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Is this really happening to me
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Is this really happening to me

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Is this really happening to me

  • Post
    • July 3, 2017 at 10:35 pm
    Mickyfinn
    Participant

      Melanoma was detected on a 6 monthly skin check in front of right ear. Initial surgical removal of mole showed good margins were removed and no evidence of spread. 12 months later Parotid gland swelled up, this was removed along with 35 lymph nodes down into the neck/ shoulder area, pathology showed the melanoma was contained within the parotid with no suspicious protrusions, the 35 lymph nodes were all clear. 9 months later at a routine follow up cat scan revealed multiple nodules approx 5 in each lung that were not present in a previous cat scan 12 months ago. Have undergone a PET/CT scan shows 3 with significant uptake of dye in the left lung largest is 11mm, also one in the right lung with significant uptake 7mm also 4 additional nodules in the left and 3 in the right without significant uptake. No indication of spread to the body or brain.

      Waiting 10 days for an appointment with the specialist Oncologist at GCUH Gold Coast Australia, hoping for the best but planning for the worst. Everything seemed to be going so well for us, happy marriage, home paid off, 1st grand child on the way, looking firward to retirement….. now this ! Dam dam dam ! ☹️

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        • July 4, 2017 at 4:35 am
        betsyl
        Participant

          Waiting for the oncology appointment is the worst. Once the treatment gets under way, you'll feel at least you're doing something. Hang in there. You're not alone. Seek out friends who are willing to listen and ask questions. Don't believe the online stats. They're all ancient history at this point, as the newer treatments are allowing some to kick melanoma's butt.

          Best of luck to you,

          Betsy

          • July 4, 2017 at 5:03 pm
          bcbcbc55
          Participant

            Hang in there, you're not alone dealing with this aggressive situation.

            • July 4, 2017 at 10:33 pm
            sister of patient
            Participant

              Hi Micky – Treatments these days can be very successful – the important thing is that it's been found and you will be treated!! There is much to hope for!! Keep looking forward to your new grandbaby and don't stop planning that retirement, just know that you'll have to plan treatment in there too 🙂

              I think you'll find there are others on here from Australia … and in general, you'll find a ton of answers here – you're definitely in the right place! Wishing you the best success!

              Barb

              • July 5, 2017 at 10:50 pm
              stars
              Participant

                Just when one battle is over another begins. Now, no disrespect to GCUH and you definitely keep that appointment, but how about you give MIA a call as well (https://www.melanoma.org.au/) and see if there's anything they can recommend?  Also, this mob are in Brisbane: Melanoma Patients Austraia (https://melanomapatients.org.au/contact-us/). They might be able to advise if GCUH are up with the times. I'd strongly recommend calling them just to run your story by them and get any advice they have. It's 5 minutes of your time but might give you some peace of mind. At your stage of the game you really want the best possible team. Don't you lose hope – it's all going well for you treatment wise as well, you're very well placed to get top quality care either at the Gold Coast or Brisbane so don't despair. Let us know how you get on with these groups – people donate good money to them for one reason only – to help people like us. So get in there and use these services!

                  • July 7, 2017 at 9:39 pm
                  Mickyfinn
                  Participant

                    Thank you so much i will call them on Monday, i have been happy with GCUH so far, my only reservation about them is the amount of time it takes them to start taking action once a diagnosis has been made, i have been waiting 4 weeks now since the Radio Oncologist noticed the lung nodules on my CT scan and i havent even seen a soecialist yet, from what i have read so far Melanoma can move really quickly, in as little as a few months

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