My Melanoma Story.

[capybara]

My name is Mark Carter I am aged 55 and live in North Lincolnshire with my lovely wife Liz and 3 Cats, we have been happily married for 29 years.

I was first diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma 13 5 years ago, when I noticed an irregular shaped mole on the right side of my upper chest and went to see my GP, who decided to remove it. About a week later the Doctor rang me at work and told me the devastating news that I had Malignant Melanoma.

For 13 .5 years I remained clear of the disease until April 2012 when I noticed a painful swelling under my left Armpit. I saw my GP, who put me on antibiotics and the swelling shrank, but never went away completely. I was referred to a surgeon who removed the lymph node and sent it for Biopsy. The results showed that my Cancer had come back and I was referred for a CT scan at Hull Royal Infirmary, and also had to have an Axillary Dissection to remove most of the Lymph nodes from my left Armpit at Castle Hill Hospital near Hull.

The results of the CT scan showed fortunately that the Cancer was only confined to the Armpit region and that the rest of my body was clear. I had a second CT scan in February 2013 and was told the devastating News that my Cancer had spread to the lungs, and that I was now Stage 4 (Advanced Melanoma). I have recently started on a Biological Therapy drug called Zelboraf and hope that it will work effectively although it is not a cure. On the 3rd of June 2013 I had another CT scan to see if I was responding to treatment and am pleased to report that I have had a complete response and my tumors have melted away. I will have to say on the Zelboraf as Metatastic Melanoma is incredibly difficult to treat and likely to reappear, but this is the best outcome that I could have hoped for.

[Shell567]

Thanks for this great blog, Mark.

Glad to hear that you've responded well to your treatment. Your experience of malignant melanoma certainly highlights how serious it can be.

Good luck with your sunbed ban campaign.

Shell.

[capybara]

very much for your kind words and support Shell.

[Primrose73]

So glad you have responded well, have you had any side effects from zelboraf?