Monday, June 10, 2013

friends say melanoma is no big deal

"friends say melanoma is no big deal" AND "friends don't understand your melanoma" are search terms that led someone to this blog today.

And my heart breaks. I'm seeing these same sentiments over and over in Melanoma Land. That would be on Facebook and the greater Internet. In groups and on sites. It makes me angry, too.

People, as a rule, don't get this disease until they get it. And make no mistake about it, our numbers are growing in ALL demographics, worldwide. People ARE getting it, but by then, it's too late for them to yank those words back and they are forced to understand melanoma from a whole new perspective. From the perspective of the one with instead of as the one belittling. I dare say most of us, myself included, didn't truly understand this disease until we got it either.

Let me tell you: It IS a big deal! A HUGE deal. An in-your-face-let's-talk-life-and-death deal. A scary deal. It is not, however, a deal without hope. Hope abounds because God is very present and our Help in this storm. And God is throwing out a lot of lifelines for us. There are more treatment options now than ever before that are showing very real promise. But they are still few and limited in number. And, not every option will help everyone. But we do have people, even with stage 4 brain mets, who are living better and longer than ever before. Things are starting to really look up in our world.We are a very hopeful and hope-filled people. However, melanoma is still a storm and for many, too many, it is a tsunami. This is a big deal and it needs to be understood.

The problem is that most people equate "melanoma" with skin cancer. They think it can just be cut out, stitched up, and life continues to sail along.Well. It doesn't. People with any kind of skin cancer will tell you that skin cancer IS cancer and those cancers, when they are cut out and stitched up, leave scars. They are disfiguring and emotionally scarring. Basal cell is very rarely fatal and squamous cell will kill over 2500 people in the USA alone this year. That's a big deal.

Now let me tell you about melanoma. I want it removed from the skin cancer category because it is so much, much more. It does not need skin to begin, grow, or spread in. Just because we hear tell of "moles" and "skin" the most, don't get deluded into thinking that's all you have to watch for: changing moles. That proves deadly.

Melanoma can literally begin ANY place in OR on your body that you can name except for your teeth and your hair. Start naming places. Eyes...check. Ocular melanoma. Mouth...check. Oral melanoma. Ear canal...check. Any organ. Any body part. Bones. Nose. Nail beds. Rectum. Vagina. It can travel through lymph nodes AND the bloodstream. It can be aggressive from the get-go or it can lie dormant a while and then kick into gear. It does what it wants, when it wants, and goes where it wants. It has no MO. None. Zilch. Nada.

Let me tell you something else...for those of you with friends who have had stage 0 (in situ) and stage 1 melanomas removed and you tell them it's no big deal. Their melanoma can come roaring back stage 4 in a matter of months...or never. They, like the rest of us higher staged people (I'm 3b), never know what our own melanoma will do until it does it. Those of us who are in the stage 3 and 4 range, as a rule, have access to periodic scans (depending on the doctor, facility, etc). SOME at stage 2 will be scanned. People at 0 and 1 don't get scans...OK, rarely...some do. Most don't. And let's face it, scans are no guarantee that a renegade cell, or tumor, will be caught. Many have clean scans one day and new tumor growth in a matter of weeks.

People really, really need to wake up to the truths about this disease, melanoma. It's not only melahomies in the 0-1 stages who get this "roll your eyes and yawn" reaction from people. It's people at all stages. Usually we look good. We smile. We're upbeat. We go to work or school, raise our families; from outward appearances we look like we're coping. Our emotions can be a whole other story. We usually don't choose to open up to the world, but when we do open up and share about our disease and where we are, a little compassion is called for. If you don't know what melanoma is, then ask. If you think it's "skin cancer" and no big deal...at least hear the word cancer and say "I'm sorry."

If the best you can do is some fake platitude then shut up and don't say anything. Don't tell someone it's no big deal. Don't say "oh, skin cancer." Don't say "you'll be OK." Don't say "get a grip."

Learn about this disease. Especially if you've ever been to a tanning bed. Especially if you've ever had even one sunburn. Especially if you have a family history of any kind of skin cancer or melanoma. Especially if you already have cancer, of any kind, in your medical history. Especially if you have a body of any age or either gender. Race and ethnicity offer no protection.

Melanoma is THE fastest growing cancer there is and there is no cure. Don't think this disease only happens to other people. YOU are "other people" to everybody on the face of this planet except to yourself.

Those of us who already inhabit Melanoma Land want our numbers to go down, but frankly, that will take a while. They will continue to rise for years to come. For one, most people aren't listening to us about the dangers of tanning beds and unsafe sun practices. Too many people still are not having annual skin checks. And, even if all dangerous practices ceased today, the damage that has been done is permanent and people will continue to be diagnosed with melanoma decades later. It happens every day. I was diagnosed decades after my last sunburn.

Melanoma is such a big deal that MD Anderson has a melanoma moon shot and Stand Up 2 Cancer has a melanoma dream team. Nothing says "big deal" like shooting to the moon and a dream team!

Melanoma no big deal? Every single day, around the clock, in the USA alone, 25 people die from it. Those numbers are up from last year and they'll be even higher next year. This year, in the USA alone, over 135,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma and that includes those in situ. The more common number of diagnoses (76,690) we see doesn't include in situ (stage 0) but it should, every diagnosis counts.

Don't understand melanoma? Check out these trusted sites and learn more:
Aim at Melanoma

Melanoma Research Foundation 

The Skin Cancer Foundation

American Academy of Dermatology

Your friends with this disease need understanding. They aren't looking for the moon, just an ear. They aren't asking for a lot, just hope and to know you care. They need you to understand this diagnosis, at any stage, IS a big deal.

And I need you to understand it can happen to you and it can strike your family and chances are very good that it will. So please, read up on it, stop any damaging/deadly practices you're engaged in, get annual scalp-to-toe skin checks, and be proactive. Do a blog-site search here for melanoma and read to your heart's content. At the very least, if your attitude towards melanoma is "no biggie," then get an attitude adjustment. Seriously. No annoying smiley face.

That attitude adjustment may just save your life or the life of one you love.

That's a big deal and needs to be understood.

charis

9 comments:

  1. I think it's a big deal...ans still get looks of wonder at the idea that it almost killed me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Until I found out about the Melanoma on my back I didn't understand all the implications of what having it met I was the same I thought it was just skin cancer and the doctor would remove it well that is a yes and a no they remove it yes but it is way more complicated...that is why I my goal is to make sure my family and friends understand just how deadly it is

    ReplyDelete
  3. I had it on my back and it wasn't a mole it was a straight line that was purple ,pink, and brown. later it was on my lung. it is CANCER and nothing to play with. the great bob marley died of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing, friend. I constantly learn about how this disease presents itself. I've never heard of it presenting as a straight line that changed colors! I'm sorry it has spread. I hope you're seeing a melanoma specialist. I've done a couple of posts about Marley (if you haven't read them do a blog site search).
      Blessings!

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  4. I enjoyed reading your blog--though i do not have melanoma--I do go for skin assessment every 2 years--and if i see something different i am in sooner. I grew up in the age of no sun screen so i am very diligent.
    You mentioned about eye melanoma--my friend has it now--the tumor had radiation and so far scans have come back with no spreading to other places --esp the liver.The tumor did decrease in size and is basically gone. Though she does have problems with vision now and dryness in the eye which causes increase eye pressure--which is painful.Where did she acquired this rare form of cancer is anybody's guess.
    Now, I hate to say this but i am scared for the future tanning bed queens out their. Not only is it bad for your skin but if they don't put the goggles on--I have a suspicion we will see a rise in eye melanoma. My daughter gets her skin checked every 6 months--and tomorrow she is going in to get her eyes checked. Yes she used tanning beds--not that much but enough and she just told me--"I never used the goggles, who wants lines on their noses." To me prevention is the best policy--therefore see is seeing an optometrist tomorrow.
    Being a nurse I have cared for many people with cancer--in all stages and i just want to say--i admire and respect the people who fight everyday in their battle. I applaud you for sharing your feelings and hope people realize that this disease is horrific. God bless you and stay true and stay strong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Eileen, it's great to hear from you! And it's nice to know someone without melanoma reads my blog! And a nurse at that! YOu made my day!

      I agree with you. As melanoma rates rise among our tanning queens and kings...don't forget the guys!...all kinds of melanoma rates will skyrocket. Not just ocular. Oral. In the ear canal. For those that tan nude, various genital melanomas. They just are not thinking! Probably most, if they give melanoma or skin cancer a second thought, think they'll be able to cut it out, heal, and be fine. No big deal! They won't get it until they get it.

      Many, many prayers for your daughter! I pray the two of you never have to go through what too many families are going through when their young daughters get this. I see an ophthalmologist, can an optometrist see the retina? If so, good. If not, please take her to an ophthalmologist and get her retina checked.

      Blessings on both of you!

      Delete
  5. Melanoma killed my Brother in 2005 just 2 years after it was found I was found to have it aug 2013 stage 2b melanoma is no joke and I am also so tired of hearing oh just skin cancer I even had a man with melanoma stage 4 who is now saying his is not there anymore and that I will be good as I am only stage 2 b so it happens with melanoma ppl as well any time the word cancer is put to you I dont care in what way its never good I just hope ppl become aware of what melanoma is and what it can do .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, I'm sorry about your brother. Thankfully, if you should ever need them, you'll have options that didn't exist when your brother was battling. Stage 2b isn't a joke. At all. Prayers that yours never progresses, but it sounds like you know your enemy, so stay proactive! Blessings!

      Delete

Thank you.