I am a 55 year old mother of 2 grown up girls. Soon to become. Grannie too.......(July24)
Eight years ago I had a malignant melanoma removed from my right leg it was less that 1mm but still had a rather big chunck of non effected skin in surrounding area removed. Since then I have regular visits to my skin Dr and in Feb this year opted for a new mole mapping service.
In Jan this year I noticed a hard lump behind my ear it seemed bruised. I had what I thought was a wart behind my ear for about 6 or 7 years. About 2 years ago even did a bit of home removal on it. Anyway something grew back. I thought it was scar tissue but alas it was removed in March and 4 weeks later I found out it was a 2.33mm malignant melanoma. I will need to have surgery to remove some non effected tissue and the lymph node and see where we go from there. My CT scans have shown no spread to brain or body ATM so fingers crossed for a cure. Had 3 biopsies taken during consultation 7th May. Node that was up was due to cancer so now having neck dissection to remove more nodes as well as skin graft around ear area Thursday 30 May 24...can't come quick enough.....surgery all done and will be back in UK for my results and check on scar healing and skin graft on head 28 Jun...
21 Jun result day cancer has spread to 3 of my lymph nodes altho all surrounding tissue and initial tumour temoved unfortunately traces of abnormalities detected in lymphatic system. Starting immunotherapy ASAP.... update started immunotherapy 31 July... now spread to liver badly several tumours biggest is 7cm then told that on a CT scan I had mid Aug that shows now spread to my lung. I have my last double whammy immunotherapy first week of October I just have to pray it helps me otherwise doesn't look like I'll being seeing my grandsons first Christmas. I am so desperate to continue to live to watch him grow. He is 7 weeks tmrw and a good reason to get up each morning and smile and feel blessed...
