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DebbieH

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      DebbieH
      Participant
        Well there’s a name I recognize! I rarely peek in here anymore so I’m so happy to see your post and see how well you’re doing. I was in touch with Carole for years but I haven’t heard from her in a long time. We sure had some crazy times in the chat rooms here in the early days. Nice to see you Kim.
        DebbieH
        Participant
          I remember well how terrified I was to find I went from stage 1a to 3c in six years. I had several positive nodes (axillary) and the melanoma also grew into a muscle in my back. This was in 2001. After treatment with high dose interferon (we didn’t have many options back then) I have been fine now for nearly 19 YEARS. There is always hope. Because I was so active in this melanoma community back then I met many other patients. We had get togethers. I know of several other people at my stage who are also still fine after all these years. Remember this. Good luck – take some deep breaths.
          DebbieH
          Participant
            Awesome news! I am stage 3C, also did interferon (not as many choices back then) and I’ve been fine for over 18 years. There is plenty of hope, especially now.
            DebbieH
            Participant
              Awesome news! I am stage 3C, also did interferon (not as many choices back then) and I’ve been fine for over 18 years. There is plenty of hope, especially now.
              DebbieH
              Participant

                Fantastic news Rocco!  It's nice to see a familiar name from the old days and so glad to hear you're doing well.

                DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years

                DebbieH
                Participant

                  Fantastic news Rocco!  It's nice to see a familiar name from the old days and so glad to hear you're doing well.

                  DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years

                  DebbieH
                  Participant

                    Fantastic news Rocco!  It's nice to see a familiar name from the old days and so glad to hear you're doing well.

                    DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years

                    DebbieH
                    Participant

                      Well I guess you could say I was lucky, then unlucky, then lucky again.

                      First I was diagnosed as stage 1A, "lucky you caught it so early", 8 mm deep, mitotic rate of less than 1, no ulceration, no regression (this was the lucky part).  Then it went to my lymphnodes 6 years later.  And grew out from the nodes into a muscle in my back so the muscle was also removed so now stage 3C (obviously the unlucky part). However, after interferon, I have been fine now for over 15 years from that diagnosis. 

                      In case they don't see this and respond, I personally know several other people at my stage who are also doing fine and we were all diagnosed around the same time (2001/2002).  We all did interferon around the same time.  Back then, interferon was thought to do more than we think today.  Then we thought it may help the survival rate, now they talk more in time to progression. 

                      All I can say is that we need to do whatever we can to buy time in the hope that there will be better treatment options for us down the road.  If all interferon did for me was to prolong recurrence then I'm still glad I did it.  These have been wonderful 15 years.  Our daughter was married, we have had 7 more grandchildren and life is grand.  Good luck to us all.

                      DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years and still kicking…

                      DebbieH
                      Participant

                        Well I guess you could say I was lucky, then unlucky, then lucky again.

                        First I was diagnosed as stage 1A, "lucky you caught it so early", 8 mm deep, mitotic rate of less than 1, no ulceration, no regression (this was the lucky part).  Then it went to my lymphnodes 6 years later.  And grew out from the nodes into a muscle in my back so the muscle was also removed so now stage 3C (obviously the unlucky part). However, after interferon, I have been fine now for over 15 years from that diagnosis. 

                        In case they don't see this and respond, I personally know several other people at my stage who are also doing fine and we were all diagnosed around the same time (2001/2002).  We all did interferon around the same time.  Back then, interferon was thought to do more than we think today.  Then we thought it may help the survival rate, now they talk more in time to progression. 

                        All I can say is that we need to do whatever we can to buy time in the hope that there will be better treatment options for us down the road.  If all interferon did for me was to prolong recurrence then I'm still glad I did it.  These have been wonderful 15 years.  Our daughter was married, we have had 7 more grandchildren and life is grand.  Good luck to us all.

                        DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years and still kicking…

                        DebbieH
                        Participant

                          Well I guess you could say I was lucky, then unlucky, then lucky again.

                          First I was diagnosed as stage 1A, "lucky you caught it so early", 8 mm deep, mitotic rate of less than 1, no ulceration, no regression (this was the lucky part).  Then it went to my lymphnodes 6 years later.  And grew out from the nodes into a muscle in my back so the muscle was also removed so now stage 3C (obviously the unlucky part). However, after interferon, I have been fine now for over 15 years from that diagnosis. 

                          In case they don't see this and respond, I personally know several other people at my stage who are also doing fine and we were all diagnosed around the same time (2001/2002).  We all did interferon around the same time.  Back then, interferon was thought to do more than we think today.  Then we thought it may help the survival rate, now they talk more in time to progression. 

                          All I can say is that we need to do whatever we can to buy time in the hope that there will be better treatment options for us down the road.  If all interferon did for me was to prolong recurrence then I'm still glad I did it.  These have been wonderful 15 years.  Our daughter was married, we have had 7 more grandchildren and life is grand.  Good luck to us all.

                          DebbieH, stage 3C, NED 15+ years and still kicking…

                          DebbieH
                          Participant

                            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!

                            DebbieH
                            Participant

                              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!

                              DebbieH
                              Participant

                                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!

                                DebbieH
                                Participant

                                  Well, crap.  I don't check in here much anymore and I didn't realize you were dealing with this.  It sounds like you have a good, well thought out plan in place.  Many positive thoughts and prayers from me as you become NED once again!

                                  DebbieH

                                  DebbieH
                                  Participant

                                    Well, crap.  I don't check in here much anymore and I didn't realize you were dealing with this.  It sounds like you have a good, well thought out plan in place.  Many positive thoughts and prayers from me as you become NED once again!

                                    DebbieH

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