Living with Skin Cancer

May 2007. I noticed a lump on my back right shoulder blade because it would bother my sleeping and driving, a lump I mean the size of a golf ball. So I made appointment with Primary Dr. He sent me to a surgeon and that surgeon said it seems to be a fatty tumor, shouldn’t bother me but I insisted to have it removed. It was removed a week later and next day my Primary called me at 8pm to tell me results that it was stuffed full of melanoma cells and they will have to go back in and cut all around it. I said sure, will do, let’s get it going. So he then sends me way down south to a big cancer hospital where by then it was a month later and another lump has started growing about 3 inches away from where the last one was. This Dr. at the new hospital takes it out, cuts out about 4 pounds of meat from around last incision Takes out 5 limp nodes from around back and arm pit. Tells me there was no cells in armpit nodes but there were a little, tiny bit in node on top of shoulder but they got it all. BUT, I have it in my blood system.

They’re going to start me with INTERFURON in 30 days. In that 30 days about on day 17 I start having seizures small ones at first and I am totally awake all through, (actually I at first thought they were just muscle spasms and was kinda funny). A couple days later I have a Grand mal and was not as funny, Still I didn’t black out But my wife called ambulance. My 3 fingers on right hand went totally numb and still are. Hospital all thought I may have had a stroke even though we told them I have stage 4 cancer and to check my brain. They didn’t, they sent me home! Next day I went to my Primary Dr and he ordered an MRI of brain and sure enough, there’s that baby on top left side deep about 1&1/2 inches in.
It was about the size of a triple A battery. A lot of swelling and they set up operation in 4 days. By the time 4 days came and they took it out it had grown to the size of now a D cell battery! The surgeon said another week and would not be able to get it all but they did he stated now.

Finally NOW I am able to start my INTERFURON. 10-22-07. Its been 5 month since diagnosed, 4 surgeries, 352 stitches and staples ago and I am plowing through. Will Beat this and show all that this can be done. 10-29-07 first week in chemo and doing ok. Must admit this interferon is tuff, Got to find a better way to eat. Do not feel as if food is any good hehe. Will work it out, You can too with whatever they throw at you, Keep a positive attitude, That I believe has a whole lot to do with it as also I have read others on here that have said the same.