More Angels in the ranks of heaven

This last week the melanoma community lost more of our warriors to the ugly disease that TOO many people call "just skin cancer." Tears flowed down my face and I went to work with red-red eyes.... When asked how I felt, I simply said...fine.


I did not feel fine. I felt heart broken, guilty, and ANGRY.  I felt heart broken for the young people who have lost their lives, fighting until the last breath.... Jillian, Adrienne, Michaela,  Elisa, Addison, Brianna, Tina, and SO MANY MORE!!!  TOO MANY YOUNG WOMAN!! Too many joing the ranks of angels.

Their families now live without them.  I wondered why did I survive a death sentence of stage IV metastatic melanoma?  How on earth did I survive 5 rounds of biochemo?? & WHY didn't these women also receive biochemo?? (It was HORRIBLE, but saved my life.)  

&  I FEEL PISSED OFF THEY ARE GONE.  PISSED OFF AT CANCER AND PISSED OFF AT TANNING AND THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF THIS PREVENTABLE DISEASE.

ok, BIG SIGH......AHHHHHH


That is why I tell people what happened to me.... so maybe they can also spread the word to someone who tans....so maybe someone who has NO HOPE can have hope..... so more people can get it through their thick skulls that melanoma is DEADLY and we need more awareness.  & maybe along the way my story helps someone.... so I bare my soul about the cancer experience I had.... & pray I do not have again.  & I pray for those who lost loved ones and for those who are fighting.... because melanoma is such a dark beast.

me, early 2011

me again, after 4 or 5 rounds of biochemo.... T

This is what  fighting"just skin cancer" looks like.  

My story:

http://www.amazon.com/Journey-With-Melanoma-Stephanie-Bowen-ebook/dp/B00AEIH9SO

( I do not share this for financial gain.... I share for  a need to spread awareness & HOPE..... )

ps, on a side note, I do know some people are sick and tired of my cancer story....don't care, I will continue to share a message of HOPE and spread awareness.

HUGS to ALL who happen upon my little blog. 

Steph

Dreams

Dreams filled my mind during the intense cancer treatment I received for stage IV melanoma. Dreams of skiing while getting MRIs of my brain......  Dreams of being with my family while hooked to the mother of all IV drip systems in the hospital..... Dreams of the future, without cancer.


YET, those of us affected by melanoma know that you never really say goodbye to melanoma completely. It is always lurking in your thoughts. The stats always tell a the story: 9% chance of surviving 5 years after diagnosis. WELL, F-You MELANOMA!!! I am still here!!!

OK, back to dreams: if you are a person who has been recently been diagnosed, know that others have been there!  Others have walked the road, filled with fear, heard the statistics of our survival chances.

 & WE ARE HERE!!


Dreams got me through the hardest of hard times.... AND they can help you too, ALWAYS HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS AND ALWAYS SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU! When the times hit you and you think you cannot go on... dreams will pull you through. Dreams of NED, Dreams of your toes in the sand, dreams of whatever you LOVE doing!! & KNOW people are praying for you every day!!