Julie in SoCal

Ah, Les!

You da best!

Love, Julie

Hey Mike!

It’s always good to hear from you– but sure don’t like that ass pain! Hopefully the docs can organize an effective nerve block. I just had one in my back this week and it’s worked wonders. I pray this will be your story, too!

Peace,
Julie

HI there HopeAgain,

It’s not as good as this one (I think this forum is pretty rare) but the inspire.com lung cancer group is ok. There seem to be a lot of members, but they’re scattered all over the board, so it takes a little hunting to find what you’re looking for. That said, I’ve learned a lot there and I’ve never found them hurtful or easily offended.

So sorry you’re dealing with LC as well as Mel. You’re right the Rock Star (O’Day) is the best. I’ll see him tomorrow.

Peace,
Julie

Beautiful!!!! LIKE! LIKE! LIKE!

Julie

NED, NED, NED! WOOOHOOOO

Happy Dancing with you in SoCal!!!!! Best news all week!

Julie

This is the best news I’ve heard all week!!!! Way to go Mike!

Julie

YEAAAAAAAAA!!! So glad to see this post, not so happy with the pain and monster in your garbage disposal. UGH.

But seriously, It’s always good to see a Melanoma Mike post. You make me laugh.

Julie

Hi Lin!

This is great news!! I’m doing the happy dance here in Southern California for you and your mom!

Peace!
Julie

Hi, Anon,

Waiting is hard. Some of the hardest parts of this path. It’s hard to stay centred, calm, and in the present when waiting for results.

My guess from what you wrote above is that YES! a normal mole would have “deeper section” in a biopsy. All skin biopsies will have deeper sections. The “deeper sections” of your biopsy are just that- the part of the biopsy that goes the deepest into your skin. The pathologist needs to make sure that the margins everywhere are clear or not. This is true of all biopsies and doesn’t automatically mean you have melanoma.

I know it is hard but do what you can to not borrow trouble. Don’t give yourself melanoma before the doctor does. Let him or her be the one to confirm it or hopefully, not. Right now, you have a funky mole. Keep it until you know otherwise; follow up with your doc.

Also, the internet is a scary place for melanoma information. It’s hard to read and apply it to your situation because you don’t know where you’re at. Most of the info is old and sometimes just plain wrong. At this point, I would avoid searching with Dr Google. This site is a good place, though.

Finally, if you have any more questions, ask away! I have found this group of melahomies to be caring and a wonderful source of information. If you do post again, create a user name. It doesn’t have to say who you are, but a user name helps us track with each person’s story. Anons are just that anonymous and forgettable. “Silly Unicorn 92” is not.

Wishing you peace,
Shalom!
Julie

Hi Dave & Leslie,

I though I was the only over achiever!!!

I have an almost identical story.

2008 Melanoma stage 3a
2013 Melanoma recurrence
WLE (too many to count)
SNB
LND
HD Intron 20 days
1 year GMCSF
Ippi 4 times
Pembro 20 times
Many, many surgeries…

2018 NSCLC Stage 3b EGFR+ left upper lobe. Yes, we saw it earlier and figured it was Mel. When pembro didn’t touch it, we decided to do a biopsy.
Carbo + Pemex Chemo x 4
Radiation x 31 🙁

2019 NSCLC stage 4a recurrence to neck nodes and chest nodes, spine (T2) and iliac crest.
Radiation to T2 3 times
Radiation to iliac crest 3 times
Tagrisso 80mg daily

I’m still on Tagresso and doing fairly well tollerating the sides. I’m mostly just tired.

It seems perverse to say that finding someone else who has both Mel and Adeno NSCLC is encouraging, but it is. I hope it encourages you both, too.

Shalom,
Julie

Hey, Les!

I wish you could see the huge smile on my face as I read your blog. Looking back can bring gratefulness and hope. Your blog does both Thanks for taking the time.

Oh and the flowers are gorgeous!

Blessings,
Julie

Dear Anon,

Yes, Janner is awesome! And an amazing reminder that all Stage 1s don’t turn into Stage 4s.

Unfortunately a while back, some Anons gave Janner grief one too many times and she left the board. I trust she is off living her life well.

I will tell you what she would tell you: most of the early stage melanoma peeps are off living their life. After the initial shock of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, most early stages don’t have to deal with melanoma any more, so they don’t need the long term support of this board. Subsequently the majority of them they drop off.

What is important to remember when interacting with this board:. We are not representative. The majority of us are late stagers. We hang around because we need the support and it helps us stay up to date in the Melanoma world.

Seconldy. while you are not a statistic (You’re a person- yea!) the statistics are in your favor.

Finally, if you have questions- ask. But if you do, I recommend that you go ahead and register. Get a user name. It helps us know who we’re talking with. Anons are just that anonymous and hard to track with.

Stay safe in this crazy world.

I wish you Peace!

Shalom,
Julie

So well said, Les!

There is still beauty!

Julie

This is good news, MIke!!! And your trip sounds wonderful!

I’m planning a SoCal to Glacier NP (via Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone) this summer. To be honest, I just can’t wait.

Happy trails!
Julie

Hi Anon,

I have had many, many intransits and they have all presented as a small roundish hard bump that moved with the skin. Some of them came to the surface but they were never pink. If I pressed on them and blanched the skin, usually I could see a dark-ish something underneath. The only one that hurt was big and impinged on a nerve. Aside from this, they didn’t hurt at all.

Hope this helps and your husband’s funk is nothing.

Shalom,
Julie