Sunday, October 02, 2011

Live Strong

March 1991 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Melanoma. I was lucky, it had not gone into any lymph nodes and I was spared from having to endure more than two surgeries. For many years I have been followed because of the insidious nature of Melanoma, but thankfully I have not had any recurrences. Just this year my Doctor told me that since it has been 20 years since my diagnosis he considers me 'cured', and I do too. But I encourage and urge everyone to keep a keen eye on any odd or irregular spots and bring it to the attention of your doctor. My cancer was only the size of an pencil head but I ended up losing a sizable degree of skin from the cancer location. Today the type of surgery used to remove melanoma is vastly different, and there are very good treatments for even more advanced melanomas with better mortality rates. Every one live strong.

28 comments:

  1. Oh, sweet Abby we are so thankful that you beat that horrible cancer and are cancer free after all these years. Hugs and nose kisses

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  2. We are verreh happy your treatment was so successful! It is true procedures and treatments advance rapidly (though unfortunately not always rapidly enough). We is grateful for good researchers!

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  3. Thanks for the important message, and paws up for being a 20-year survivor!

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  4. We didn't realize you were a cancer survivor and are so glad you are considered to be cured!

    We're purring for All Beings affected by cancer...and sending purrs and purrayers for all to LiveStrong.

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  5. We are very glad that you have had no re-occurrence for 20 years and are cured of the evil cancer.We send purrs to all those who are affected by it.

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  6. You really are quite a survivor and that makes my whiskers grin up! I really believe we can whip the evil C if we will LiveStrong together!

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  7. Thank you for sharing your story, and so glad to hear that your treatment was successful. Hopefully in another 20 years there will be no need for treatment - there will be a 100% cure and an end to the evil C. LiveStrong xx

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  8. Big big big hugs and purrs to you!!! Take care
    x

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  9. Live Strong and well dear friend. We hope one day this disease is "history." We have to keep fighting for more research and a cure for both oomans and anipals.

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  10. We are so glad that you have beaten cancer!!! We wish for a world where no being is effected by this terrible disease!!!

    Livestrong and Lovestrong too :-)

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  11. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm so glad to hear that you've had no recurrences. I'm a cancer survivor of a little over 20 years with no recurrences as well, but of course there are so many that haven't been as fortunate or are still battling this disease. It would be so wonderful if there was a cure!

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  12. Thank you for sharing your bout and cure from melanoma....prayers were answered and you are living proof. Hugs to you all,
    Madi and Mom

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  13. We are glad to hear you have beaten the skin cancer! It does us good to hear this. We do have to do our part to support more cancer research and advances are being made all the time.

    A friend of ours has just had a new procedure this past week for her abdominal cancer where the chemo is heated. We need to LiveStrong every day!

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  14. Thank you for this thoughtful and beautiful post, and for sharing your own story. We did not know you are a survivor. We, too, have been touched by cancer, and we join you in imagining a world without it. What a wonderful world that WILL be.

    Purrs, prayers hugs and love to you all. LiveStrong!

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  15. Our dad caught his tumor fairly quickly too and is a survivor.

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  16. It is a blessing fur all of us, your courage and win in the face of such a horrid disease. You are right, things have gotten much better.

    You do so much fur all of us. Without you, we would be greatly diminished! We are thankful that He gave you the grace to be with us now.

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  17. Wow, good for you to beat that darn disease and for getting to the doctor so early. Glad you are all right. It is so good to hear of a good story. LiveStron.

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  18. We are glad to hear that you were cancer free and cured for 20 years. Melanoma is a scary disease. We lost one of our good friends too. She wanted an irregular patch removed but three doctors told her there was nothing to worry about but finally they did it to make her happy and it was stage IV (in the old cancer stage model). She lived seven years after that which really beat the odds but she is still gone.

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  19. We're glad you survived and are finally considered cured. Cancer is a scary word, so we're sad for any who hear it.

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  20. So glad that you received treatment early and was able to stay on top of this. Cancer is such a terrible disease and hope and purr that some day it will be a thing of the past. What a wonderful world that would be.

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  21. Hey that's great! And we like this cheerful monday morning post too. Love to Ping.

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  22. Thanks for sharing your story and we are glad that you have gone 20 years cancer free.
    Love the new look on the blog.

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  23. Yay Abby's Mom! We are so happy that all is well with your health. Thank you for sharing your story. LiveStrong kitties.

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  24. Thank goodness you are a survivor, and better yet, cured! My mom too is "cured", my dad, not yet... We're so sorry you had to go through that! But, what wonderful news!

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  25. We are so happy that you fought the battle and won! But we purr for those who have lost the battle...and for those still fighting. We purr for the day when cancer is no more! LiveStrong!

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  26. ConCatulations for having survived the nasty c.

    We purr and pray for a cure to this terrible disease.

    The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie

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  27. We purr that one day there will be a cure for cancer. We are very happy you are a survivor and we know your kitties are too ;)
    Livestrong, Tillie and Georgia

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  28. So happy you overcame this diagnosis. Skin cancer is very common in Mom's family too.

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