JoanR

Hi julie and Peter…so wonderful to hear from you again, I am not on often anymore, but hope to contribute more in the future. I saw Michael O'toole last week and he is another longterm BC survivor…lots of reasons to give Melanoma people encouragment. Also my friend her is in her 7th year after being told she had 2 months,.,,so for all you warriors keep up the good fight, there are lots on longterm survivors..and lots of hope for all of you….Cheer Joan

Hi julie and Peter…so wonderful to hear from you again, I am not on often anymore, but hope to contribute more in the future. I saw Michael O'toole last week and he is another longterm BC survivor…lots of reasons to give Melanoma people encouragment. Also my friend her is in her 7th year after being told she had 2 months,.,,so for all you warriors keep up the good fight, there are lots on longterm survivors..and lots of hope for all of you….Cheer Joan

Hi julie and Peter…so wonderful to hear from you again, I am not on often anymore, but hope to contribute more in the future. I saw Michael O'toole last week and he is another longterm BC survivor…lots of reasons to give Melanoma people encouragment. Also my friend her is in her 7th year after being told she had 2 months,.,,so for all you warriors keep up the good fight, there are lots on longterm survivors..and lots of hope for all of you….Cheer Joan

Hi julie and Peter…so wonderful to hear from you again, I am not on often anymore, but hope to contribute more in the future. I saw Michael O'toole last week and he is another longterm BC survivor…lots of reasons to give Melanoma people encouragment. Also my friend her is in her 7th year after being told she had 2 months,.,,so for all you warriors keep up the good fight, there are lots on longterm survivors..and lots of hope for all of you….Cheer Joan

So sorry to hear of your frustrations. I live in Victoria and in the 10 years since I lost my husband to Melanoma I have been a attempting to see if some improvements can be made to the dismal treatment Melanoma patients receive iin BC. Firstly, there are NO melanoma specialists in BC,  so with that in mind, please do everything you can to see Dr.Smylie in edmonton. He is a specialist and they have a world class mel clinic at the Cross Cancer Cnetre in Edmonton. We even have had a MPIP lady from NFLD travel to see him.

Take charge of your care, your appointments, and don't let them tell you not to worry , you know your body,  I haven't been online for a while, but will try and come back to see how you are getting along. bcl will provide you with excellent advice and information. 

Good Luck, and even if you haven't had any encouragment from BCCA , you should be optimistic as thery are many inovative treatments now….just not in BC.

Do you live in vancouver?   Joan R

So sorry to hear of your frustrations. I live in Victoria and in the 10 years since I lost my husband to Melanoma I have been a attempting to see if some improvements can be made to the dismal treatment Melanoma patients receive iin BC. Firstly, there are NO melanoma specialists in BC,  so with that in mind, please do everything you can to see Dr.Smylie in edmonton. He is a specialist and they have a world class mel clinic at the Cross Cancer Cnetre in Edmonton. We even have had a MPIP lady from NFLD travel to see him.

Take charge of your care, your appointments, and don't let them tell you not to worry , you know your body,  I haven't been online for a while, but will try and come back to see how you are getting along. bcl will provide you with excellent advice and information. 

Good Luck, and even if you haven't had any encouragment from BCCA , you should be optimistic as thery are many inovative treatments now….just not in BC.

Do you live in vancouver?   Joan R

Good to hear from you..is this a "new" dx, I think you must have had mel in every known body part by now, are you starting on the second round ??   I miss you old boy as I don't go to chat much….as always your postings are encouraging, albeit blunt !!!    Love ya'…Warpie

Good to hear from you..is this a "new" dx, I think you must have had mel in every known body part by now, are you starting on the second round ??   I miss you old boy as I don't go to chat much….as always your postings are encouraging, albeit blunt !!!    Love ya'…Warpie

Hi Lisa, i can understnd your frustrations and going from elation to dispair in two days.  I have long been an advocate of staying away from derms when one has a melanoma dx. Derms are not oncologists. Did a derm "burn off" the mole ? There are still derms doing shave bx and freezing, and this is particulary bad when a patient has had a previous mel dx.  Mel can be in many forms, and colourless is not all that uncommon, also just an ichy spot can indicate mel,  I am sure you will be fine now this has been found early, and you are lucky to have a mel specialist to go to. Best of luck and keep us uptodate ..J

Hi Lisa, i can understnd your frustrations and going from elation to dispair in two days.  I have long been an advocate of staying away from derms when one has a melanoma dx. Derms are not oncologists. Did a derm "burn off" the mole ? There are still derms doing shave bx and freezing, and this is particulary bad when a patient has had a previous mel dx.  Mel can be in many forms, and colourless is not all that uncommon, also just an ichy spot can indicate mel,  I am sure you will be fine now this has been found early, and you are lucky to have a mel specialist to go to. Best of luck and keep us uptodate ..J

Well you have stumbled across the very best melanoma site  for education and above all support. Feel free to post on the bulletin board (people don't go to the chatroom much since it was changed)..ask anything you want or let us know what your concerns are, and I will guarantee you will have a response from someone who has experienced what you are.

Good luck, and congratulations on 2 years …

Joan

Well you have stumbled across the very best melanoma site  for education and above all support. Feel free to post on the bulletin board (people don't go to the chatroom much since it was changed)..ask anything you want or let us know what your concerns are, and I will guarantee you will have a response from someone who has experienced what you are.

Good luck, and congratulations on 2 years …

Joan

As I remember your dad was in Sask wasn't he?  I am sorry to hear of his passing, but pleased to see he did not suffer or realize the extent of his illness, sometimes there is a positive side to dreadful dementia.

Thank you for taking the time to help others on MPIP and to repay some of the kindness and support you received, it is people like you that mak this Board the unique and wonderful site it is. Hope to see you names in the yers to come. It is almost 10 years since I first came here, seems like a lifetime somedays and on other days,  like yesterday. 

Cheers Joan  please feel free to contat me directly if you wish   

As I remember your dad was in Sask wasn't he?  I am sorry to hear of his passing, but pleased to see he did not suffer or realize the extent of his illness, sometimes there is a positive side to dreadful dementia.

Thank you for taking the time to help others on MPIP and to repay some of the kindness and support you received, it is people like you that mak this Board the unique and wonderful site it is. Hope to see you names in the yers to come. It is almost 10 years since I first came here, seems like a lifetime somedays and on other days,  like yesterday. 

Cheers Joan  please feel free to contat me directly if you wish   

Hi Ellen, I haven't been here much with traveling and all. May I ask about your Dad ? Cheers Joan