I've got melanoma on my inner thigh, although I've had surgery to remove it. I had a load of lymph nodes removed from my groin as it had spread there. Scans show that's as far as it had gone, although it wouldn't show what's happening at a cellular level. I had my surgery about four weeks ago and was in hospital for a week after. Recovery is slow and one of my wounds isn't looking too good, so I've got another appointment with the surgeon tomorrow to see if he's going to have to operate again.
I'm also being referred for a clinical trial that's a 50/50 chance of getting some apparently very effective drugs or a placebo. I have to start it no later than 12 weeks after my surgery, but the catch with that is that I also have to be fully recovered from the surgery. Eight weeks to go to the deadline but if I have to have more surgery I'm not sure what will happen to be honest.
On a more positive note, if the cancer comes back then I get immediate access to those drugs anyway. My consultant says there's been LOADS of money spent on melanoma research in the last decade and there's some really exciting new treatments in the pipeline. It seems that had I developed this even just a couple of years ago it would have meant having surgery and then just hoping for the best.
I've got two small children (23m and 5m) so I HAVE to get better.
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General health
Does anyone else have cancer and want to chat?
beccajoh · 16/06/2014 13:04
Sorry to hear about your cancer.
I (thank Goad) haven't got it, but I do know that a lot of people chat on the Tamoxigang thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2081856-Tamoxigang-thread-49-when-Sumer-is-y-cumen-in-and-we-get-out-the-Pimms?pg=1
(Not just about breast cancer, wither).
Really hope it all goes well for you.
I have breast cancer and post on the tamoxigang thread, it's not just for breast cancer though we have ladies with all different types and we understand the worry especially with young children. You'd be very welcome to post there. Good luck for the rest of your treatment 
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