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Tomorrow is 10 years!!!!!

Forums General Melanoma Community Tomorrow is 10 years!!!!!

  • Post
    SteveDB
    Participant

      Today is February 9, 2014. 

      On February 10, 2004, I had my most recent (what wound up being the last so far) of 6 cancer surgeries. When I woke up  later that afternoon, I found that my arms and hands were numb and tingly. My wife explained to me that while on the surgery table, my iliac artery exploded due to the cancer which had so compromised the arterial wall that it could not take the pressure. 
      When the surgeon came in the next morning, he explained to me what had happened. He was finished working on the tumor which had wrapped around the iliac vein, and was ready to tackle the part of the tumor which had wrapped around the iliac artery. When he touched the scalpel to the artery wall, it exploded. He continued on, telling me if not for the quick response from his partner, I would've bled out on the table. He said that I lost 1250 cc's of blood. 
      According to Melanoma protocols, the standard procedures for cancer diagnostic scans, and follow up, the first 24 months following an occurrence, or recurrence, the patient is observed closely every 3 months. If the patient reaches the 25-60 month mark, they are observed once every 6 months. Once they hit the five year mark, they are observed annually out to the 10th year. 

      If they reach the ten year mark, two things occur.
      1- if there is no recurrence, aka "NED (no evidence of disease)", they are considered cured. 
      2- the time between appointments for ongoing is decreased to once every 5 years. 

      As of this point, I am cancer free. 
      I am acutely aware of the precarious and uncertain nature of this disease. 
      I cannot tell you how many friends and family members, and acquaintances have lived for only days, to months, to even a few years with their cancer, gone into remission, and had their cancer return with a vengeance, killing them swiftly. 

      All that aside….. according to Medical science, I am now considered "cured", and will now only see my oncologist every 5 years, probably get PET scans, or at least blood tests. 

      I am presently about as ecstatic as I can be, because while my life is still in a precarious state– the intensity is feeling lifted. I suppose the title of the movie– Waiting to Exhale– applies here as an expression of how I've felt. I.e., I can exhale now. 
       

      I'm posting this as an update. I was here last on September 13-14, 2013. I was excited then, and even more so today. 
      I hope that all of you hold on to the Hope that God, in Jesus, gives. 
      I saw an article yesterday, from Noetic.org. It was on unexpected remissions, and published back in 2011. 
      I don't want to give false hope, because I believe the only real, lasting hope is found in Jesus Christ. I.e., even if we do die, we immediately enter God's Kingdom, and are in paradise for an eternity (2 Cor. 5:3-8). I do however want to say– there is Hope. 
      So….
      Hi. I am still alive. 10 years since last reccurence, 26-1/2 years since onset, 16-3/4 years since diagnosis. 
    Viewing 26 reply threads
    • Replies
        JoshF
        Participant

          Amen and God bless you!!

          JoshF
          Participant

            Amen and God bless you!!

            JoshF
            Participant

              Amen and God bless you!!

              BrianP
              Participant

                Thanks for posting Steve.  I read your profile and that is one heck of a story you have.  Congratulations on 10 years NED.  Hope you continue to have a blessed life.

                Brian

                BrianP
                Participant

                  Thanks for posting Steve.  I read your profile and that is one heck of a story you have.  Congratulations on 10 years NED.  Hope you continue to have a blessed life.

                  Brian

                  BrianP
                  Participant

                    Thanks for posting Steve.  I read your profile and that is one heck of a story you have.  Congratulations on 10 years NED.  Hope you continue to have a blessed life.

                    Brian

                    Jewel
                    Participant

                      These stories give us all such hope. Fantastic news!!!!

                      Jewel

                      Jewel
                      Participant

                        These stories give us all such hope. Fantastic news!!!!

                        Jewel

                        Jewel
                        Participant

                          These stories give us all such hope. Fantastic news!!!!

                          Jewel

                            Maureen038
                            Participant

                              Thanks for posting such amazing news!! It gives all of us hope!! Enjoy your life!!!

                              Maureen

                              Maureen038
                              Participant

                                Thanks for posting such amazing news!! It gives all of us hope!! Enjoy your life!!!

                                Maureen

                                Maureen038
                                Participant

                                  Thanks for posting such amazing news!! It gives all of us hope!! Enjoy your life!!!

                                  Maureen

                                kpcollins31
                                Participant

                                  Congratulations, Steve. What a fantastic milestone. Gives hope to all of us.

                                  Kevin

                                  kpcollins31
                                  Participant

                                    Congratulations, Steve. What a fantastic milestone. Gives hope to all of us.

                                    Kevin

                                    kpcollins31
                                    Participant

                                      Congratulations, Steve. What a fantastic milestone. Gives hope to all of us.

                                      Kevin

                                        Brendan
                                        Participant

                                          Great news, Steve.  Thank you for sharing-you give us all hope.  God Bless.

                                          Brendan

                                           

                                          Brendan
                                          Participant

                                            Great news, Steve.  Thank you for sharing-you give us all hope.  God Bless.

                                            Brendan

                                             

                                            Brendan
                                            Participant

                                              Great news, Steve.  Thank you for sharing-you give us all hope.  God Bless.

                                              Brendan

                                               

                                            Rebecca and Bob
                                            Participant

                                              Steve,

                                               

                                              Amazing. I remember reading your profile back when my husband was first diagnosed.  Thank you for sharing your story, it gives everyone hope.

                                              Rebecca

                                              Rebecca and Bob
                                              Participant

                                                Steve,

                                                 

                                                Amazing. I remember reading your profile back when my husband was first diagnosed.  Thank you for sharing your story, it gives everyone hope.

                                                Rebecca

                                                Rebecca and Bob
                                                Participant

                                                  Steve,

                                                   

                                                  Amazing. I remember reading your profile back when my husband was first diagnosed.  Thank you for sharing your story, it gives everyone hope.

                                                  Rebecca

                                                  Yvonne.D
                                                  Participant
                                                    Thank you very much for sharing his wonderful news! God bless Steve!
                                                    Yvonne.D
                                                    Participant
                                                      Thank you very much for sharing his wonderful news! God bless Steve!
                                                      Yvonne.D
                                                      Participant
                                                        Thank you very much for sharing his wonderful news! God bless Steve!
                                                        POW
                                                        Participant

                                                          Wow! "Melanoma" and "cured"– I don't think I've ever seen those two words in the same sentence before. Good for you! And thank you for taking the time to share your experience and provide hope and encouragement to other melanoma warriors.

                                                          POW
                                                          Participant

                                                            Wow! "Melanoma" and "cured"– I don't think I've ever seen those two words in the same sentence before. Good for you! And thank you for taking the time to share your experience and provide hope and encouragement to other melanoma warriors.

                                                            POW
                                                            Participant

                                                              Wow! "Melanoma" and "cured"– I don't think I've ever seen those two words in the same sentence before. Good for you! And thank you for taking the time to share your experience and provide hope and encouragement to other melanoma warriors.

                                                              KYDonna
                                                              Participant

                                                                Steve-

                                                                So happy for you!! Your news gives me great hope-my husband is fighting to become a long-term survivor, too! 

                                                                 

                                                                KYDonna
                                                                Participant

                                                                  Steve-

                                                                  So happy for you!! Your news gives me great hope-my husband is fighting to become a long-term survivor, too! 

                                                                   

                                                                  KYDonna
                                                                  Participant

                                                                    Steve-

                                                                    So happy for you!! Your news gives me great hope-my husband is fighting to become a long-term survivor, too! 

                                                                     

                                                                    KYDonna
                                                                    Participant

                                                                      Steve-

                                                                      So happy for you!! Your news gives me great hope-my husband is fighting to become a long-term survivor, too! 

                                                                       

                                                                      KYDonna
                                                                      Participant

                                                                        Steve-

                                                                        So happy for you!! Your news gives me great hope-my husband is fighting to become a long-term survivor, too! 

                                                                         

                                                                        KYDonna
                                                                        Participant

                                                                          Steve-

                                                                          So happy for you!! Your news gives me great hope-my husband is fighting to become a long-term survivor, too! 

                                                                           

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