Hi all brave and cool melanoma fighters
Just checking in with some positive vibes. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma in my lymph system (right leg) in 2008 and was given the rather stressful prognosis something along the lines of “20% chance of not being around in a year, 80% chance of not being around in 5 years” ( I guess the doctor didn’t quite put it that bluntly!).
Anyway – here I still am! 14 years later, no recurrence ( a few scares though – any lump, anywhere would cause a minor panic!).
Not here to show or make others who have not been so lucky feel bad (and hopefully not tempt fate!) – but I remember, when I was first diagnosed, feeling great comfort when I saw other people’s success stories. Thanks to all those kind people.
Understandably, many posts in here are about recurrences and issues (as it is a great source of support and advice) and it is quite easy for people who get it all sorted to just fade away from the site. So I vowed to myself to occasionally come back here to remind people that there are many, many success stores too, and hopefully re-enforce hope to others in the same way I got inspiration from success stories all those years ago.
(For anyone interested, I opted for surgery only to take out all lymph nodes in my leg, no other treatment. Please do not take this as advice – it is just what I did after considering pros and cons of the options at the time – a year long course of Interferon seemed to be the main one)
Keep fighting, living life to the best of you ability, and keep believing.
Love to all
John
PS if anyone would like more info about me or my case – just ask!
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