In 1999 I began noticing a suspicious mole on my right arm. Over the course of 9 months I had 2 doctors examine it and they both said "it's nothing to worry about Mr. Jones". I picked up a flier about skin cancer and the picture and description caused me to ask a dermatologist. He also said it was nothing to worry about. After some discussion he agreed to do a shave biopsy. A week later I received a postcard in the mail stating I had Melanoma Cancer and that I needed to make an appointment at my earliest convenience. Because a full biopsy was done my right arm had to be ripped open and the lymph nodes removed. I began injecting myself daily with interferon. The idea was to build my immune system by making my body think it had the flu. After 9 months of this torture I went from 210 lbs. to 130 lbs and was told the immune system doesn't recognize melanoma. It had spread thru my lymph system and was growing rapidly in my lungs and lower abdomen. I was then 40 years of age with a wife daughter and Clark Stage IV Metastasized Melanoma. I then began a bio-chemo cocktail and was placed in ICU. I came close to death many times. One of the hardest challenges to overcome was knowing the horror my wife, family and friends endured while watching my body being consumed by both cancer and the treatment. It is easy to give up but by doing so no one wins. Two years went by with PET scans every 3 months. It didn't look good but I was still alive. My oncologist said I was an anomaly. In 2006 it came back in full force. I was once again in ICU and given High dose Interleukin 2. They also found a liter of fluid around my heart. While draining the fluid they punctured a lung. They said I had a blockage in the main artery of my heart and there was a good chance the angiogram might kill me. As if cancer wasn't enough.
I am now 48 years old and here to tell you YOU CAN OVERCOME. While living a wonderfully blessed life I have 2 small lymph nodes lighting up between my heart and central nervous system. They are there to remind us of what is possible...ByFaith.