tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post6538764327368481900..comments2024-03-26T16:20:50.357-04:00Comments on Attitude of Gratitude: "The history of breast cancer advocacy" And What It can Mean To The Melanoma CommunityCarol Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17930711637707595995noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-40513909128542755552014-10-14T11:47:30.514-04:002014-10-14T11:47:30.514-04:00Thanks, Celina! You go right ahead and share anyth...Thanks, Celina! You go right ahead and share anything here to your heart's content! I have a feeling many families have many cancers in them. I know mine does. Blessings on your battle!Carol Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930711637707595995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-48351542975684150662014-10-14T10:55:51.366-04:002014-10-14T10:55:51.366-04:00Awesome post. I'll be sharing. I'm also me...Awesome post. I'll be sharing. I'm also melanoma stage III b, but my family is affected by breast, colon, ovarian and brain cancer. A dear friend has leukemia. However, I still get the statement, "I thought melanoma was just skin cancer". It's a constant effort to educate. I'll be sharing your post. Thank you. Celina Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03599348479401299417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-77570623120508027032012-10-14T14:39:00.530-04:002012-10-14T14:39:00.530-04:00Donna, you're right, I didn't. In 2008, In...Donna, you're right, I didn't. In 2008, Interferon was the only option I was given beyond my surgeries. The melanoma specialist, who would have been my onc if I had chosen this route, and I talked. She didn't try to sway me one way or the other. So, I went home and researched it and did a lot of praying. <br /><br />I don't tolerate chemicals at all. I can't take aspirin without side-effects...truly. I get side-effect from EVERYTHING...so when I read the side-effects with Interferon I knew I'd have each and every one of them and all the rarer ones, too. <br /><br />Plus, every time I read about possible liver damage from it, I knew in my soul that would be me and I knew if melanoma ever came back and I really needed to fight active disease that I would need my liver. (After my surgeries, I didn't have any "active" disease...Interferon would have been a hopefully preventative measure).<br /><br />And, as I've mentioned in a couple of posts, when I had my PET/Ct scan, I was in the middle of menopause and "looking forward" to more, and it stopped completely after that scan. I've never had another symptom. I'm not too keen on daring another functioning body system to shut down. I need the rest.<br /><br />Soooooo, I did refuse the Interferon. When I went back to see the onc to tell her my decision, there was a PA in there too. The PA literally cheered and the onc gave me a big smile. I later learned from my mel spec surgical onc that they don't like Interferon there (I go to Duke) but do offer it as a choice and will do it if that's what the patient wants but they don't push it.<br /><br />So far so good. If active disease comes back, I've already decided, based on what I shared above, to fight with surgery as long as I can. I do know of a stage 4 warrior who has had great success doing that and has been NED with surgery, alone, for over 3 years now...he's never had any chemical treatments. I've never looked back and never regretted. <br /><br />For me, it was the right call.Carol Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930711637707595995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-58241541897107102142012-10-14T09:56:48.438-04:002012-10-14T09:56:48.438-04:00I have been following your blog and I remembered t...I have been following your blog and I remembered that you are also a stage 3b as well as I. I thought that I read one of the postings to another blogger on your blog that stated you did not have any treatment after the surgeries, is this correct? If so could you please explain. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13294303636513379363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-17270655990573226582012-10-09T15:09:57.065-04:002012-10-09T15:09:57.065-04:00Well said Carol!Well said Carol!Clarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426331532588333180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-11244704222281881942012-10-02T18:40:41.967-04:002012-10-02T18:40:41.967-04:00Thanks, Mark! I appreciate that.Thanks, Mark! I appreciate that.Carol Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930711637707595995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-1697783658044722912012-10-02T18:35:28.532-04:002012-10-02T18:35:28.532-04:00Well done! Excellent!Well done! Excellent!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506452219665233505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-33128122331886325742012-10-01T21:31:17.217-04:002012-10-01T21:31:17.217-04:00Thanks, Crystal!Thanks, Crystal!Carol Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930711637707595995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-65537885195482917012012-10-01T21:22:35.906-04:002012-10-01T21:22:35.906-04:00Well said! Thank you so much for posting!! Well said! Thank you so much for posting!! Crystal Ghttp://facebook.com/crystal.gill.08noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-49739386175172544972012-10-01T18:11:59.241-04:002012-10-01T18:11:59.241-04:00Thanks, Katie! I hope you'll add your own thou...Thanks, Katie! I hope you'll add your own thoughts and expand on this!Carol Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930711637707595995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320450055573507207.post-49245408681572391732012-10-01T18:05:09.486-04:002012-10-01T18:05:09.486-04:00I was having some of the same thoughts today. Grea...I was having some of the same thoughts today. Great post-- I'll be sharing this!Katie Wilkeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18286648146803495117noreply@blogger.com