So many people sharing their stories! Please take the time and go through these pages and read them all! Each is different but each is important! My thanks to all who share.
Kerri Pierce shares: Diagnosed May 2007 Stage 3a 11 mm tumor that spread to one lymph node under my arm and one lymph node in my neck. After 2 surgeries and 9 months of Interferon, I will be celebrating 5 years of NED on June 29th of this year!! Although I still worry about the cancer returning, I try to focus on staying healthy and positive. My daughters were only 3 and 9 months old when I was diagnosed and I feel so lucky to be here to raise them and watch them grow :)
Michelle Kerr shares: Stage 1B, Clark Level 4 October 2005 - age 34
Not a tanner or sunbed user at all - but a couple bad sunburns in my teen/college years. Before this diagnosis, I had no idea how serious melanoma was.
Mole on the back of my right calf, that my father continually pestered me about (Since June!) Listen to your dad's!!!)
WLE in early November 2005 and node biopsy. Day before Thanksgiving, found out all clear!
March 2007, a node in right groin removed, discovered during routine exam. All clear. But did have to have a pigtail drain put in for a few weeks.
I recently went (May 7th, 2012) for my last visit to the Cancer Center in Buffalo New York. It was with mixed emotions that I walked out the door that day....so happy that they felt I have reached the mark to not be followed by them, yet so sad, as they were the people that I had entrusted myself to nearly 6 1/2 years ago. I continue and always will to see a dermatologist every 6 months, and with many blessings, I WILL NOT go back to that cancer center!!
Know you skin! I warn people about this skin cancer, that it cannot just be frozen off and flicked away. Please be aware of your skin and any changes.....early detection is the key. Many prayers and blessings to those fighting this horrible disease, I pray for your continual strength to be winners in this fight.
Christina Parker shares: My name is Christina Parker. I am a 34 year old single mother of a 4 year old son. I was diagnosed with stage 3a melanoma in July 2010. My mother noticed a small mole on my right thigh. She just didn't like it. After months of her begging, I finally agreed to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The doctor said the mole wasn't impressive by melanoma standards, but removed it anyway. Three weeks later I was told by phone that I had melanoma. Since that time, I have had multiple surgeries. I have 30 scars since I was diagnosed. I completed 30 days of high dose interferon in October 2010.
In October of 2010 in the middle of taking a fabulous new job and moving from North Carolina to New Jersey - I had a mole removed from my back. Dermatologist said it was nothing... 7 days later I was called in to her office to be told I had Malignant Melanoma... My enthusiasm for a new job was crushed by 1 little word - Cancer... That set forward my crazy roller coaster ride. I had my first surgery Oct 19th to remove a chunk of my back and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Lymph node came back positive for Melanoma... PET scan was clear. so Nov 9th, 2010 I had all my lymph nodes removed under my right arm. All were clear! Cheers!
Then while trying to get in a clinical trial - a dozen plus spots were found in my lungs. Surgery March 1st confirmed melanoma in the lungs. Welcome to the stage 4 club. The good news is that in April my scans showed all the spots were gone - not sure what that means. New scans June 8th, 2011
I was clear until May 2012 when 3 month scans showed thickening in small intestine and swollen lymph nodes around. Hemoglobin had dropped to 5.6 and I was hospitalized for 3 units of blood. Currently on Zelboraf trial.
Thru this journey I've met some fabulous fellow cancer warriors! Together we will help create awareness and find a cure! To help inform family, part therapy, and to create awareness - I share my story and updates on my blog: www.melanomaandthecity.blogspot.com
Heather Snyder Age: 34 Diagnosed Stage IV I was diagnosed July 8, 2008, the same day my daughter turned 6 months old. I had actually had the melanoma for at least 6 months, probably longer, I just didnt know. At my initial derm appt the derm looked at my spot, looked at me and said, why the hell werent u in here earlier. My response? Ummm I was busy having babies! I had a newly turned 2 year old and a 6 month old. I was BUSY! I received the news that it was, in fact, melanoma a few days later. My derm made me an appt with a surgeon and an oncologist.
At the end of July I had 7 lymph nodes removed from my left groin. 3 had joined together in a mass to fight off the cancer, those all had cancer in them, plus one other node. I started Interferon on August 11, 2008. It wasnt fun, but it was manageable.
In Jan 2009, I noticed a lump on my back, in march 2009 I noticed two lumps on my chest. My oncologist didnt really worry about them. I did however and called the derm. His nurse got me in immediately, the following day I returned, after hours, to have the lumps removed. All 3 were melanoma.
I returned to my oncologist, who FINALLY admitted that he had no clue what to do next. I promptly told him to fax my paperwork to MD Anderson. That was on a Thurs, I had an appt at MDA on the following Monday.
At MDA, they reviewed my most recent scans, and come to find out, I also had 4 melanoma masses inside my body, not in any organs tho. My onc at MDA recommended 6 rounds of Biochemotherapy. I said ok. Biochemo was the WORST thing I had ever been thru. It literally tore my body up. It did get rid of 2 tumors completely, and it shrank the other 2. I completed my 6th round of biochemo August 10, 2009.
In Sept I returned to have surgery to remove one of the tumors. They were unable to find the other. In Dec I returned for routine scans and they discovered that the tumor remaining was indeed, alive and active and growing. It had to come out. After some VERY embarrasing ultrasounds to find the tumor, it was located and removed. The recovery was long and awful. Oh so awful....
In Feb 2010 I returned to MDA for routine scans. I really felt all would be ok. It wasnt. Turns out my Melanoma had returned. A small, maybe 1 cm, spot showed up on the PET scan. I cried the whole way home from Houston (a 10 hour drive). Eventually my husband made me take some sleeping pills so I would just pass out.
I cried a lot that weekend and I held my children oh so tight. But, by Monday the pity party was over. I was ready to fight. My oncologist at MDA told me about a trial with a drug that focused on the B-raf gene. I needed to get in to that trial. Unfortunately, MDA had just closed their trial a month earlier. So after LOTS of searching and many phone calls, i found a trial at Vanderbilt Cancer Center, in Nashville, TN. I had to jump thru LOTS of hoops to get in to the trial, but I really felt, in my gut, that it was the trial for me. And when I kept on qualifying, I KNEW it was the trial for me!
Turns out my gut was spot on! April 20, 2012 marks 2 years on my wonderful B-raf drug. It is now FDA approved and i would like to think that all of us that took place in a trial helped convince the FDA to approve it. Ill never stop fighting and ill never, ever give up. My children are two of the most wonderful, amazing people in my life. if it wasnt for them, I wouldnt fight this hard.
Becky Shivel Stage IV Melanoma Diagnosed May 31, 2012
On December 30, 2008, I had an appointment with the dermatologist to look at a birthmark that had begun to change in size and texture.
On January 8, 2009, I received the most shocking news of my life, the pathology results were positive for melanoma. I was scheduled the next day for a wide excision, the results came back negative.
On January 13, 2009, I had a PET scan to determine if the cancer had spread. The results were negative. On January 26th I had a sentinel lymph node biopsy. They took three lymph nodes from my left groin area, two of the three tested positive for melanoma. The next procedure would be a radical lymphectomy, the pathology results were negative. I was now stage IIIa.
On April 6, 2009, I began a yearlong treatment of Interferon; I made 10 months and was taken off due to health reasons. I have seen my Oncologist and Dermatologist on a regular basis, including regular chest x-rays for the last three years. I had a couple biopsies in 2011 and PET scan, all negative.
On May 24, 2012 is had two skin biopsies. One biopsy was about an inch from my primary and the other was on the scar from my lymphectomy, both came back positive for melanoma. I also have five more skin lesions on my abdomen, which were not biopsied. PET scan on May 31st came back positive for melanoma in my right groin and pelvic lymph nodes, the lesions on my abdomen also show up on the PET scan. I am now stage IV; I will begin IL-2 treatments on June 25th. My story continues…
Joe Fornear shares: Diagnosed Dec 23, 2002 – Stage 3 – lymph nodes under arm – no primary Stage IV metastatic melanoma – Jan 20, 2003 Cancer free (NED) – August 13, 2003
In May of 2003, doctors gave Joe just days to live. Stage IV melanoma had spread to thirteen different sites in his body, including lung, kidney, stomach and pancreas. Had three surgeries- including one-third stomach removal; Interleukin-2; high beam Novalis radiation and a chemo cocktail from MD Anderson. Though he was at the brink of death, Joe experienced a miraculous healing and recovery. He now shares the lessons he learned through a ministry to cancer patients called Stronghold Ministry.
In His Grip,
Joe Fornear https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1086096127 http://twitter.com/#!/mystronghold Stronghold Ministry PO Box 38478 Dallas, TX 75238 www.mystronghold.org jfor@mystronghold.org 214-221-7007 Call toll free - 877-230-7674
Brandi Dickey was born 6/6/1981. She was diagnosed February 15, 2010 stage 3c melanoma. She had a mole on her stomach and 4 positive nodes under her arm. Melanoma has caused her to have 9 surgeries and complete the most difficult treatment options available. Brandi completed interferon, IL2, gamma knife, Ipilumimab, Zelobraf. Prior to Zelobraf the melanoma had spread to Brandi's small intestine, brain, ovaries, lungs, liver. Thank God, Brandi has been a complete responded to the Zelobraf. :)
Kerri Pierce shares:
ReplyDeleteDiagnosed May 2007
Stage 3a
11 mm tumor that spread to one lymph node under my arm and one lymph node in my neck.
After 2 surgeries and 9 months of Interferon, I will be celebrating 5 years of NED on June 29th of this year!! Although I still worry about the cancer returning, I try to focus on staying healthy and positive. My daughters were only 3 and 9 months old when I was diagnosed and I feel so lucky to be here to raise them and watch them grow :)
Michelle Kerr shares:
ReplyDeleteStage 1B, Clark Level 4
October 2005 - age 34
Not a tanner or sunbed user at all - but a couple bad sunburns in my teen/college years. Before this diagnosis, I had no idea how serious melanoma was.
Mole on the back of my right calf, that my father continually pestered me about (Since June!) Listen to your dad's!!!)
WLE in early November 2005 and node biopsy.
Day before Thanksgiving, found out all clear!
March 2007, a node in right groin removed, discovered during routine exam. All clear. But did have to have a pigtail drain put in for a few weeks.
I recently went (May 7th, 2012) for my last visit to the Cancer Center in Buffalo New York. It was with mixed emotions that I walked out the door that day....so happy that they felt I have reached the mark to not be followed by them, yet so sad, as they were the people that I had entrusted myself to nearly 6 1/2 years ago. I continue and always will to see a dermatologist every 6 months, and with many blessings, I WILL NOT go back to that cancer center!!
Know you skin! I warn people about this skin cancer, that it cannot just be frozen off and flicked away. Please be aware of your skin and any changes.....early detection is the key. Many prayers and blessings to those fighting this horrible disease, I pray for your continual strength to be winners in this fight.
Christina Parker shares:
ReplyDeleteMy name is Christina Parker. I am a 34 year old single mother of a 4 year old son. I was diagnosed with stage 3a melanoma in July 2010. My mother noticed a small mole on my right thigh. She just didn't like it. After months of her begging, I finally agreed to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The doctor said the mole wasn't impressive by melanoma standards, but removed it anyway. Three weeks later I was told by phone that I had melanoma. Since that time, I have had multiple surgeries. I have 30 scars since I was diagnosed. I completed 30 days of high dose interferon in October 2010.
Melanoma Story - Erin Youngerberg
ReplyDeleteAge 33
Stage 4
In October of 2010 in the middle of taking a fabulous new job and moving from North Carolina to New Jersey - I had a mole removed from my back. Dermatologist said it was nothing... 7 days later I was called in to her office to be told I had Malignant Melanoma... My enthusiasm for a new job was crushed by 1 little word - Cancer... That set forward my crazy roller coaster ride. I had my first surgery Oct 19th to remove a chunk of my back and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Lymph node came back positive for Melanoma... PET scan was clear. so Nov 9th, 2010 I had all my lymph nodes removed under my right arm. All were clear! Cheers!
Then while trying to get in a clinical trial - a dozen plus spots were found in my lungs. Surgery March 1st confirmed melanoma in the lungs. Welcome to the stage 4 club. The good news is that in April my scans showed all the spots were gone - not sure what that means. New scans June 8th, 2011
I was clear until May 2012 when 3 month scans showed thickening in small intestine and swollen lymph nodes around. Hemoglobin had dropped to 5.6 and I was hospitalized for 3 units of blood. Currently on Zelboraf trial.
Thru this journey I've met some fabulous fellow cancer warriors! Together we will help create awareness and find a cure! To help inform family, part therapy, and to create awareness - I share my story and updates on my blog: www.melanomaandthecity.blogspot.com
Heather Snyder
ReplyDeleteAge: 34
Diagnosed Stage IV
I was diagnosed July 8, 2008, the same day my daughter turned 6 months old. I had actually had the melanoma for at least 6 months, probably longer, I just didnt know. At my initial derm appt the derm looked at my spot, looked at me and said, why the hell werent u in here earlier. My response? Ummm I was busy having babies! I had a newly turned 2 year old and a 6 month old. I was BUSY! I received the news that it was, in fact, melanoma a few days later. My derm made me an appt with a surgeon and an oncologist.
At the end of July I had 7 lymph nodes removed from my left groin. 3 had joined together in a mass to fight off the cancer, those all had cancer in them, plus one other node. I started Interferon on August 11, 2008. It wasnt fun, but it was manageable.
In Jan 2009, I noticed a lump on my back, in march 2009 I noticed two lumps on my chest. My oncologist didnt really worry about them. I did however and called the derm. His nurse got me in immediately, the following day I returned, after hours, to have the lumps removed. All 3 were melanoma.
I returned to my oncologist, who FINALLY admitted that he had no clue what to do next. I promptly told him to fax my paperwork to MD Anderson. That was on a Thurs, I had an appt at MDA on the following Monday.
At MDA, they reviewed my most recent scans, and come to find out, I also had 4 melanoma masses inside my body, not in any organs tho. My onc at MDA recommended 6 rounds of Biochemotherapy. I said ok. Biochemo was the WORST thing I had ever been thru. It literally tore my body up. It did get rid of 2 tumors completely, and it shrank the other 2. I completed my 6th round of biochemo August 10, 2009.
In Sept I returned to have surgery to remove one of the tumors. They were unable to find the other. In Dec I returned for routine scans and they discovered that the tumor remaining was indeed, alive and active and growing. It had to come out. After some VERY embarrasing ultrasounds to find the tumor, it was located and removed. The recovery was long and awful. Oh so awful....
In Feb 2010 I returned to MDA for routine scans. I really felt all would be ok. It wasnt. Turns out my Melanoma had returned. A small, maybe 1 cm, spot showed up on the PET scan. I cried the whole way home from Houston (a 10 hour drive). Eventually my husband made me take some sleeping pills so I would just pass out.
I cried a lot that weekend and I held my children oh so tight. But, by Monday the pity party was over. I was ready to fight. My oncologist at MDA told me about a trial with a drug that focused on the B-raf gene. I needed to get in to that trial. Unfortunately, MDA had just closed their trial a month earlier. So after LOTS of searching and many phone calls, i found a trial at Vanderbilt Cancer Center, in Nashville, TN. I had to jump thru LOTS of hoops to get in to the trial, but I really felt, in my gut, that it was the trial for me. And when I kept on qualifying, I KNEW it was the trial for me!
Turns out my gut was spot on! April 20, 2012 marks 2 years on my wonderful B-raf drug. It is now FDA approved and i would like to think that all of us that took place in a trial helped convince the FDA to approve it. Ill never stop fighting and ill never, ever give up. My children are two of the most wonderful, amazing people in my life. if it wasnt for them, I wouldnt fight this hard.
My blog is cancermommy.blogspot.com
Becky Shivel
ReplyDeleteStage IV Melanoma
Diagnosed May 31, 2012
On December 30, 2008, I had an appointment with the dermatologist to look at a birthmark that had begun to change in size and texture.
On January 8, 2009, I received the most shocking news of my life, the pathology results were positive for melanoma. I was scheduled the next day for a wide excision, the results came back negative.
On January 13, 2009, I had a PET scan to determine if the cancer had spread. The results were negative. On January 26th I had a sentinel lymph node biopsy. They took three lymph nodes from my left groin area, two of the three tested positive for melanoma. The next procedure would be a radical lymphectomy, the pathology results were negative. I was now stage IIIa.
On April 6, 2009, I began a yearlong treatment of Interferon; I made 10 months and was taken off due to health reasons. I have seen my Oncologist and Dermatologist on a regular basis, including regular chest x-rays for the last three years. I had a couple biopsies in 2011 and PET scan, all negative.
On May 24, 2012 is had two skin biopsies. One biopsy was about an inch from my primary and the other was on the scar from my lymphectomy, both came back positive for melanoma. I also have five more skin lesions on my abdomen, which were not biopsied. PET scan on May 31st came back positive for melanoma in my right groin and pelvic lymph nodes, the lesions on my abdomen also show up on the PET scan. I am now stage IV; I will begin IL-2 treatments on June 25th. My story continues…
Joe Fornear shares:
ReplyDeleteDiagnosed Dec 23, 2002 – Stage 3 – lymph nodes under arm – no primary
Stage IV metastatic melanoma – Jan 20, 2003
Cancer free (NED) – August 13, 2003
In May of 2003, doctors gave Joe just days to live. Stage IV melanoma had spread to thirteen different sites in his body, including lung, kidney, stomach and pancreas. Had three surgeries- including one-third stomach removal; Interleukin-2; high beam Novalis radiation and a chemo cocktail from MD Anderson. Though he was at the brink of death, Joe experienced a miraculous healing and recovery. He now shares the lessons he learned through a ministry to cancer patients called Stronghold Ministry.
In His Grip,
Joe Fornear
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1086096127
http://twitter.com/#!/mystronghold
Stronghold Ministry
PO Box 38478
Dallas, TX 75238
www.mystronghold.org
jfor@mystronghold.org
214-221-7007
Call toll free - 877-230-7674
Brandi Dickey was born 6/6/1981. She was diagnosed February 15, 2010 stage 3c melanoma. She had a mole on her stomach and 4 positive nodes under her arm. Melanoma has caused her to have 9 surgeries and complete the most difficult treatment options available. Brandi completed interferon, IL2, gamma knife, Ipilumimab, Zelobraf. Prior to Zelobraf the melanoma had spread to Brandi's small intestine, brain, ovaries, lungs, liver. Thank God, Brandi has been a complete responded to the Zelobraf. :)
ReplyDelete