Miracles

I want to send a HUGE hug out to those who are actively fighting melanoma. It was 3 years ago that I was completing my 3rd cycle of bio chemo. It was the most painful medical experience of my life. I was SO sick and would hardly eat for 10 days. At the time I did not know it had been 10 days without food. I was bald and skinny and weak. My goal during the treatments were to just be able to make it the bathroom on my own. That 6 foot walk from my bed to the bathroom was SO FAR. I tried to walk down the hall daily, but found this extremely difficult.

Yesterday I went cross county skiing  for an hour. What a difference a couple years makes!

My message this morning is for that it took me a while to get back to my old self. It is not easy to get through melanoma treatments and it HURTS. It hurts physically and mentally. Stats for the disease give me a 15% chance of surviving 5 years. That means there is a 85% chance of dying. WOW  I am here despite these odds, at about 2 years 8 months from my surgery.

If you are in the throws of the fight, know that others of us Have done this!!! WE are MIRACLES  and we are changing the statistics. WE ARE BEATING THE ODDS!!

Science and Melanoma

Yesterday I attended a workshop by the Melanoma Research Foundation in San Francisco and I learned so much!! I really feel it is important to stay in touch with the melanoma community so that if I were to need it, I would know what is out there for new treatment options.

The bottom line is that the new treatments are going to be more and more tailor made for each individual. Each person who receives a melanoma diagnosis can ask for their tumor to be genetically tested for mutations and then doctors can treat you based on the mutation. Just as the BRAFF mutation allows for a specific treatment, there are many more mutations of melanoma to be discovered and thus treated appropriately and HOPEFULLY more effectively.  This is why it is SO IMPORTANT for melanoma patients to see a melanoma specialist.

On a side note: it brought me great comfort to share my experience with others who have also been through biochemotherapy. This medieval treatment is still used on occasion and from what I learned, it is still unclear how it actually works..... melanoma is a tricky beast.

If you are reading this and you are fighting melanoma, please see a specialist. Please know there is more to your options than going home and calling hospice. Know that others have fought the fight and you are not ALONE.

PEACE, LOVE, and HOPE  are my fighting melanoma motto!!