CancerCompass message board discussion started by JanetF on 10/16/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17138,0.htm Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My 42 year old daughter has melanoma. It was 1st diagnosed in Jan. as a stage I, and now 9 mo. later is in stage IV. Her 1st PET scan after surgery to remove a lymph node showed nothing, now 4 mo. later she has upwards of 20 tumors throughout her body, several of them we can feel. She is getting weaker by the day, has lost her appetite, and is in a fair amount of pain already.We are following every lead we can find to secure a cure for her and are getting a quick education on what is available out there. We have not given up hope that she'll be in that small group that can beat this insidious disease. However, the speed w/ which it is spreading has me thinking about what the end will look like. Can someone tell me what we might expect? I know it sounds a little maudlin, but I find that the more prepared I am in the face of an upcoming trauma, the better I am able to cope. I want to be a strong support for her, and I think I will be stronger if I know what to expect.Thank you for any help you can give.Janet JanetF Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I just signed up today. When I went to the message boards I noticed you had not received a reply. Well, here it comes...I am diagnosed with clark stage IV metastisized melanoma. I am 47 years old. Soon to be 48 and have a blessed life. I began with a treatment called Interferon. It was believed to boost the immune system. The side effects resembled the worst flu you can imagine and that was every day. After a year of this abuse they discovered the immune system doesn't recognize melanoma. I had gone from 210 lbs to 130 lbs and could barely move. That was at stage I. During treatment it advanced to stage IV. I then began IL-2. Was in ICU 4 days straight, twice a month for four months. After all of this I was given little to no hope. This all began when I was 40 years old. As I said I am soon to be 48, 198 lbs and feeling goooooood!!!THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT. What you should be prepared for is complete loss of ability to respond, move, eat, etc. My friend just "retired" last month. She was being cared for at home with hospice assistance. Her husband remained strong and always offered peace and joy.God Bless You and Your son during this battle.The only way to overcome is....Byfaith. Byfaith Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT I appologize for typing "your son". I do mean your daughter.Byfaith Byfaith Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations!!! Spread the word of recovery and a return to a good life. All those with this terrible disease need to know that there is hope and light at the end of the long, long tunnel. Good Friend Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT The disease does move fast.  I'm in stage 4 myself.  30 year old here.  Been through about 16 to 20 tumors this year, so far nothing in the organs, that is the battle.  Alot of the treatment just sucks, but something she has to do to try to extend life, the more you can extend then the more of a chance of new drugs etc coming out to help out.  rushdogg Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT