GiniaJM

Ah Charlie: You have walked this walk so many times with dear ones you've met through MPIP, only to lose these precious beings along the way to this awful Beast called melanoma. I know that this hurts you, to watch our beloved Amy begin her own journey to this direction. She is not letting melanoma defeat her….Amy is much too strong of a warrior to have let this disease win after this long of a fight. She is instead doing what she needs to do to pass on to her new journey.

Amy is a strong Christian and has always  been so inspirational to others in their own walk. She is bound to reap rewards beyond what we can imagine, and those of us left behind will know that we've met one of the most special angels here on earth that one could meet.

I too believe in miracles,but I don't see that this is one of those times when they will happen. We can never see sense in "senseless" issues, but I believe there is a stronger purpose in meeting and learning to love a person like Amy. Her mission seems to have been to be an inspiration to many, a friend to all she met along this journey and she will remain one of my own personal favorite people I have been blessed to know, ever. She was my first melanoma friend (met in person friend), and we first met at MD Anderson after meeting here on MPIP the first year of our diagnoses. Both of us were Stage IIIc. Amy KNEW that melanoma would be back and sheactually had another melanoma occur but it was caught early, if I remember correctly. But then the initial mel came back with a vengeance.I doubt she was shocked but more likely dismayed. And Amy has given it her all, this fight with Mel.

I so hate to see her in this situation, but she has shown us all what a Warrior must be like to make a difference. Amy, I will always have you with me in my heart. Charlie, thank you for posting this for those that were unaware of this new situation and also for we Old Warriors that have known Amy for so long now. There is comfort in numbers and many of us here have only met on MPIP, but are old friends and co warriors. May God keep all of you close, and Amy, Dennis and their family closer still.

Ah Charlie: You have walked this walk so many times with dear ones you've met through MPIP, only to lose these precious beings along the way to this awful Beast called melanoma. I know that this hurts you, to watch our beloved Amy begin her own journey to this direction. She is not letting melanoma defeat her….Amy is much too strong of a warrior to have let this disease win after this long of a fight. She is instead doing what she needs to do to pass on to her new journey.

Amy is a strong Christian and has always  been so inspirational to others in their own walk. She is bound to reap rewards beyond what we can imagine, and those of us left behind will know that we've met one of the most special angels here on earth that one could meet.

I too believe in miracles,but I don't see that this is one of those times when they will happen. We can never see sense in "senseless" issues, but I believe there is a stronger purpose in meeting and learning to love a person like Amy. Her mission seems to have been to be an inspiration to many, a friend to all she met along this journey and she will remain one of my own personal favorite people I have been blessed to know, ever. She was my first melanoma friend (met in person friend), and we first met at MD Anderson after meeting here on MPIP the first year of our diagnoses. Both of us were Stage IIIc. Amy KNEW that melanoma would be back and sheactually had another melanoma occur but it was caught early, if I remember correctly. But then the initial mel came back with a vengeance.I doubt she was shocked but more likely dismayed. And Amy has given it her all, this fight with Mel.

I so hate to see her in this situation, but she has shown us all what a Warrior must be like to make a difference. Amy, I will always have you with me in my heart. Charlie, thank you for posting this for those that were unaware of this new situation and also for we Old Warriors that have known Amy for so long now. There is comfort in numbers and many of us here have only met on MPIP, but are old friends and co warriors. May God keep all of you close, and Amy, Dennis and their family closer still.

My very best advice is to talk to your  doctor about being put on an effective antidepressant. I had toxicity that caused severe depression about 6 weeks into taking interferon (4 weeks hi dose and two weeks low dose) and it was bad. I was told this is pretty common. I have now been taking Lexapro for all of these years and have not been able to get off and was told that I likely will be on it indefininely. HOWEVER it took care of that depression very quickly. I wonder if the interferon permanently changed something in my system. I simply do not know. But it would make sense to me to be put on it (Lexapro works very quickly) before you begin the treatment.

I want to stress something important that I have been told. The hi dose seems to be the most important with interferon and melanoma. I thought by going off I was dooming myself, but I am NED after many, many years (going on 8) and now feel it was worth it, but it is important to know the side effects and the risks.

Best wishes on your treatment and it's effectiveness.

My very best advice is to talk to your  doctor about being put on an effective antidepressant. I had toxicity that caused severe depression about 6 weeks into taking interferon (4 weeks hi dose and two weeks low dose) and it was bad. I was told this is pretty common. I have now been taking Lexapro for all of these years and have not been able to get off and was told that I likely will be on it indefininely. HOWEVER it took care of that depression very quickly. I wonder if the interferon permanently changed something in my system. I simply do not know. But it would make sense to me to be put on it (Lexapro works very quickly) before you begin the treatment.

I want to stress something important that I have been told. The hi dose seems to be the most important with interferon and melanoma. I thought by going off I was dooming myself, but I am NED after many, many years (going on 8) and now feel it was worth it, but it is important to know the side effects and the risks.

Best wishes on your treatment and it's effectiveness.

My very best advice is to talk to your  doctor about being put on an effective antidepressant. I had toxicity that caused severe depression about 6 weeks into taking interferon (4 weeks hi dose and two weeks low dose) and it was bad. I was told this is pretty common. I have now been taking Lexapro for all of these years and have not been able to get off and was told that I likely will be on it indefininely. HOWEVER it took care of that depression very quickly. I wonder if the interferon permanently changed something in my system. I simply do not know. But it would make sense to me to be put on it (Lexapro works very quickly) before you begin the treatment.

I want to stress something important that I have been told. The hi dose seems to be the most important with interferon and melanoma. I thought by going off I was dooming myself, but I am NED after many, many years (going on 8) and now feel it was worth it, but it is important to know the side effects and the risks.

Best wishes on your treatment and it's effectiveness.

My very best advice is to talk to your  doctor about being put on an effective antidepressant. I had toxicity that caused severe depression about 6 weeks into taking interferon (4 weeks hi dose and two weeks low dose) and it was bad. I was told this is pretty common. I have now been taking Lexapro for all of these years and have not been able to get off and was told that I likely will be on it indefininely. HOWEVER it took care of that depression very quickly. I wonder if the interferon permanently changed something in my system. I simply do not know. But it would make sense to me to be put on it (Lexapro works very quickly) before you begin the treatment.

I want to stress something important that I have been told. The hi dose seems to be the most important with interferon and melanoma. I thought by going off I was dooming myself, but I am NED after many, many years (going on 8) and now feel it was worth it, but it is important to know the side effects and the risks.

Best wishes on your treatment and it's effectiveness.