- Sep 17, 2020
- 302
- 209
- 64
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Married
Well.... where to start....
I've been living with my cancer for the past 33 years now.
I was stage 1, Clarke-Breslow level 1-4 from 1987 through 1990.
I got a biopsy, just prior to my marriage in 1990, and learned in 2000 that I was misdiagnosed. According to other dermatologists (in the early 00's, what we used to call--- the aughts), it had to be a deliberate misdiagnosis.
I can easily detail my experience, from the get go to those who are interested in the story. But considering it's a 33 year story, you asking questions will make it easier to work through.
I've had 6 surgeries, 4 years of immuno-therapy chemo, from a clinical trial, more CT scans of the torso, and MRI's of the brain than I can count.... somewhere upwards of 55-65 of each.
I've also had 13 whole body PET scans. I definitely recommend PET for finding tumors....
I went stage 3 in 1991-2. I lived stage 3 from then to 1997. In 1999, it came back, and got into my small bowel, making me stage 4.
From that point forward, I bounced back and forth between my abdomen, and my inguinal/iliac region.
7/1997 was my first surgery. It was in my inguinal region of my left leg.
6/1999 my small bowel. 20cm bowel resection.
12/2000 my external iliac vein. A vein rebuild.
7/02 scar tissue from 1997 site.
4/03 bladder, and large intestine.
2/04 same location as 12/00 site. But this time it compromised my iliac artery, and I almost died due to an exploding artery, and loss of 1250 cc's of blood.
I suppose I should say that I've been in remission since 2004. Per the Melanoma protocols, I've been cured since 2014. Which is indeed really nice, but as long time friends and family members of cancer patients know--- cancer has a tendency of showing back up when you least expect it.... So far... Mine wandered off and got lost. So, I am learning to live again.... but this time, differently than I once thought I was to live.
This is just the basics... there's a lot more to it. But enough for starters.
I'll answer whatever I can, provide whatever encouragement I can, and give whatever resources I'm able.
I've been living with my cancer for the past 33 years now.
I was stage 1, Clarke-Breslow level 1-4 from 1987 through 1990.
I got a biopsy, just prior to my marriage in 1990, and learned in 2000 that I was misdiagnosed. According to other dermatologists (in the early 00's, what we used to call--- the aughts), it had to be a deliberate misdiagnosis.
I can easily detail my experience, from the get go to those who are interested in the story. But considering it's a 33 year story, you asking questions will make it easier to work through.
I've had 6 surgeries, 4 years of immuno-therapy chemo, from a clinical trial, more CT scans of the torso, and MRI's of the brain than I can count.... somewhere upwards of 55-65 of each.
I've also had 13 whole body PET scans. I definitely recommend PET for finding tumors....
I went stage 3 in 1991-2. I lived stage 3 from then to 1997. In 1999, it came back, and got into my small bowel, making me stage 4.
From that point forward, I bounced back and forth between my abdomen, and my inguinal/iliac region.
7/1997 was my first surgery. It was in my inguinal region of my left leg.
6/1999 my small bowel. 20cm bowel resection.
12/2000 my external iliac vein. A vein rebuild.
7/02 scar tissue from 1997 site.
4/03 bladder, and large intestine.
2/04 same location as 12/00 site. But this time it compromised my iliac artery, and I almost died due to an exploding artery, and loss of 1250 cc's of blood.
I suppose I should say that I've been in remission since 2004. Per the Melanoma protocols, I've been cured since 2014. Which is indeed really nice, but as long time friends and family members of cancer patients know--- cancer has a tendency of showing back up when you least expect it.... So far... Mine wandered off and got lost. So, I am learning to live again.... but this time, differently than I once thought I was to live.
This is just the basics... there's a lot more to it. But enough for starters.
I'll answer whatever I can, provide whatever encouragement I can, and give whatever resources I'm able.
Last edited:
