AshleyS

Hey Brian!

It’s been awhile since I’ve been on here. I hope you get this! I remember when I came to this board, desperate, and you, along with many of the names you posted, were so kind to me. We had similar stories (I found my cancer during pregnancy and found out it metastasized after my son’s birth). Maybe someday we’ll run into each other!

Ashley S.

Yes, congratulations on your pregnancy! Early detection and action is key. I urge you to remove the mole. I had a changing mole during my first pregnancy. It ended up being melanoma and I had a wide excision. Although they thought I was clear, the cancer spread during my second pregnancy a year later to my liver, lungs, and spine. I’m not telling you my story to scare you, it’s a rare story, but I do want to urge you to have the mole removed.

Ashley

I found out I had advanced stage Melanoma in July 2014. After I delivered my baby in December of that year, they found tumors all over my body. I have been NED since November 2015 and finished treatment in March 2017. My daughter will be nine this year and my son will be seven. There was a time when I didn’t know if I would see their third and first birthdays. I just come on here every once in a while to see how folks are doing and if there’s anyone who is pregnant with melanoma.

Keep on keeping on!

❤️

Ashley S

I completed treatment (Opdivo after Ipi/Nivo) 2.5 years ago. My doc at MD Anderson says I should assume I’m at risk (scars on the lungs). I’m a K-12 instructional coach in North Dakota. I literally am in every classroom in our rural district, so I can be exposed to 700 people in a given day. My husband is also a teacher and I have 2 elementary-aged kiddos. Although we are a small state, our numbers are on the rise; yet, I think we will be back in school. Many folks in my state feel masks are an infringement on their liberties. I’m super nervous about going back. Hugs to all of you in a similar position.

Ashley

Les,

You are awesome. In our family, “You rock the house,” is the highest compliment. You definitely rock the house!

Ashley

Hi JJK,

Here is my story….

When my first child was nine months old, I was diagnosed as stage 1B. The lymph node biopsy and PET came back clear. It took us three years and multiple miscarriages to have our first, so we were excited to try again. All of my doctors said we were fine to have another. When I was pregnant with my second, I found a lump in my groin at 20 weeks. It was advanced-staged melanoma. I chose not to undergo any treatment, but did have a complete lymph node dissection. We induced at 37 weeks and my son was born healthy. Seven days later I found out I had tumors in my liver, lungs, spine, and lots of subcutaneous spots throughout my body. I failed chemotherapy. I moved with my husband, two-year-old daughter, and two-month-old son from North Dakota to Texas to enter a medical trial at MD Anderson. The trial was hell, but I was lucky to be a complete responder to Ipi-Nivo. I have been cancer-free for nearly five years and off meds for three. My son will enter kindergarten in the fall and my daughter will turn eight.

My doctor at MD Anderson (one of my favorite humans) agrees that my pregnancy influenced my melanoma. She advised me to have my tubes tied. It was a tough decision because I always thought we would have more children. However, I want to be a part of my children’s lives, so I did have the surgery.

I will say that had I not had children, I would try to become pregnant knowing the risks. However, I’d find doctors willing to take precautions. I would see a melanoma specialist who would be willing to work with an obstetrician. Melanoma is one of three types of cancer (leukemia/lymphoma) that can spread from the mother to the baby. Because of this, I would have weekly ultrasounds to check the placenta for any abnormalities.

Good luck making your decision. It’s very personal and very difficult.

Hugs,

Ashley

Hi Jennifer,

When you first posted, I responded with a long response but it didn’t go through. Long story short, I was in my early 30s when I was first diagnosed and also had young children (2 years and 2 months). I completed a full 2 years of Ipi/Nivo and have been NED for 3 years. I had bad stomach pains/diarrhea on the meds.

Please find my contact info on my profile if you ever need an ear. I’m from North Dakota, but still travel to MDA for checkups. I’ll be there next weekend.

Keep on keepin’ on!

Ashley

Hi Judi,

I had minor fatigue/diarrhea after my first 2 rounds. Following the third round I had grade 3 diarrhea and was taken off the dugs. Also, my Alopecia/Vitiligo, I had both, didn’t begin until about 6 months after I suspended the combination treatment. (I was actually in the trial, so my dosing may have been different.) I did follow up with 2 years of Nivo and am a complete responder.

Best wishes,

Ashley

I struggled with the same problem! Then I found Trader Joe’s sunscreen. It is amazing! I am a Stage IV survivor and I also have a 4 and 6 year old. Sunscreen is a part of our daily routine (reapplied many times throughout the day). I live in rural North Dakota and we don’t even have a TJ in our state. When we drive by one in another state, I buy a basket full. I hope this helps.

Ashley

Hi Chris,

I was diagnosed with Stage 1b melanoma in August 2013. During my second pregnancy the following year I felt a lump in my groin. I knew the melanoma progressed and a lymph node biopsy confirmed my suspicions. I also went to a doctor at a well-known institute in Minnesota. They performed a lymph node dissection, but because of my pregnancy, I chose to hold off on any other treatments/scans. Long story short, we found out I was Stage IV after my son was born. Mets on my liver, lungs, spine, and many subcutaneous spots. My doctor put me on traditional chemotherapy. The cancer spread. My doctor, in Minnesota, told me to “go home and be with your children (2 years and 2 months) and husband.”

I reached out on this board and with others’ advice, I figured out he/that facility was not the doctor/place for me. I switched my care to MD Anderson. Long story short, I’m NED and doing amazingly well 4.5 years later. Oh, and my doctor, Isabella Glitza, is German!( Perhaps Germans are more optimistic than Americans!)

I know you said you’re a data guy, but this disease is tricky, as is being human in general. I don’t know if I have any advice, per say, but I wanted to share my story for some perspective.

Ashley

Hi there. I actually only check this board anymore for folks looking for advice on melanoma and pregnancy. My first pregnancy brought on a weird looking mole, which I let go. It was Stage 1b melanoma. During my second pregnancy I found a lump in my groin. Long story short, my melanoma ended up progressing to Stage IV.

So, my story may not be incredibly reassuring at first. Here’s the good news: I’ve been cancer-free for nearly four years. I went through a lot but I survived. My son is a super kid.

In addition, I’ve learned that skin is hard to predict. This winter I had a “mole” change rapidly. I was 99.7% sure it was melanoma. It turned out being a keratosis (nothing concerning).

Take a breath and wait for the news and stay off the internet. (I know, easier said than done.) Also, be thankful you caught it and were progressive.

Best of luck,

Ashley

Hi JJ, 

I don’t respond much on this board anymore, except when I see “Pregnancy” in a post’s subject.

I get mixed answers from the experts on this topic. My doc at MDA believes there is a correlation, so I opted to have a tubal ligation.

It’s tough to figure out – sort of a chicken or egg deal – but I, like you, want to be here for my family. 

Peace,

Ashley

Hi Wendi,

Congrats on your pregnancy! I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Let me share my story with you (as quickly as possible.)

Six months after my first child’s birth, I had a mole removed. I had watched it for way too long and it ended up being Stage 1b Melanoma. After getting varying opinions, we decided to try for a second child. (It took 3 years for our first.)  I was 20 weeks pregnant when I found a lump in my groin. It was advanced staged melanoma. After my son was born, we found out the cancer had metastasized to my liver, spine, lungs, and lots of subcutaneous spots throughout my body. Luckily, a (then) immunotherapy trial, Opdivo/Yervoy, saved my life. My son is now four years, three months old and my daughter is six.

I’m not telling you my story to scare you – my journey is probably the far end of the spectrum. However, I would get a second opinion. Melanoma spreads fast and my doctors at MD Anderson believe pregnancy speeds up the spreading of it. In addition, it’s relatively safe to have surgery during pregnancy. I had a complete lymph node dissection with my son. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have further questions or want to talk. In addition, Hope for Two is an incredible resource for those who are pregnant and find out they have cancer. 

Sincerely,

Ashley

Hi Kerri,

I think of Jake often. He is amazing. You are amazing. You’re right – you’ve got this. 

Prayers,

Ashley

Hi Amanda,

I found a suspicious mole during my first pregnancy. My OBGYN said not to worry and that moles often change during pregnancy. When my daughter was 9 months, I had the mole removed. It was Stage 1b cutaneous melanoma. I had a WLE and they did all the other tests/scans and they came back clear.

I had had three miscarriages before my daughter, so we wanted to try quickly for a second. However, as is often the case, we got pregnant right away. When I was 20 weeks along, I felt a lump in my groin. A biopsy told us that it was melanoma. I consulted with doctors all over the country and had lots of different opinions what to do. In the end, I did not do any treatment and carried my son to 36 weeks. I was induced and had scans a week after my son was born.

The scans were awful. I had cancer everywhere…spine, lungs, liver, etc. I have a very long story, but in the end, a medical trial save my life. That medical trial is now FDA approved and standard care.

I have been cancer free for six years and off of treatment for four years. My daughter is 9 1/2 years old and my son is 7 1/2 years old.

No matter what happens, do your best to stay in the present. (Easier said than done!) make sure you have a medical team you trust and find a new one or get a second opinion if you need to. hugs, girl.

Please feel free to reach out if you need someone to talk to. I don’t come on theirs board a lot, but I do check in once in a while to see if there are any people struggling with melanoma and pregnancy.

Keep on keepin’ on!

Ashley S