UK Skin Cancer and Melanoma Patients

[Silent_Snake86]

Hey. I posted here one time back in October. I said I'd post again after my surgery, but didn't get around to it, and eventually this site sort of faded in to the background of my memory (I'm sort of a spacey person about things like that). I'll try to be active on this forum, but I can't really promise anything, because I'll probably eventually break the promise.

So... I'm seventeen (rather young for this). I live in Arizona (in the United States, in the middle of the desert). I was diagnosed last September. I had a surgery in late October. In that surgery they took about 2 inches of skin from my left temple, took a skin graft from my leg and put it on the spot they took from my temple, and took 2 lymph nodes. Both the lymph nodes had melanoma, so I had to have a second surgery. In that surgery, they took a lot of lymph nodes from my neck and along my jaw line. Last January, I started Interferon. I give myself 3 shots (with 20,000 units in each shot) a week.

This post didn't really have a specific question or anything. It was just sort of a(nother) introductory post.

[danensis]

I'm feeling somewhat bitter about Interferon at the moment, as my wife's melanoma has spread to other lymph nodes, despite a year on Interferon.

Take a look at http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/sunlight.html

There is also this article in The Lancet - you need to subscribe to read it, but subscription is free:

http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol360 ... 6/contents

Interferon as adjuvant treatment for melanoma [Full Text] [PDF]
*Keith Wheatley, Natalie Ives, Barry Hancock, Martin Gore

[danensis]

Please ignore the first link above [Why can't we edit posts on thisboard?] - I've reported this site to quackwatch as there is a lot of misleading information on it.

The URL I meant to give was:

http://www.cancerhelp.co.uk/help/?page=3826

[UK MBB Administrator]

Hello Danensis,

In response to your questions;

1. Editing Posts has been restricted to the UK Melanoma Forum Administrator purely as a responsible measure to prevent any abuse by malicious posters - unfortunately, there are some not nice people out there. If you wish to make a correction, you may try 'Quote' feature and posting you're updated remark. I am sure you understand this is a sensible compromise.

2. Regarding information accuracy of the forum, the Forum is an open discussion area for melanoma patients and caregivers. It's purpose is to share experiences and offer support and advice based on each users experience. The forum does not purport to proscribe treatment in any way and where someone has tried to do so there has been a reactive response from forum users. However, if you feel there are misleading posts please let me know and I will address the issue as fairly as I can while allowing freedom of individual expression for other users.

As with other melanoma sufferers and caregivers, I do wish you well with your wife's situation.

Regards,

UK Melanoma Forum Administrator

[danensis]

How do you comfort someone who thinks they've been handed a death sentence?