tiffanieb

tiffanieb's Recent CancerCompass Activity

• tiffanieb has created a new message board discussion

  I was scheduled to begin IL-2 in May for what we thought was Stage IV with mets to lungs but thanks to a wonderful brain scan done today, we discovered that now there is poss mets to my brain.  I have been summoned to the oncologists office first thing tomorrow.  My onc. said that this will now change everything.  I am just in awe how quickly this disease moves as I had an "Unremarkable" brain scan in ...

  April 23 at 6:57 PM view discussion

• tiffanieb has replied to a post on the message board

  The best thing to do is make an appointment with a dermotologist and get it checked out.  Even with a picture, we aren't able to tell you whether it is skin cancer or not.

  April 18 at 5:23 PM view post

• tiffanieb has replied to a post on the message board

  I went through Interferon treatment from Jan 2011 - Jan 2012 for Stage IIb Melanoma. I did a month of high dose IV and then moved to injections at home for 11 months. I took off work for the IV portion and returned once I had recovered and started home injections.  I always did my shots at night so as to avoid noticing most of the side effects.  I always took Tylenol and Ibuprofen before my shots to help w...

  April 12 at 6:50 PM view post

• tiffanieb has replied to a post on the message board

  Done!

  April 11 at 6:30 PM view post

• tiffanieb has replied to a post on the message board

  What is the reasoning behind postponing the Sentinel Node Biopsy?  Personally, I would be demanding the biopsy ASAP.  Waiting with melanoma is never a good thing and there is no way he can be "confident" that the melanoma has not spread to the nodes without checking. No one could know that.

  April 11 at 6:20 PM view post

• tiffanieb has replied to a post on the message board

  Five years?  Boy, that's a long time.  I did the 1 year plan when first diagnosed with Stage IIb Melanoma in Oct. 2010.  One year was tough enough. I can't imagine feeling that way for five years.

  April 11 at 6:17 PM view post

• tiffanieb has replied to a post on the message board

  Thank you so much for sharing your experience.  Did you immediately file for SSD when you rec'd the diagnosis or did you try to work for a while? Work has given me a stack of paperwork to fill out in regards to Sick Leave Extension, the Federal FMLA and healthcare premium reduction.  I am kind of confused about the best way to proceed.  So overwhelming how much has to be thought about. If you don't m...

  March 08 at 2:44 PM view post

• tiffanieb has created a new message board discussion

  I just rec'd word that after a year on Interferon and almost a year off, it has now spread  to my lungs. At this point, we don't have a treatment plan just yet but I am wondering if I am going to be able to keep my job while fighting this.  I have read that Stage IV is basically an automatic approval for Social Security Disability but am unsure that it is really necessary to leave my job right now. Can an...

  February 28 at 1:24 PM view discussion