new member

brownd
brownd Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Skin Cancer #1
I went through all my "stuff" 3 1/2 years ago and still afraid it will come back. Melanoma is just nasty that way. Why isn't there more posting going on. If someone want's to talk, i'll listen.

Comments

  • Nancie
    Nancie Member Posts: 2
    #2
    me too.. go to mpip just melanoma.....i found it helps.... chat with people in your own stage too
    I year c lean
  • nspencer
    nspencer Member Posts: 4
    #3
    Hi! I'm new too. Saw this on TV and thought I would try it. My husband has stage 3 melanoma and is going through interferon treatments. It has been very hard on him and he's not sure he can continue with it. I'd love to hear from others who are going thru this too!
  • nspencer
    nspencer Member Posts: 4
    #4
    Nancie said:

    me too.. go to mpip just melanoma.....i found it helps.... chat with people in your own stage too
    I year c lean

    Hi! What's mpip? I'm really new at all of this, Thanks.
  • sam2
    sam2 Member Posts: 1
    #5
    nspencer said:

    Hi! I'm new too. Saw this on TV and thought I would try it. My husband has stage 3 melanoma and is going through interferon treatments. It has been very hard on him and he's not sure he can continue with it. I'd love to hear from others who are going thru this too!

    I have been advised to start interferon treatments. Trying to make up my mind if it is the right thing to do. What are the side effects he has and is experiencing? How long has he been doing treatments. Was told it was very difficult through the first month, but would get better. Needed to take treatments for one year. What can you tell me about what you see. thank you~~~
  • candjmom
    candjmom Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Nancie said:

    me too.. go to mpip just melanoma.....i found it helps.... chat with people in your own stage too
    I year c lean

    I am a new member too. What is mpip? I think I would like to try it if you say it helps.
  • NHRose
    NHRose Member Posts: 1
    #7
    hi I just went through 4 months of surgery to remove my melanoma. I had stage 2. it all started in a mole on my left arm and ended with having all my lymph nodes in my armpit removed. Now they want me to do a yr of interferon. I am not sure i want to do it. They only found cancer in one of the lymph nodes they removed and it was a very small amount I don't know if I want to go through a yr of hell or take my chances. Would like some input from someone who has been through it. thanks
  • billandpatty
    billandpatty Member Posts: 86
    #8
    I'm a new member on this site, too (saw the ad on TV and thought I'd try it out). But I'm not new to cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago and melanoma last year.

    As far as more posting for melanoma, unlike breast cancer, there doesn't seem to be as much information or awareness about melanoma. I have met very few people that have had it. What amazes me is the people that think it isn't much of a disease. Most people don't know how deadly it is. My breast cancer oncologist feels that melanoma is a tougher disease to fight than breast cancer because the chance of recurrence is higher. I'm about 10 months from when I was diagnosed. I was lucky that my lymph nodes were negative, I just have to go in every 4 months for check-ups. I went through all the treatments for breast cancer -- surgery, chemo and radiation.

    I think the thought of a recurrence of cancer brings up all sorts of issues -- especially how you're going to deal with it. When I found out I had melanoma, it was very difficult to tell my children that I had cancer again. I felt like I had failed to stay healthy.

    Now I'm feeling good and I try to keep going forward -- we're going to plant new trees in our yard and get ready for our daughter's wedding!
  • AngelMm3
    AngelMm3 Member Posts: 1
    #9
    billandpatty said:

    I'm a new member on this site, too (saw the ad on TV and thought I'd try it out). But I'm not new to cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago and melanoma last year.

    As far as more posting for melanoma, unlike breast cancer, there doesn't seem to be as much information or awareness about melanoma. I have met very few people that have had it. What amazes me is the people that think it isn't much of a disease. Most people don't know how deadly it is. My breast cancer oncologist feels that melanoma is a tougher disease to fight than breast cancer because the chance of recurrence is higher. I'm about 10 months from when I was diagnosed. I was lucky that my lymph nodes were negative, I just have to go in every 4 months for check-ups. I went through all the treatments for breast cancer -- surgery, chemo and radiation.

    I think the thought of a recurrence of cancer brings up all sorts of issues -- especially how you're going to deal with it. When I found out I had melanoma, it was very difficult to tell my children that I had cancer again. I felt like I had failed to stay healthy.

    Now I'm feeling good and I try to keep going forward -- we're going to plant new trees in our yard and get ready for our daughter's wedding!

    Glad to hear you are getting on with what matters in life. I have stage 3 Melanoma and you are right it is very difficult to find any solid information. Everyone just thinks its skin cancer and not anything serious. Even my family doesn't get it even though they have seen what I have been through the past year. I tried the Interferon treatments but became deathly ill twice. Since then I have had two doctors tell me I made the right choice by stopping treatment. So far no reoccurrence - just had a CT scan last week! I am optimistic. Right now I am starting lymphedema therapy - right leg twice the size since removal of all lymph glands. This will take about a month and then I will have to wear a special stocking 24/7 for the rest of my life. But i figure thats a small price to pay as long as I am cancer free. The worst part is the lack of information about the melanoma. I just want to find a source that explains everything (maybe I am asking for too much). I know that there is no cure but most of the info out there is for stage 1 &2 and then the dishearting stage 4, but very little about stage 3. It was very fustrating for me so that I spent nights up searching the web. If anyone reading this can direct me to a really good down to earth source I would be really grateful!

    Good luck to you! Prayer is a strong tool!
  • billandpatty
    billandpatty Member Posts: 86
    #10
    AngelMm3 said:

    Glad to hear you are getting on with what matters in life. I have stage 3 Melanoma and you are right it is very difficult to find any solid information. Everyone just thinks its skin cancer and not anything serious. Even my family doesn't get it even though they have seen what I have been through the past year. I tried the Interferon treatments but became deathly ill twice. Since then I have had two doctors tell me I made the right choice by stopping treatment. So far no reoccurrence - just had a CT scan last week! I am optimistic. Right now I am starting lymphedema therapy - right leg twice the size since removal of all lymph glands. This will take about a month and then I will have to wear a special stocking 24/7 for the rest of my life. But i figure thats a small price to pay as long as I am cancer free. The worst part is the lack of information about the melanoma. I just want to find a source that explains everything (maybe I am asking for too much). I know that there is no cure but most of the info out there is for stage 1 &2 and then the dishearting stage 4, but very little about stage 3. It was very fustrating for me so that I spent nights up searching the web. If anyone reading this can direct me to a really good down to earth source I would be really grateful!

    Good luck to you! Prayer is a strong tool!

    I'm sorry to hear you're having to deal with lymphedema too. Try to find a physical therapist in your area that specializes in the treatment of lymphedema. I don't know what your circumstances are, but even if you have to pay extra or over and above what insurance will pay for, it will be worth getting good, timely treatment. I haven't had lymphedema, but have had to deal with "almost" having it and paying out of pocket was worth it to save my arm from a lifetime of being constantly swollen. Good luck.
  • kirstie
    kirstie Member Posts: 3
    #11
    NHRose said:

    hi I just went through 4 months of surgery to remove my melanoma. I had stage 2. it all started in a mole on my left arm and ended with having all my lymph nodes in my armpit removed. Now they want me to do a yr of interferon. I am not sure i want to do it. They only found cancer in one of the lymph nodes they removed and it was a very small amount I don't know if I want to go through a yr of hell or take my chances. Would like some input from someone who has been through it. thanks

    Stage 2....Was your mole discolored? How long had you had it? Did you only have 1 stage 2 area?I have 5 areas and just starting tissue removal awaiting to see the oncoligist....

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