C in 2001, did interferon, and I'm fine all these years later.  I have had 7 more grandchildren and life is grand.  I personally know (thanks to this board) many others who are still going strong at least as long as me at stage 3 and some at stage 4.  The statistics are depressing but you are NOT a number.  If we can do this, so can you.  Good luck to you.

DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years!

Hello there,

Oh I remember being in your shoes and I was desperate to hear of someone, anyone, who was still ok years later.  This is where I found them!

I was stage 3C in 2001, did interferon, and I'm fine all these years later.  I have had 7 more grandchildren and life is grand.  I personally know (thanks to this board) many others who are still going strong at least as long as me at stage 3 and some at stage 4.  The statistics are depressing but you are NOT a number.  If we can do this, so can you.  Good luck to you.

DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years!

Hello there,

Oh I remember being in your shoes and I was desperate to hear of someone, anyone, who was still ok years later.  This is where I found them!

I was stage 3C in 2001, did interferon, and I'm fine all these years later.  I have had 7 more grandchildren and life is grand.  I personally know (thanks to this board) many others who are still going strong at least as long as me at stage 3 and some at stage 4.  The statistics are depressing but you are NOT a number.  If we can do this, so can you.  Good luck to you.

DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years!