"You're over the top about cancer...."

I just returned from a family reunion and had a GREAT time!  There were loads of cousins and nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles.... and lots of opportunities to spread awareness of being in the sun safely. I was very generous with my sunscreen, helping the little ones spread sunscreen on their backs, telling them to wait 10 minutes at least for the sunscreen to soak in.  I sat in the shade, wore my big hat and sunglasses.... not preaching, just trying to be an example.

When the family brought out loads of meat, I did not say a word..... I just cooked my veggies and ate with everyone.

YET, one family member went out of their way to tell my daughter that I was over the top about cancer.... and that it is genetic, a sunburn can't cause cancer.... and I am simple one of the millions of people who have had cancer.... or one of the hundreds.... (I don't know the exact words). The overall point seemed to be that I should get over it.

Well, I know I look good these days and I appear cancer free....& for all intent and purposes I am cancer free.

BUT. all us melanhomies know the stats for melanoma survival are not good. Here is some info from AIM:

Risk: Unfortunately, long-term survival is poor, with 1-year survival rates ranging from 41% to 59%. (1) - See more at: http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/en/aim-for-answers/stages-of-melanoma/stage-iv-melanoma.html#sthash.XgT8dRXd.dpuf

 

Large-scale studies indicate that the respective 1-, 2-, and 5 year survival rates for Stage IV melanoma are: (1)

Distant skin, soft tissue, and/or lymph nodes - 54%, 36%, 19%
Lung -       53%, 31%,  15%,
Visceral - 35%, 18%,    9%

- See more at: http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/en/aim-for-answers/stages-of-melanoma/stage-iv-melanoma.html#sthash.XgT8dRXd.dpuf

My diagnosis gave me a 9% survival rate to make it 5 years... and here I am 3 years out.

I will keep sharing a message of survival and HOPE if I get one person through a tough and scary diagnosis.... I will keep doing what I am doing, as of now I like being alive. & if I bug ya.... well....  that is too bad.

PEACE

 OUT!

Another Summer Hiding from the Sun

As I enter my 3rd year of NED, I know I can only look forward. I need to look forward and forget the painful moments of the last 3 years.  I need to let go of the pain  from almost dying from cancer & the turmoil it caused my family. The pain from losing our beloved cabin and leaving a place I loved....because the most important thing is I lived.

Whenever I see someone who is fighting cancer, I want to hug them and tell them I KNOW, I know the pain of the fight!! I know the fear of facing death. I KNOW these things intimately, yet I hold back and remember that I am alive and today is a day to enjoy and not dwell on the past.

Everyday I know there are people fighting the BEAST. There is Adrienne in Canada, fighting melanoma with all she has!! There is Michaela in LAs Vegas.... also fighting with all her soul. There are many more as my online support group grows every day.... and I HATE IT.

Today, I will hide from the sun, under my wide brim hat and under my sun shirt... I will slather on the sunscreen.  I will watch all the really TAN people and want to yell at the top of the LUNGS, "TANNING IS NOT HEALTHY!!"


Today I will hide from the sun and HONOR those who did not beat the beast, like Jilllian & Tina and the many others.  BECAUSE, I am a SURVIVOR. Bless those who are fighting any type of cancer.

Stop the MADNESS

Feeling Frustrated today... with the start of summer vacation for so many people, and the misunderstanding that so many people have about melanoma.... like it is "just skin cancer" and you can cut it out.

PEOPLE!!!!  REALLY???  Melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer and is often fatal. The statistcs for survival have improved...but too many people are being told that there is nothing anyone can do for them.  Does this sound like something you can just cut out??

I want to share some information about melanoma, as seen at skincancer,org


http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma

 "Both UVA and UVB rays are dangerous to the skin, and can induce skin cancer, including melanoma. Blistering sunburns in early childhood increase risk, but cumulative exposure also may be a factor. People who live in locations that have more sunlight — like Florida, Hawaii, and Australia — develop more skin cancers. Avoid using a tanning booth or tanning bed, since it increases your exposure to UV rays, raising your risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers."

USE SUNSCREEN &  COVER UP this summer!!
DO NOT GET A BASE TAN.... it will not "help" or "prevent" sunburns.

#sunburns=melanoma

#beatingcancer4mydaughter

 

 

Melanoma is real, it is not FUNNY to sunburn.... WE NEED TO STOP the MADNESS.



Cast Away

This morning I was thinking about Tom Hanks in Cast Away. It made me think of cancer. I will tell you why.

When you are sick, and you are in the trenches of the fight. You often feel like Tom Hank's character in Cast Away. You feel you as though you are on a deserted island.... you are alone..... and there is no way out of the hell of the fight.

I want to add a quick disclaimer to say that this is not to be rude or dismissive to the MANY caregivers out there.... YOU ARE WHY WE FIGHT LIKE HELL!!! There are times in the night when a cancer patient has these feelings, at least I did.  WE LOVE OUR CAREGIVERS WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AND FOR ME IT WAS A REASON I DID NOT GIVE UP, EVEN WHEN THINGS WERE SO HARD!!

Back to my comparison......  just like Tom Hanks' character felt as though he would never see his family, as a cancer patient, I felt as though the "real" world was somewhere I would not see again. There were times when I felt as though my life had been altered forever.  Even after treatments ended, I felt sad and frightened by my fight with the beast. I was scarred.

Then one day, the trade winds started blowing.... and I knew I would make it. I knew there was a way off the island. AND here I am.... 3 years after and the warm trade winds are blowing.... I am LIVING. I am ALIVE & WELL.

FOR those who are in the trenches of the battle..... I AM HERE to share my story so you know there is another side of the battle... and that side is LIFE. WHILE I am 4ever changed from CANCER.... and I WILL 4ever share my story in hopes it provides HOPE!!

FOR the Warriors OUT THERE, Adrienne in Canada and KARA in New Orleans... and all the other BAD ASS Melanoma WARRIORS!!!  HANG IN THERE!!

& PLEASE WEAR SUNSCREEN PEOPLE!!

Peace, out, Love, Strong Steph

Birthdays

Just recently I turned 44. I did not know if I was going to make it to 41. When I was sick, the American Cancer Society began running ads with famous people singing Happy Birthday. It always made me cry.

There are more and more warriors who will not see anymore birthdays. Some of our youngest warriors have left us and are fighting right now.

Melanoma doesn't care how old you are. It is an evil from the depths of cancer hell. It is hell to beat it and as many of you know, you never really get over fighting it. It can come back and bite you in the ass!

I am 3 years NED and so grateful for that, but I am also aware of how everyday is a gift, a birthday gift for me is to be here and I do not want to waste my days on negative energy or people.

Go hug a tree!   GO ski a mountain!! GO ENJOY, for those who have left us!  PEACE!

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!!