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Stage IVer checking in
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Stage IVer checking in

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage IVer checking in

  • Post
    • January 15, 2013 at 4:07 am
    KRob
    Participant

      Hello all!

      It's been some time since I have logged on, but I always keep tabs on and prayers for all here who share the bond of melanoma.

      I have had the blessed good fortune of being an (almost) 8-year survivor of stage IV, 24 yrs since first being diagnosed in 1989 as stage I. In that time I have learned so much and understood so little, but I do know that there is hope for each and everyone of us.

      Hello all!

      It's been some time since I have logged on, but I always keep tabs on and prayers for all here who share the bond of melanoma.

      I have had the blessed good fortune of being an (almost) 8-year survivor of stage IV, 24 yrs since first being diagnosed in 1989 as stage I. In that time I have learned so much and understood so little, but I do know that there is hope for each and everyone of us.

      I cling to that hope now as I face another possible hurdle in the form of a brain lesion. The MRI was possibly in error, but my docs will rescan in 8 wks to see if there is any change.

      Does it get any easier? Sometimes.

      Is there ever a time when scans aren't stressful? Nope.

      Can someone live with melanoma? Absolutely. No one is a statistic; there is always hope!

      My best to all,

      Karen

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • January 15, 2013 at 10:27 am
        JC
        Participant

          best wishes for you.  your profile says initially diagnosed as stage I, less than 1mm, but yet had 23 nodes removed?  i didn't think they usually remove 23 nodes for stage I less than 1mm?

            • January 15, 2013 at 10:40 pm
            KRob
            Participant

              Because I was at .98 in primary's depth, the docs rounded me up to 1mm so I would be eligible to take part in a study going on at that time (SWOG- Southwest Oncology Group). I lived in Louisiana at the time (my husband was in the military) and went to TX , Ft. Sam Houston, for treatment. I was randomly selected for the wide-excision with lymphotomy.

              • January 15, 2013 at 10:40 pm
              KRob
              Participant

                Because I was at .98 in primary's depth, the docs rounded me up to 1mm so I would be eligible to take part in a study going on at that time (SWOG- Southwest Oncology Group). I lived in Louisiana at the time (my husband was in the military) and went to TX , Ft. Sam Houston, for treatment. I was randomly selected for the wide-excision with lymphotomy.

                • January 15, 2013 at 10:40 pm
                KRob
                Participant

                  Because I was at .98 in primary's depth, the docs rounded me up to 1mm so I would be eligible to take part in a study going on at that time (SWOG- Southwest Oncology Group). I lived in Louisiana at the time (my husband was in the military) and went to TX , Ft. Sam Houston, for treatment. I was randomly selected for the wide-excision with lymphotomy.

                • January 15, 2013 at 10:27 am
                JC
                Participant

                  best wishes for you.  your profile says initially diagnosed as stage I, less than 1mm, but yet had 23 nodes removed?  i didn't think they usually remove 23 nodes for stage I less than 1mm?

                  • January 15, 2013 at 10:27 am
                  JC
                  Participant

                    best wishes for you.  your profile says initially diagnosed as stage I, less than 1mm, but yet had 23 nodes removed?  i didn't think they usually remove 23 nodes for stage I less than 1mm?

                    • January 15, 2013 at 12:36 pm
                    POW
                    Participant

                      Thank you for your inspiring story! It is truly amazing that you have been able to handle this emotional roller coaster so well for so many years. Good for you!

                      I sincerely hope that the "brain lesion" turns out to be nothing. But even if it is melanoma, there are so many good treatments available now that were not available 8 years ago that you have good reason to be optimistic. Don't panic (not that you ever would!). Please keep us posted about what happens.

                      • January 15, 2013 at 12:36 pm
                      POW
                      Participant

                        Thank you for your inspiring story! It is truly amazing that you have been able to handle this emotional roller coaster so well for so many years. Good for you!

                        I sincerely hope that the "brain lesion" turns out to be nothing. But even if it is melanoma, there are so many good treatments available now that were not available 8 years ago that you have good reason to be optimistic. Don't panic (not that you ever would!). Please keep us posted about what happens.

                        • January 15, 2013 at 12:36 pm
                        POW
                        Participant

                          Thank you for your inspiring story! It is truly amazing that you have been able to handle this emotional roller coaster so well for so many years. Good for you!

                          I sincerely hope that the "brain lesion" turns out to be nothing. But even if it is melanoma, there are so many good treatments available now that were not available 8 years ago that you have good reason to be optimistic. Don't panic (not that you ever would!). Please keep us posted about what happens.

                          • January 16, 2013 at 1:52 am
                          bikerwife
                          Participant

                            Thank you for posting this. my husband is stage 5 and has had brain Mets. you give me the hope and inspiration to keep pushing forward. Thank you

                            • January 16, 2013 at 1:52 am
                            bikerwife
                            Participant

                              Thank you for posting this. my husband is stage 5 and has had brain Mets. you give me the hope and inspiration to keep pushing forward. Thank you

                              • January 16, 2013 at 1:52 am
                              bikerwife
                              Participant

                                Thank you for posting this. my husband is stage 5 and has had brain Mets. you give me the hope and inspiration to keep pushing forward. Thank you

                                • January 16, 2013 at 8:52 pm
                                DeniseK
                                Participant
                                  Dear Karen,
                                  Please read todays post from Brendan, Stage IV NED, I’m hoping the scan was a mistake! Wish I could make the next 8 weeks go by faster. I’m waiting on an mri for the 15th of February so I’m gonna try to keep busy and push it out of my mind. Its probably nothing but if its not you can beat this too!! You sound like you have a great attitude and thats what you need first and foremost!
                                  Keep us posted and hang in there!!
                                  All my best
                                  Denise
                                  • January 16, 2013 at 8:52 pm
                                  DeniseK
                                  Participant
                                    Dear Karen,
                                    Please read todays post from Brendan, Stage IV NED, I’m hoping the scan was a mistake! Wish I could make the next 8 weeks go by faster. I’m waiting on an mri for the 15th of February so I’m gonna try to keep busy and push it out of my mind. Its probably nothing but if its not you can beat this too!! You sound like you have a great attitude and thats what you need first and foremost!
                                    Keep us posted and hang in there!!
                                    All my best
                                    Denise
                                    • January 16, 2013 at 8:52 pm
                                    DeniseK
                                    Participant
                                      Dear Karen,
                                      Please read todays post from Brendan, Stage IV NED, I’m hoping the scan was a mistake! Wish I could make the next 8 weeks go by faster. I’m waiting on an mri for the 15th of February so I’m gonna try to keep busy and push it out of my mind. Its probably nothing but if its not you can beat this too!! You sound like you have a great attitude and thats what you need first and foremost!
                                      Keep us posted and hang in there!!
                                      All my best
                                      Denise
                                  Viewing 11 reply threads
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