10 years since diagnosis of stage 3B

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › 10 years since diagnosis of stage 3B

  • Post
    • April 17, 2016 at 4:17 pm
    Mellani
    Participant

      I haven't posted here in a long time! I just added my patient story to the site under the name Melissa W. This is the first time I've mentioned an anniversary, because I have severe survivor guilt and I feel bad for others who haven't survived this awful disease. But, since it has been 10 years since my diagnosis, I want to share a message of hope and love to everyone who is struggling with melanoma, and all of our loved ones who care for us melanoma patients. 

      I was diagnosed stage 3 on April 17, 2006, which was determined to be stage 3B on May 24, 2006. I chose not to do interferon. I did 11 days of GM-CSF in July 2006, but became so ill from the side effects that I stopped the injections. I had x-rays and bloodwork every 3 months for a couple years, then every 6 months for a few years, and finally just annual checkups, or as often as I need to go because I get scared that a new symptom is a recurrence.

      I am so incredibly grateful for my family, friends, and doctors who helped me through this in the last 10 years. I think I should send a thank you card to my surgeon and let him know I'm still around. He removed all of the melanoma in three surgeries and I honestly think he saved my life. 

      Being diagnosed with melanoma was a frightening experience. I read other patients' posts and blogs. I researched everything I could find on the internet about all stages above mine, just in case I needed to know what to do next. I lost people from MPIP whose melanoma spread and couldn't be stopped. I stopped reading the posts and blogs after a while because it was overwhelming to continue to connect with people through their stories, then lose them. 

      Thank you to MPIP for being there for me when I felt scared and alone and needed some support. I don't think I would have done so well in those first couple of years without the help, and I'm glad MPIP is here for those who need the support now. 

      heart

      Mel

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 17, 2016 at 4:44 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          Thank you for your post. It is always helpful and uplifting to hear from long term survivers. 

           

          • April 17, 2016 at 4:44 pm
          jennunicorn
          Participant

            Thank you for your post. It is always helpful and uplifting to hear from long term survivers. 

             

            • April 17, 2016 at 4:44 pm
            jennunicorn
            Participant

              Thank you for your post. It is always helpful and uplifting to hear from long term survivers. 

               

              • April 18, 2016 at 1:15 am
              DZnDef
              Participant

                Thank you for posting, Mel.  It is very important for all of us to be aware of long-term survivors like yourself.  It really helps to balance out the bad news that pops up here and gives us all hope.  I understand survivor's guilt.  I am currently doing well and my brother (thankfully still alive) is not doing so well.  When I received good news about my own status, I did not post it as I was feeling guilty and not in the mood to celebrate.  It is a strange sensation to not want to celebrate one's own good fortune.  But one I now understand.  I hope you enjoy your good health for many years to come.

                • April 18, 2016 at 1:15 am
                DZnDef
                Participant

                  Thank you for posting, Mel.  It is very important for all of us to be aware of long-term survivors like yourself.  It really helps to balance out the bad news that pops up here and gives us all hope.  I understand survivor's guilt.  I am currently doing well and my brother (thankfully still alive) is not doing so well.  When I received good news about my own status, I did not post it as I was feeling guilty and not in the mood to celebrate.  It is a strange sensation to not want to celebrate one's own good fortune.  But one I now understand.  I hope you enjoy your good health for many years to come.

                  • April 18, 2016 at 1:15 am
                  DZnDef
                  Participant

                    Thank you for posting, Mel.  It is very important for all of us to be aware of long-term survivors like yourself.  It really helps to balance out the bad news that pops up here and gives us all hope.  I understand survivor's guilt.  I am currently doing well and my brother (thankfully still alive) is not doing so well.  When I received good news about my own status, I did not post it as I was feeling guilty and not in the mood to celebrate.  It is a strange sensation to not want to celebrate one's own good fortune.  But one I now understand.  I hope you enjoy your good health for many years to come.

                    • April 18, 2016 at 2:05 am
                    Polymath
                    Participant

                      Hi Mel,

                      Agreed, there is no reason to feel guilty about your good news story.  Those of us still in the battle are both happy for you, and it provides hope that some of us can and will win.  As an aside, I would come across as a total moron, if it were not for spell check.  Some words, no matter what I do, just always come out wrong. What's funny was "disease" was one I just could not get right.  It was not until I saw it as dis-ease, the opposite of at-ease that I now get it right.  We are all at some level of dis-ease in our journey and being more at-ease with the good news is welcome.

                      Gary

                       

                       

                      • April 18, 2016 at 2:05 am
                      Polymath
                      Participant

                        Hi Mel,

                        Agreed, there is no reason to feel guilty about your good news story.  Those of us still in the battle are both happy for you, and it provides hope that some of us can and will win.  As an aside, I would come across as a total moron, if it were not for spell check.  Some words, no matter what I do, just always come out wrong. What's funny was "disease" was one I just could not get right.  It was not until I saw it as dis-ease, the opposite of at-ease that I now get it right.  We are all at some level of dis-ease in our journey and being more at-ease with the good news is welcome.

                        Gary

                         

                         

                        • April 18, 2016 at 2:05 am
                        Polymath
                        Participant

                          Hi Mel,

                          Agreed, there is no reason to feel guilty about your good news story.  Those of us still in the battle are both happy for you, and it provides hope that some of us can and will win.  As an aside, I would come across as a total moron, if it were not for spell check.  Some words, no matter what I do, just always come out wrong. What's funny was "disease" was one I just could not get right.  It was not until I saw it as dis-ease, the opposite of at-ease that I now get it right.  We are all at some level of dis-ease in our journey and being more at-ease with the good news is welcome.

                          Gary

                           

                           

                          • April 18, 2016 at 1:19 pm
                          geriakt
                          Participant

                            I am 3B One year now so your post is very important to me. smiley

                            • April 18, 2016 at 1:19 pm
                            geriakt
                            Participant

                              I am 3B One year now so your post is very important to me. smiley

                              • April 18, 2016 at 1:19 pm
                              geriakt
                              Participant

                                I am 3B One year now so your post is very important to me. smiley

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