It has been a confusing and emotional week. But in many ways we’ve been here before – which has meant it has been easier to carry on as normal – because it’s a waste of energy/ life not to. Of course second time around the odds against my survival are stacked sky high (about 18% chance of surviving 5 years) which contradicts any positive thoughts. In one minute I’ll be thinking it’s time to compile memory boxes and be grieving for the kids and the next I’ll be convincing myself I’ll be the Marsden’s medical miracle!
So today we had tried to anticipate what would be said there. We were armed with information and questions. It’s definitely melanoma in my lungs but the rest of my body is clear so far – although I didn’t have a scan of my brain done. They can’t surgically remove it and radiotherapy doesn’t help much. The treatment they use is generally palliative to try and relieve symptoms of the spreading cancer. So at the moment as I have no symptoms they would consider no treatment an option. There are two trials I could be eligible for. One experimental drug may be able to shrink the melanoma but my melanoma must test positive for something called a BRAF gene in order for it to have a chance to work. So we will read the trial info then go back on Monday to sign the consent form for the Marsden to send some of the melanoma sample from my neck over to North Carolina to be analysed. We’ll then have a good 3 week wait to see if it is. The cancer lottery continues….