Just venting. Feel free to contribute.

Hi Moira,

Greetings from the other side of the Earth.

First, thanks for all your input on this forum although because you suffer from some specific issues, I think sometimes you may frighten people even though it is clearly not your intent.  But to your point, the simple response to those who are dealing with cancer for the first time is to get educated.  Frankly, even though my mother died of cancer a decade ago, it was not until I was diagnosed that I even began to understand what cancer really is, how it works, and what may or may not be done to help cure.  And although Mel is a more stubborn beast that many other forms of cancer, it's good to remind people that overall, more than half of all cancer patients end up in full remission now.  The science has come a long way and even for us, dealing with a more difficult form of cancer, the outlook for long-term survival has never been better.  Tell them to learn more, seek facts, avoid anecdotal testimonials, miracle cures, and understand especially that early stage disease is very treatable.

Gary

Hi Moira,

Greetings from the other side of the Earth.

First, thanks for all your input on this forum although because you suffer from some specific issues, I think sometimes you may frighten people even though it is clearly not your intent.  But to your point, the simple response to those who are dealing with cancer for the first time is to get educated.  Frankly, even though my mother died of cancer a decade ago, it was not until I was diagnosed that I even began to understand what cancer really is, how it works, and what may or may not be done to help cure.  And although Mel is a more stubborn beast that many other forms of cancer, it's good to remind people that overall, more than half of all cancer patients end up in full remission now.  The science has come a long way and even for us, dealing with a more difficult form of cancer, the outlook for long-term survival has never been better.  Tell them to learn more, seek facts, avoid anecdotal testimonials, miracle cures, and understand especially that early stage disease is very treatable.

Gary

Hi Moira,

Greetings from the other side of the Earth.

First, thanks for all your input on this forum although because you suffer from some specific issues, I think sometimes you may frighten people even though it is clearly not your intent.  But to your point, the simple response to those who are dealing with cancer for the first time is to get educated.  Frankly, even though my mother died of cancer a decade ago, it was not until I was diagnosed that I even began to understand what cancer really is, how it works, and what may or may not be done to help cure.  And although Mel is a more stubborn beast that many other forms of cancer, it's good to remind people that overall, more than half of all cancer patients end up in full remission now.  The science has come a long way and even for us, dealing with a more difficult form of cancer, the outlook for long-term survival has never been better.  Tell them to learn more, seek facts, avoid anecdotal testimonials, miracle cures, and understand especially that early stage disease is very treatable.

Gary

Hi Moira,

I too had a look at some of the UK forums but like you found that this board was more informative and active although some of the same issues arise.

I think that a melanoma diagnosis is a shock and it it so easy to look at survival rates that are being rewritten due to treatment advances.

Also almost every general article labels melanoma as the deadliest form of skin cancer without regard to staging when diagnosed..a claim which is true but it doesn't mean deadly if diagnosed and treated at an ear!y stage for the great majority.

It may be that it takes a while for the more reassuring messages to be accepted. And I guess if you are one of that majority who have successful treatment then you don't spend your time on melanoma forums as of makes sense to move on with your life and these folks aren't there to reassure folks in the position they were in a few years ago.

When I was diagnosed I took reassurance from my mothers successful treatment obver 15 years ago and was pretty shocked when I did progress.. But with a 95% cure rate or thereabouts I guess someone gets the short straw on a T1a staging…..

Hope the new replacement hormone regime is making things better for you. CT scan for me tomorrow..

All the best

Deb

Hi Moira,

I too had a look at some of the UK forums but like you found that this board was more informative and active although some of the same issues arise.

I think that a melanoma diagnosis is a shock and it it so easy to look at survival rates that are being rewritten due to treatment advances.

Also almost every general article labels melanoma as the deadliest form of skin cancer without regard to staging when diagnosed..a claim which is true but it doesn't mean deadly if diagnosed and treated at an ear!y stage for the great majority.

It may be that it takes a while for the more reassuring messages to be accepted. And I guess if you are one of that majority who have successful treatment then you don't spend your time on melanoma forums as of makes sense to move on with your life and these folks aren't there to reassure folks in the position they were in a few years ago.

When I was diagnosed I took reassurance from my mothers successful treatment obver 15 years ago and was pretty shocked when I did progress.. But with a 95% cure rate or thereabouts I guess someone gets the short straw on a T1a staging…..

Hope the new replacement hormone regime is making things better for you. CT scan for me tomorrow..

All the best

Deb

Hi Moira,

I too had a look at some of the UK forums but like you found that this board was more informative and active although some of the same issues arise.

I think that a melanoma diagnosis is a shock and it it so easy to look at survival rates that are being rewritten due to treatment advances.

Also almost every general article labels melanoma as the deadliest form of skin cancer without regard to staging when diagnosed..a claim which is true but it doesn't mean deadly if diagnosed and treated at an ear!y stage for the great majority.

It may be that it takes a while for the more reassuring messages to be accepted. And I guess if you are one of that majority who have successful treatment then you don't spend your time on melanoma forums as of makes sense to move on with your life and these folks aren't there to reassure folks in the position they were in a few years ago.

When I was diagnosed I took reassurance from my mothers successful treatment obver 15 years ago and was pretty shocked when I did progress.. But with a 95% cure rate or thereabouts I guess someone gets the short straw on a T1a staging…..

Hope the new replacement hormone regime is making things better for you. CT scan for me tomorrow..

All the best

Deb