I got a great email the other day; I'd been feeling really bad, and feeling sorry for myself, so I posted on a forum what was going on with me. When I got this, it totally changed my outlook, and I thought some of you might enjoy it, too.
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(I've edited some of this to shorten the length, but you'll get the picture...)
Hi Miss Melanoma
I saw your post on the MPIP board and decided to visit your website and was very impressed. You seem like an upbeat person with a very positive attitude. I wanted to briefly share my experiences which hopefully will be of some help and comfort.
At one point I had hit a very low point in my battle with melanoma. I had 25 malignant lymph nodes removed under both arms with two axillary node dissections done 90 days apart as well as having suspected lesions in the lungs and liver. My original surgical oncologist who became a friend and also had melanoma, had recently lost his battle and died which was almost like losing a parent. What were my chances if they couldn't save my physician? I was told that my chances of survival were less then 5%.
At the time we were living on St Croix in the Virgin Islands and were then hit by Hurricane Hugo (a category 4 storm) that destroyed our home,cars and did serious damage to our business. I was beginning to think that maybe someone was trying to tell me something and that I was no longer welcome on Planet Earth. Then I came across a book called "You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought." In a way the title of that book became my personal battle cry. I decided that I was going to make a maximum effort to combat this disease on all fronts and was determined to try everything from good nutrition, exercise, positive thinking as well as going to the very best doctors I could find. I was determined that if it was my time, so be it but I was not going to have any "I should have's" during the final moments of my life. I took one day at a time and tried to live each and every day to it's fullest.
At one point I had hit a very low point in my battle with melanoma. I had 25 malignant lymph nodes removed under both arms with two axillary node dissections done 90 days apart as well as having suspected lesions in the lungs and liver. My original surgical oncologist who became a friend and also had melanoma, had recently lost his battle and died which was almost like losing a parent. What were my chances if they couldn't save my physician? I was told that my chances of survival were less then 5%.
At the time we were living on St Croix in the Virgin Islands and were then hit by Hurricane Hugo (a category 4 storm) that destroyed our home,cars and did serious damage to our business. I was beginning to think that maybe someone was trying to tell me something and that I was no longer welcome on Planet Earth. Then I came across a book called "You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought." In a way the title of that book became my personal battle cry. I decided that I was going to make a maximum effort to combat this disease on all fronts and was determined to try everything from good nutrition, exercise, positive thinking as well as going to the very best doctors I could find. I was determined that if it was my time, so be it but I was not going to have any "I should have's" during the final moments of my life. I took one day at a time and tried to live each and every day to it's fullest.
Recently I met with my newest and 4th surgical oncologist who agreed with the 5% survival prognosis and recommended that I continue with the annual CT scans which were done last week (with the results to come soon). At the same time I observed my 20th anniversary of living with melanoma (eighteen of which were uninsured). I wish you the best in this battle and again commend you on your outlook and your website.
-John
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Hope this helps you all as much as it did me. Love ya!
-Miss M
****************************************************************************************************
Hope this helps you all as much as it did me. Love ya!
-Miss M
3 comments:
Hi
I will check out this book for sure.
Bookmarking your site.
I am 29, stage 3C... Identify with all you say, all you've been thru. Nuff said.
Another great book is Dancing in Limbo. You should check that sucka out.
I am 36 and stage IIIa. Month 10 of interferon.
I read this post out to my husband and tears came to my eyes. It gives me hope.
Hi Miss M,
I just read through your entire blog and loved it. Glad you can keep a clear head and a sharp tongue through all the crap. But, like snakes on planes, what else you gonna do?
I'll be checking in on ya
B
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