ourvan

I’m so glad to see your name, Mike – glad for the progress, sad for the pain, but if anyone can slay that monster, you can! Take care – we’re all rallying for you!
laurie

Thank you, Dave, for your update. Prayers continue for Mike and his family.

I was so excited when I saw MIKE MELANOMA as I scrolled, thinking he was checking in, but I’m glad that Ted took the lead in circling us in. I’ve been checking and checking, hoping to find Mike connecting with some good news, so I hope that we can coax him into an update. What a mark he’s left on so many of us, right?
Hope all who read this are well and surviving our various shelter-in-place scenarios.
Cheers, laurie

I have 6″ parallel scars on the inside of my right calf, with a large indentation where my tumor was removed. I was self-conscious about it and my kids said to tell anyone who asked that it was a shark bite! From the front it really does look like something took a chunk out of my leg, and no one has to know it was a surgeon and not a shark! Glad you’re NED!
laurie

Very best wishes on procedural success! Thanks for checking in, and know that you’re in our thoughts and prayers.
laurie

Good to see research findings – I switched to mineral based sunscreens but because anything with oxybenzone turned my clothes and sheets orange. Glad to know that there were additional benefits! Thanks for sharing,
laurie

Glad to hear the good news so far – best of luck on your surgery tomorrow, and may this be as bad as it gets!
laurie

Welcome Kristen – sorry you had to join us, but you’ve found the right place! Lots of support and advice here, that’s for sure.
So, you didn’t mention body area for your surgery or what you do for work, but I can share my story. My surgery was in my calf (inside, 1.2mm) and I had the SNB as well. I have a desk job – surgery on Tuesday, back in the office the following Monday with no discomfort. I hope that helps!
laurie

Hi Amber,
I had the DecisionDX test done in 2018, but I’m the kind of patient that’s more anxious about what I don’t know than tackling the process of dealing with what I do. My surgical oncologist suggested it, citing similar reasoning to yours, and said that the expense would first be run through my insurance, would most likely be denied, and then Castle would pick up the tab ($8,500). (They didn’t do a test on the site though, rather sent the tumor to them.) That is what happened, but it took a year of back and forth between BCBS and Castle. I didn’t have much involvement except in opening the mail, and in the end it was all resolved with no expense on my part. My insurance did not pay. The test results came back in less than a month and determined I was at a low risk for recurrence (knock wood) ~14% over 5 years. Hope that helps!
laurie

Hi Hannah,
I, too, am sorry for all that you’re going through, but you’ve found a soft place to fall with this group. When I was diagnosed, and while I waited for surgery and biopsy results, I was a frantic mess. I didn’t really tell a lot of people, only those with a “need to know”, because I didn’t want our relationships to change with the word “cancer”. That probably made things a bit worse because I was keeping my fear to myself, and didn’t even let my family know how frightened I was. I would have a hard time falling asleep (which is very unusual, I could sleep on a picket fence!), and then I’d wake in the middle of the night – and I mean WIDE awake, going over every fear possible. I think I could feel my heart beating out of my chest for a full 2 months, 24/7. My daughter made me a beautiful sign that says “Give it to God and go to sleep”, which became my evening mantra (it helped!) With each step forward I became a little less anxious, and finding this forum was a huge part of that. I could see that there is hope in even the most devastating of diagnosis, and I came to know those that offer the constant guidance and support as a kind of family. I think it’s safe to say that there is always a prayer on someone’s lips, and you can add mine to that. Best of luck with the scans, and find peace in each moment.
laurie

I’m so glad to read that the news is good and your hope is restored – that’s a huge part of healing and conquering, right?! We’re all here sending healing vibes and thoughtful prayers. Keep up the fight and hope any side effects remain at a minimum.
laurie

thank you for taking the time to report this great news, and may all good things continue. When I was first diagnosed and stumbled upon this forum, I was heartened to see hopeful posts and new possibilities. I know how much peace it brought me, and I’m sure that your news will bring peace to others finding their way here. Cheers!
laurie

How I wish these forum posts had a “like” button like Facebook does, cuz’ this would get a thousand of them – not only for your continued good natured optimism, but for the generosity of those who are able to help with donations, prayers and healing energy. Good luck at your appointment, Mike!

So glad to hear from you, and I’m sorry that you’re not feeling better at this point. Checking in let’s us all amp up our prayers and increase the speed of sending healing energy your way. Hoping the upcoming surgery brings relief.
laurie

Hi Mohamed, your situation is both heartbreaking and frightening, that you have to live with the unknowing due to the state of your medical system. I hope that you can find some peace until you find a solution. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
laurie