@bdhf
Forum Replies Created
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
3 months after the birth of my first child, I had a mole on my back removed that was melanoma in situ. 5 months after the birth of my second child, a 3 cm tumor was found in my brain.
Although all my doctors do not think they are directly related, it is extremely suspicous in my and my husbands mind. I will not be getting pregnant again!
In addition, I am a strong believer that stress contributes to the susceptibility of a person to develop cancer. The last 3 years have been the most stressful of my life. Add the immune system suppression that pregnancy causes and the high risk factors that I possess for melanoma and it was a perfect storm.
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
3 months after the birth of my first child, I had a mole on my back removed that was melanoma in situ. 5 months after the birth of my second child, a 3 cm tumor was found in my brain.
Although all my doctors do not think they are directly related, it is extremely suspicous in my and my husbands mind. I will not be getting pregnant again!
In addition, I am a strong believer that stress contributes to the susceptibility of a person to develop cancer. The last 3 years have been the most stressful of my life. Add the immune system suppression that pregnancy causes and the high risk factors that I possess for melanoma and it was a perfect storm.
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- May 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
3 months after the birth of my first child, I had a mole on my back removed that was melanoma in situ. 5 months after the birth of my second child, a 3 cm tumor was found in my brain.
Although all my doctors do not think they are directly related, it is extremely suspicous in my and my husbands mind. I will not be getting pregnant again!
In addition, I am a strong believer that stress contributes to the susceptibility of a person to develop cancer. The last 3 years have been the most stressful of my life. Add the immune system suppression that pregnancy causes and the high risk factors that I possess for melanoma and it was a perfect storm.
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- February 17, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Thanks all! I have gotten 2 opinions and they both pretty much say "let's get it out to be 100%". The rest of my treatment depends on if this thing is melanoma or not. I personally do not want to have the surgery. there has been no growth in 2 months. I am relatively young and healthy and would like to stay healthy. Surgery can be risky and I just don't want to put myself in that position unless it is necessary. My onc says that if it is mel then we will start some of the systemic treatments. If it isn't, we will do Interferon since otherwise there aren't other tumors to worry about. I have a 4mm tumor in my brain but just had 10 rounds of radiation for that. So, this is a hard decision.
Brenda
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- February 17, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Thanks all! I have gotten 2 opinions and they both pretty much say "let's get it out to be 100%". The rest of my treatment depends on if this thing is melanoma or not. I personally do not want to have the surgery. there has been no growth in 2 months. I am relatively young and healthy and would like to stay healthy. Surgery can be risky and I just don't want to put myself in that position unless it is necessary. My onc says that if it is mel then we will start some of the systemic treatments. If it isn't, we will do Interferon since otherwise there aren't other tumors to worry about. I have a 4mm tumor in my brain but just had 10 rounds of radiation for that. So, this is a hard decision.
Brenda
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- February 17, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Thanks all! I have gotten 2 opinions and they both pretty much say "let's get it out to be 100%". The rest of my treatment depends on if this thing is melanoma or not. I personally do not want to have the surgery. there has been no growth in 2 months. I am relatively young and healthy and would like to stay healthy. Surgery can be risky and I just don't want to put myself in that position unless it is necessary. My onc says that if it is mel then we will start some of the systemic treatments. If it isn't, we will do Interferon since otherwise there aren't other tumors to worry about. I have a 4mm tumor in my brain but just had 10 rounds of radiation for that. So, this is a hard decision.
Brenda
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- January 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Not to be a Debbie Downer but…I had Melanoma in situ in 2007. Once treated, there is like a 95% cure rate leaving about a 5% chance it will come back. Well, it came back with a vengance in Dec 2011 with a brain tumor. So, not to say he is stuck worrying for the rest of his life, I would say though that you both have reason to be concerned that it may come back and to keep it in your mind but definitely in the periphery. Nothing worse than living life frightened that the Grim Reeper is lurking! Positive mental attitudes have a theraputic effect! Live your lives but be aware it could return and be ready to kick some ass when it does! We weren't even thinking that it would come back and here we are…but I won't give up! Too much to live for!
Good luck!
Brenda
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- January 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Not to be a Debbie Downer but…I had Melanoma in situ in 2007. Once treated, there is like a 95% cure rate leaving about a 5% chance it will come back. Well, it came back with a vengance in Dec 2011 with a brain tumor. So, not to say he is stuck worrying for the rest of his life, I would say though that you both have reason to be concerned that it may come back and to keep it in your mind but definitely in the periphery. Nothing worse than living life frightened that the Grim Reeper is lurking! Positive mental attitudes have a theraputic effect! Live your lives but be aware it could return and be ready to kick some ass when it does! We weren't even thinking that it would come back and here we are…but I won't give up! Too much to live for!
Good luck!
Brenda
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- January 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Not to be a Debbie Downer but…I had Melanoma in situ in 2007. Once treated, there is like a 95% cure rate leaving about a 5% chance it will come back. Well, it came back with a vengance in Dec 2011 with a brain tumor. So, not to say he is stuck worrying for the rest of his life, I would say though that you both have reason to be concerned that it may come back and to keep it in your mind but definitely in the periphery. Nothing worse than living life frightened that the Grim Reeper is lurking! Positive mental attitudes have a theraputic effect! Live your lives but be aware it could return and be ready to kick some ass when it does! We weren't even thinking that it would come back and here we are…but I won't give up! Too much to live for!
Good luck!
Brenda
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- January 20, 2012 at 7:03 pm
David,
Hi! I had been thinking about your post and your response to my post the other day…and I finally met with my medical oncologist yesterday. Right now they don't think I have any more tumors. Still need to biopsy my lung (again) and my thyroid but we are 98% positive that they aren't melanoma. So, that being said, I still have radiation to do on my tumor bed that was left after the craniotomy. However, the doc doesn't recommend any other treatments. She mentioned interferon, to which I said no thanks. Too many side effects for no real measurable gain. We asked about Zelboraf or any of the other drugs but she said they aren't for people without any tumors. Short of that, I have no idea what to tell you…since you still have a remaining tumor, I would say that you should stay with the meds, see how it progresses/regresses and then go from there. I am so sorry though that it seems to be causing so many horrible side effects…must be miserable. Hang in there!!!!
Brenda
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- January 20, 2012 at 7:03 pm
David,
Hi! I had been thinking about your post and your response to my post the other day…and I finally met with my medical oncologist yesterday. Right now they don't think I have any more tumors. Still need to biopsy my lung (again) and my thyroid but we are 98% positive that they aren't melanoma. So, that being said, I still have radiation to do on my tumor bed that was left after the craniotomy. However, the doc doesn't recommend any other treatments. She mentioned interferon, to which I said no thanks. Too many side effects for no real measurable gain. We asked about Zelboraf or any of the other drugs but she said they aren't for people without any tumors. Short of that, I have no idea what to tell you…since you still have a remaining tumor, I would say that you should stay with the meds, see how it progresses/regresses and then go from there. I am so sorry though that it seems to be causing so many horrible side effects…must be miserable. Hang in there!!!!
Brenda
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- January 20, 2012 at 7:03 pm
David,
Hi! I had been thinking about your post and your response to my post the other day…and I finally met with my medical oncologist yesterday. Right now they don't think I have any more tumors. Still need to biopsy my lung (again) and my thyroid but we are 98% positive that they aren't melanoma. So, that being said, I still have radiation to do on my tumor bed that was left after the craniotomy. However, the doc doesn't recommend any other treatments. She mentioned interferon, to which I said no thanks. Too many side effects for no real measurable gain. We asked about Zelboraf or any of the other drugs but she said they aren't for people without any tumors. Short of that, I have no idea what to tell you…since you still have a remaining tumor, I would say that you should stay with the meds, see how it progresses/regresses and then go from there. I am so sorry though that it seems to be causing so many horrible side effects…must be miserable. Hang in there!!!!
Brenda
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