Melanoma

spiderlily · New User Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Alabama

Hi everyone i am new to this and hate it.Easter Sunday my brother told me he has cancer .tore me apart i have cried everyday since and pray for him all the time can,t get if off my mind not for a min .He went to the doctor and they removed a lump under his arm .He has melanoma and didn,t know it hasn,t been sick at all its in the last stage.Its in the lymph nodes.Hes got to go to the cancer center may 2nd to get results of more test.He is hiding something i knoe he is .He want talk about it at all not one word .He acts like nothings wrong but i see the worry in his eyes.And he is getting all his business matters taken care of so that makes me think its getting time for something to happen .I am so scared for him and don,t know what to do .please pray for my brother hes just 49 way to young Crying or Very sad

Kaelie · Regular Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 29

The best thing you can do for your brother is get informed, and be supportive. And stop the tears hon... your brother will only keep more secrets from you if he sees how much it tears you up inside...

If he needs a shoulder, he will come to someone he thinks can answer his (MANY) questions. Most men will try to play the macho card for a while, but sooner or later will start looking for someone to talk to. Be informed, and (for now) answer the questions the rest of your family must have. Find out these answers online or where ever you can. Word will get back to your brother, and he may confide in you and you will feel like you're being more of a support to him. Truth be told, by helping other family and friends understand, you are helping out a tonne.

When I was first diagnosed, I went to my sister because #1 she is smart, and #2 her hubby is a doc. I knew that the many questions I threw at her may not be answered on that phone call, but by the time I talked to her next time, she would know... that, and #3 she's just an awesome person. She spread the word for me... because I just couldn't bear to go through the story one more time.

She was really the only person of my whole family (4 siblings, and about 50 others) that I talked to in confidence. Everyone else just knew already.. and were supportive without being intrusive, which was exactly what I needed.

I hope things work out for your family. Please try to remember that your relationship with your brother superceeds his diagnosis. If he decides to never speak with a soul about it, he is still your brother, still deserving of your love.

All my best,
~Kaelie

inus42 · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma

I too was diagonosed with level 4 matastic Melinoma this past November. I discovered a lump under my arm and had it removed. After the pathology reports tested positive for Melinoman on the lump uder my arm I had surgery again for a full axxilairy removal of my lymph nodes under my Arm They removed 29 more nodes. One other node had microscopic cancer cells which the PET scan picked up. I have been in remission since November and return every 3 months for a full Body PET and blood work . SO far I remain cancer free and realize that everyday is a gift. Statistics are against us at this level of Melinoma, but there is hope. There is some really exciting research being down with protein built nanocages which specifically target Melinoma and entrap them within the cage, which they can harvest from your body using some form of light wand. website address for the article and abstract
http://www.nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=3019. Please look into alternative methods of prevention. Remember we are what we eat.

tomas
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tomas

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