I am a 3 time cancer survivor and is one of my best advocates. What I learned is after a diagnosis is to take a deep breath, cry, scream if you need and then get your act together, you have a war to fight and you can win.
My mom passed from melanoma over 20 years ago. The fact they said you are too dark to have melanoma was a telltale sign they have limited knowledge of the cancer.
Statistically they're probably right. I am in the Phillipines at this moment. It is so hot all the time the sun just kills me. But the local Filipinos work in the sun ALL DAY LONG and my family here they all are in the hot sun every single day. None of them have ever had skin cancer. But I have multiple white friends who have gotten skin cancer because they go to the beach every weekend. Come to Africa or Asia and you'll see the locals with dark skin don't seem to be phased by the sun.
@@imveryhungry112exactly because this is why oncologists beginning to realize it is not just sun exposure for melanoma. Too many never in sun get it too. Too many in sun constantly whole lives, no sunscreen and never get it.
My respect for you and your perserverance as a single mom is beyond words... I can not even image to have to work fulltime during this cancer/treatment time with 2 children; we are covered by mandatory insurance here in Germany. My respect to you!!! You are a true warrior.
Melanoma took my brother 13 years ago, there was no effective treatment. Today the immune therapies are groundbreaking and extending lives to normal span. I send you positivity for good healing, I know you will be just fine❤️
I think in Australia there is a greater awareness of melanoma because we have the highest incidence per capita of that cancer & other skin cancers in the world - sadly.
I agree. It’s less common in dark skin but can still happen. And maybe it’s just my eyes but she looks pretty fair skinned in this video and the pictures to me
@@2KellyJoy Hi there! When initially diagnosed in 2019, I was incredibly tan and had deep dark brown hair. Since Melanoma diagnosis, I have avoided the sun like the plague and wear a ton of sunscreen and I am now very sensitive to burning from all the Immunotherapy. I hope that helps explain that comment :)
I'm so sorry to hear about this. I was 37 when I was diagnosed with amelanocytic melanoma on my right inner knee. It had always been a light tan flat mole since childhood and btw I was fair blonde blue eyed. I showed it to my primary care doctor who dismissed it as nothing. But being a nurse I was suspicious of this tan mole turning red pearly looking. It looked like a face bump. I already had an appointment with my dermatologist who did not hesitate to biopsy the site. She listened to me. They called me the day after to tell me it was melanoma. I went in to have a wide excision 3 weeks later. Margins clear. No lymph nodes taken. It's been 27 years since then. I hope you'll also be telling us 27 years from now that you beat it too!
@@Rnjeepshoelver the points I hope people will get from this is you know your own body better than any doctor and if you don't get the right answers from them keep seeking other opinions. The melanoma I had was atypical. It didn't look at all like the textbook cases I'd seen in nursing school. And if you catch it in time your chances of survival greatly increase.
My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer 15yrs ago and cholangiocarcinoma 9 yrs ago. Dad had surgery and RFA as his treatments. He also eat plenty of greens especially broccoli, broccoli sprouts and sweet potato leafs. Wishing you all the best and thanks for sharing your story with us.
You are such a beautiful person inside and out. I’m so sorry your freaking cancer is such a mystery. Praying for you. MDACC is the best! That’s where I went for my Breast cancer treatment. And your advice about finding a specialist for your type of cancer is spot on. Fight for you and if you suspect something is wrong, push for answers. Doctors are busy and always learning. They can’t think or feel what you are experiencing. You know what is going on in your daily life. Be the captain of your journey.
It seems that cancer brings out tremendous strengths, in the people who are facing these diseases. My wife passed approximately four months ago from stage four breast cancer. I can tell you that when she was diagnosed 10 years ago, she was transformed into this person with tremendous strength. She had this unique ability to see the positive for her grandchildren especially. Stay strong you look great. I’m sure sure you will eat this. God bless you.
At 34, I was diagnosed with superficial spreading cutaneous melanoma in 2021, 3 months after my dad passed from oesophageal cancer. At the time my GP specialising in skin diagnosed it as stage 3-4 from the sheer size and depth of it, from his experience. I spend every day worrying about missed spread and the abnormalities found on any test or scan. Not to mention the constant surgeries for nonmelanoma skin cancers that will never end. We all have our own journey and sometimes it's a bumpy, stormy road that seems neverending.. 🎗️🖤
You’re incredibly smart, strong and beautiful. I pray for continued stability of your disease, a cure in the future and that you are able to find a job that highlight your incredible strength, insight and intelligence. Your children are lucky to have you!! ❤
God bless you 🙏 you are an admirable person, beautiful inside and out, smart and so very articulate. Stage 4 stomach cancer here, your story inspired me and brought tears to my eyes. You will be in my prayers and miracles do happen 🍀🌸
Your mindset is right on point, you keep that stubborn strong attitude and have faith because miracles are real, I watch stories of NDE’s as well. Although we don’t understand how someone can overcome the impossible, there is testimony that it does happen. So your mindset (or faith) is the most important ingredient, whether you are a person of faith or not it all boils down to our energy. God bless you, sending you love and strength ❤💪🏻🙏🏻
You spoke very intelligently and passionately and I'm sure many folk watching this will remember your advice when their time to fight this horrible disease comes. I wish you much health and happiness in life, fingers and toes crossed that the therapies you're on will eradicate this from your body.
May God bless you and heal you completely. You are so courageous and brave Jennifer! I can't even imagine the battle that you have already faced. I just know that you are going to be healed and I am sending well wishes your way! Keep on fighting!
I've had stage 4 melanoma for 7 years plus. Had tumors removed from my lungs. I was put on mekinist and tafinlar drugs and have been cancer free since (knock on wood), a work in progress
Sometimes I wish I was BRAF positive so I could get targeted. There is targeted for my mutation in trial but it doesn't last as long as the BRAF meds thus far.
Thank you sooo much for sharing this. I've just finished treatment for breast cancer 🎀 The only thing I haven't screened for is skin cancer but now I will. I love near death experience storied too. Also a book called The Power of Now helped me alot. ❤😂
Thank you for this video and your excellent advice. My heart goes out to you that, in addition to dealing with melanoma, you have to worry about finances. It’s disgusting that we in this rich country don’t have health care through our government (unless one can meet certain requirements or has Medicare or Medicaid). I wish you and your beautiful children all the good that life offers and many, many more years to enjoy that.
You are so strong!! It's sad that you have to work while your going through your treatment! Best wishes to you and your family! I really hope someone can help you through your journey! Love and ((hugs))❤❤xx
Such a balanced and beautiful woman! Love what she says about toxic positivity. She need to be real and reasonable ❤ I sincerely hope she will pull through ❤
Thank you for recommending I push ahead for the genetic testing. I have stage IV breast cancer and have already started chemo but oncologist has not yet requested I do the genetic testing! Thank you for sharing your story. You are definitely not alone in your fight. God bless you and fill you with strength, health and peace. ❤
Our 7 yr old son was complaining about knee pain 😫 I told dad that it must really be hurting for him to say that 😞 I called our dr and dad took him in he did not want to guess so they got an X-ray 🩻 the next day I stopped by the dr office after work and they took me into his office I knew that was a bad sign I have had him as my dr since I was 4 yrs old and I’ve never been in his office 😮 well he came in with the X-ray and said THAT IS A TUMOR AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND 😫 I fell to my knees screaming from that moment on our lives changed forever we also had a 6 yr old daughter and like you we tried to not cry in front of them so I usually just took a shower to CRY 😭😭 the next 3 1/2 yrs were some good times but the bad times were horrible we were told 3 times that he was going to die 😭😭💔💔 chemo after chemo then limb salvage surgery that did not get good margins then we were told AMPUTATION WAS next we were devastated I just can’t describe the heart ache and STRESS no matter what we did his cancer kept coming back and doctors made BIG MISTAKES and it came back on his spine and they can’t remove your spine we took him home we did go on trips he died 8 months later he died in my arms 😫😫😭💔 when people come up to us and say HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE I lose my mind and the last time someone said that I lost it and said there is no better place then being with us 💔 and then another couple there daughter survived and they said god saved her ! And that pissed me off 🤬so god saved your daughter but god did not save my child he was unlucky 😫 I hope you continue to live life to the fullest ❤️
I totally understand your anger or frustration towards the comments people made. They meant it well but no one can ever know what someone is going through in times like that. Some time it’s better to say nothing and just give a comforting hug. I’m sorry about your son.🌻❤️
@@latersheroams Thank You 😊 my grandparents and my parents have passed away but they all lived a looong lives and not one suffered from cancer I was sad that they passed away but they all lived to there 90’s our son was 7 yrs old and the SUFFERING that he had to go through to win the fight and he lost 😩😭 it was mental torture to stay on that pediatric cancer floor all you heard was screaming and crying and throwing up and kids passing away your mental health takes a hit !!!
I'm outside of Houston and started at Methodist then went to MDA. Keep your chin up, you're young and beautiful. Keep fighting! And yes, do your research! It's your life and you have to be your own best advocate!
I have a melanoma, I am an old, abandoned by children 64 old lady in a foreign country, don’t speak French and don’t have an idea where and how to proceed. Don’t take me wrong, in many ways I am responsible for what happened to me, a few things were just a bad luck, so here I am, reading your story and thinking if I can help somehow and take all your pain away and all the tumour leisures - I would. We have a legalized the assisted dying process, and that is only step I am going to take. My life is a flat line and it’s been 5 years now. I wish you a courage and a good luck, and lets your love for life wins over the nasty disease! ❤ from 🇨🇦
Jen thank you so much for sharing your story. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION -- thanks for the information. Letting us know how everything works. We think everything is same when it comes to this. Self advocasy is the right way (my belief). LOVE how you love life. See the positve be the positive and that is what you ar being for a lot of people. PLEASE keep us updated on your story. The system here in Canada does not favour patient with chronic diseases even though most things are paid for
Thank you! I am currently still stable with my new medication. May be developing autoimmune hepatitis again but praying that stabilizes or I can get on steroids and start over again. I don't want to leave these meds!
🙏🛐🙏 mija, my best friend was told she had 6 months to live from breast cancer that spread. That was 9 years ago! She's still here! Pray. Turn to your Father Jehovah. 💓💗
My sister was fiagnosed with breast cancer on March 7th, absolutely no symptoms, she died on April 20th. We as a family are just reeling and just can’t process what has happened.
Poor woman, that’s so tough. Sounds like she just got very very unlucky. No one deserves melanoma, but if you’re an Australian blonde with a love of sun beds, it’s a lot less surprising than this lady’s story
MD Anderson is wonderful. My late husband went there for his Bladder Cancer. He survived 6 years until Pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver, 3 weeks after we found out about his new cancer he passed away. Prayers for you.
God bless you. Thank you so much for sharing your story & good, strong advice to do research & self advocate! I hope that you continue to stay well (for you & your kids!) & flourish always! 🙏💓💯
I have to wait 3 months to get a mammogram and 6 month to get a bone density screening and when my annual check up got canceled due to bad weather I had to wait another 3 months . I'll be lucky if I can see anyone right away if I have tumors growing all over my body let alone a specialist . Good luck to me....
Too dark!! Bob Marley died from a melanoma. I had one on my hand two years ago, I had a wide excision and skin graft. Then a few weeks ago I was recalled after a mammogram. I was convinced it was cancer. Luckily, the biopsy came back negative. I hope you get well and kick cancer to the kerb!
People can never be to white or dark, young or too old for cancer. If it is in our DNA it will come in any form it chose to. Always take care of your body. I hope you are doing better soon❤
It is weird because a dermatologist once told me I didn’t have the skin type to have skin cancer. Like too darkish. I was worried about a little spot but she just laughed 😅 don’t have a family history of it and don’t have it (got a tumor in my small intestine so am in follow up with the oncologist team but that doesn’t have anything to do with melanoma 😅).
My skin is terrible. Scars, freckles and actinic keratosis riddle my entire body so I go to my dermatologist every year. The PA in the office said I don’t think this is anything but it’s unusual and I’ve not seen anything like it before so I’m just going to go ahead and biopsy it. She saved my life. It was melanoma. I had already had squamous and basal cell before In addition to renal cell carcinoma. Please get checked every year. It doesn’t matter if you’re fair or dark skinned. I have now been diagnosed with a mass in my heart and awaiting an appointment with a cardiologist. I am praying that it’s not one of the cancers that has spread to my heart. Be your own advocate!
I have MS and recently found out I have a few tumors too. I don’t want to burden my family with this info. I should screen for biopsies. My dad has just been recently dealing with getting dialysis. It’s just a bit much all at once
She died in December 2024. So sad. She was so young and beautiful. I’m also half Mexican, half white with similar skin tone as her. I developed a non cancerous blue nevus when I was about 3-4 and had it removed when I was 19. I spent my childhood at the beach in the 70s when no one used sunscreen. After one really bad burn when I was 18, I never went without sun protection again.
Histotripsy has been FDA-approved for the treatment of liver tumors. Research demonstrates that it can also be used for other tumors outside the brain, including prostate, renal, breast, and pancreatic cancer. It can also be used to treat musculoskeletal tumors.
I didn't know about the link between endometriosis and melanoma. I had it all over my internal organs and had 12 surgeries, so I should probably look into this. My brother had thyroid cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma at 17 (45 years ago). My nephew had Burkitts Lymphoma at age 5 (he's now 31).
I had really bad endometriosis too. On my first surgery, the doctor said it looked like a bomb had gone off. After several more surgeries, I finally had a complete hysterectomy around 48-49.
I’m so sad to hear that Jen passed on Dec 10, 2024. What a remarkable young lady & she fought so hard to stay. My deepest condolences to her family.
I am a 3 time cancer survivor and is one of my best advocates. What I learned is after a diagnosis is to take a deep breath, cry, scream if you need and then get your act together, you have a war to fight and you can win.
❤
prayers ❤
I am a stage 3 Melanoma survivor, 20 years cancer free now. You are amazing. Keep fighting for yourself. ❤
prayers always ❤
Rest in peace Jennifer 😢 🕊️ fly high
Hard to believe only three months from this video.
@@DJ-bj8kushe’s my aunt and I miss her more than anything. Me and her daughter hang out everyday
😢😢❤️❤️
@@AdoptMeNerd_Lover I am so sorry to hear that your aunt has passed away. Sending my prayers to all of her loved ones. 🙏
@@AdoptMeNerd_LoverI'm so sorry 😢
My mom passed from melanoma over 20 years ago.
The fact they said you are too dark to have melanoma was a telltale sign they have limited knowledge of the cancer.
Statistically they're probably right. I am in the Phillipines at this moment. It is so hot all the time the sun just kills me. But the local Filipinos work in the sun ALL DAY LONG and my family here they all are in the hot sun every single day. None of them have ever had skin cancer. But I have multiple white friends who have gotten skin cancer because they go to the beach every weekend. Come to Africa or Asia and you'll see the locals with dark skin don't seem to be phased by the sun.
Exactly. There are many mixed race in our Texas who get melanoma.
@@imveryhungry112exactly because this is why oncologists beginning to realize it is not just sun exposure for melanoma. Too many never in sun get it too. Too many in sun constantly whole lives, no sunscreen and never get it.
@@imveryhungry112Exactly, you are correct
@imveryhungry112 I believe most of them do not see a doctor to get a diagnosis so maybe some died with skin cancer unknowingly.
My respect for you and your perserverance as a single mom is beyond words... I can not even image to have to work fulltime during this cancer/treatment time with 2 children; we are covered by mandatory insurance here in Germany. My respect to you!!! You are a true warrior.
My mother died at age 39 from malignant melanoma in the 70's. Science has come a long way since then. You are quite lucky.
Melanoma took my brother 13 years ago, there was no effective treatment. Today the immune therapies are groundbreaking and extending lives to normal span. I send you positivity for good healing, I know you will be just fine❤️
I agree. Today you have a much better chance. My husband passed 17 yrs ago from melanoma.
🙏🏻💔
@@patphillips66😢💔 😭, I'm so sorry, My Dad has cancer too but a stroke n a broken hip Took him out 💫😇💫❣️
We are so sorry to hear this! Thank you for you kind words!
I think in Australia there is a greater awareness of melanoma because we have the highest incidence per capita of that cancer & other skin cancers in the world - sadly.
I have been an oncology RN for years , I have never heard a doc say ‘you are too dark ‘ that is insane
I agree. It’s less common in dark skin but can still happen. And maybe it’s just my eyes but she looks pretty fair skinned in this video and the pictures to me
❤❤❤
I've never heard a Dr say "do you have a history of endometriosis". Then say this looks like melanoma??
@@2KellyJoy Hi there! When initially diagnosed in 2019, I was incredibly tan and had deep dark brown hair. Since Melanoma diagnosis, I have avoided the sun like the plague and wear a ton of sunscreen and I am now very sensitive to burning from all the Immunotherapy. I hope that helps explain that comment :)
@@latersheroams you did nothing wrong , the doc was weird to say that , all colors of skin get melanoma , so he was wrong to say that . ❤️
Sending you my best wishes for a complete remission
I'm so sorry to hear about this. I was 37 when I was diagnosed with amelanocytic melanoma on my right inner knee. It had always been a light tan flat mole since childhood and btw I was fair blonde blue eyed. I showed it to my primary care doctor who dismissed it as nothing. But being a nurse I was suspicious of this tan mole turning red pearly looking. It looked like a face bump. I already had an appointment with my dermatologist who did not hesitate to biopsy the site. She listened to me. They called me the day after to tell me it was melanoma. I went in to have a wide excision 3 weeks later. Margins clear. No lymph nodes taken. It's been 27 years since then. I hope you'll also be telling us 27 years from now that you beat it too!
@@sunshinegirl1967 that’s so great you were helped and healed ❤️
@@Rnjeepshoelver the points I hope people will get from this is you know your own body better than any doctor and if you don't get the right answers from them keep seeking other opinions. The melanoma I had was atypical. It didn't look at all like the textbook cases I'd seen in nursing school. And if you catch it in time your chances of survival greatly increase.
@@sunshinegirl1967 Amen
My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer 15yrs ago and cholangiocarcinoma 9 yrs ago. Dad had surgery and RFA as his treatments. He also eat plenty of greens especially broccoli, broccoli sprouts and sweet potato leafs. Wishing you all the best and thanks for sharing your story with us.
You are such a beautiful person inside and out. I’m so sorry your freaking cancer is such a mystery. Praying for you. MDACC is the best! That’s where I went for my Breast cancer treatment. And your advice about finding a specialist for your type of cancer is spot on. Fight for you and if you suspect something is wrong, push for answers. Doctors are busy and always learning. They can’t think or feel what you are experiencing. You know what is going on in your daily life. Be the captain of your journey.
A friend has had stage 4 melanoma for many years. She had serious bouts twice and has recovered each time. Sending you love and healing energy.❤
Really?
Elevating this beautiful lady and her precious children in prayer 🙌🏻🩵
It seems that cancer brings out tremendous strengths, in the people who are facing these diseases. My wife passed approximately four months ago from stage four breast cancer. I can tell you that when she was diagnosed 10 years ago, she was transformed into this person with tremendous strength. She had this unique ability to see the positive for her grandchildren especially. Stay strong you look great. I’m sure sure you will eat this. God bless you.
My heart goes out to you. Wishing you a full recovery.
Praying for your healing and your family.
What an amazing young woman! She has such a strong attitude and love of life.
Isn't Jennifer the best?! Thank you for your comment!
At 34, I was diagnosed with superficial spreading cutaneous melanoma in 2021, 3 months after my dad passed from oesophageal cancer. At the time my GP specialising in skin diagnosed it as stage 3-4 from the sheer size and depth of it, from his experience.
I spend every day worrying about missed spread and the abnormalities found on any test or scan. Not to mention the constant surgeries for nonmelanoma skin cancers that will never end.
We all have our own journey and sometimes it's a bumpy, stormy road that seems neverending.. 🎗️🖤
Thank you so much for sharing!! We will be thinking of you!
You’re incredibly smart, strong and beautiful. I pray for continued stability of your disease, a cure in the future and that you are able to find a job that highlight your incredible strength, insight and intelligence. Your children are lucky to have you!! ❤
Thank you Jennifer for sharing your journey and MESSAGE to be an advocate for self. Sending you 🙏🥰 for your continuing recovery.
Praying for you and your children.
My sister has been stamping out same melanoma fires as yours, for 10 years. Best of luck to you.
Heartbreaking Jennifer! Sending you and your children all the strength and healing vibes possible. ✨️
God bless you 🙏 you are an admirable person, beautiful inside and out, smart and so very articulate. Stage 4 stomach cancer here, your story inspired me and brought tears to my eyes. You will be in my prayers and miracles do happen 🍀🌸
Intelligent, secure, beautiful lady ❤. Keep praying to the Lord who will heal and restore.
Wow she’s so wise and spiritual…I’m in awe
Your mindset is right on point, you keep that stubborn strong attitude and have faith because miracles are real, I watch stories of NDE’s as well. Although we don’t understand how someone can overcome the impossible, there is testimony that it does happen. So your mindset (or faith) is the most important ingredient, whether you are a person of faith or not it all boils down to our energy.
God bless you, sending you love and strength ❤💪🏻🙏🏻
Keeping you in prayer as you continue your treatment to renewed good health ❤
You spoke very intelligently and passionately and I'm sure many folk watching this will remember your advice when their time to fight this horrible disease comes. I wish you much health and happiness in life, fingers and toes crossed that the therapies you're on will eradicate this from your body.
🙏🏽🕊️🤍🕊️🙏🏽thank you Lord for completely healing this beautiful lady 🤍
Prayers for you, my friend!
May God bless you and heal you completely. You are so courageous and brave Jennifer! I can't even imagine the battle that you have already faced. I just know that you are going to be healed and I am sending well wishes your way! Keep on fighting!
I also watch near death experiences and find it soooo helpful❤️ much light to you
Kudos for your life-loving attitude! Wishing you the best. You are a 🌟 of inspiration.
A whole week of crying ,I'm so sorry, your so young keep fighting 🙏
I’m praying for you 🙏🏻❤
I've had stage 4 melanoma for 7 years plus. Had tumors removed from my lungs. I was put on mekinist and tafinlar drugs and have been cancer free since (knock on wood), a work in progress
Sometimes I wish I was BRAF positive so I could get targeted. There is targeted for my mutation in trial but it doesn't last as long as the BRAF meds thus far.
Such sound advice. We need more research ❤
Thank you sooo much for sharing this. I've just finished treatment for breast cancer 🎀 The only thing I haven't screened for is skin cancer but now I will. I love near death experience storied too. Also a book called The Power of Now helped me alot. ❤😂
Thank you so much for your kind words! That's amazing you just finished treatment! We are thinking of you.
Sending you my best wishes and much love❤
Thank you for this video and your excellent advice. My heart goes out to you that, in addition to dealing with melanoma, you have to worry about finances. It’s disgusting that we in this rich country don’t have health care through our government (unless one can meet certain requirements or has Medicare or Medicaid).
I wish you and your beautiful children all the good that life offers and many, many more years to enjoy that.
Thank you for your research. You're a strong woman.
You are so strong!! It's sad that you have to work while your going through your treatment! Best wishes to you and your family! I really hope someone can help you through your journey! Love and ((hugs))❤❤xx
Thank you so much for your kind words! Jennifer is so honest about her experiences!
Such a balanced and beautiful woman! Love what she says about toxic positivity. She need to be real and reasonable ❤ I sincerely hope she will pull through ❤
Thank you for recommending I push ahead for the genetic testing. I have stage IV breast cancer and have already started chemo but oncologist has not yet requested I do the genetic testing! Thank you for sharing your story. You are definitely not alone in your fight. God bless you and fill you with strength, health and peace. ❤
Prayers for you Jennifer hope everything works for you and your family 🙏❤️❤️❤️
Total agreement: See the very top specialist in YOUR particular cancer.
Jen, you are so beautiful & strong & you ROCK!!! Thank you for sharing your story! Prayers from here in North Carolina! ❤️🙏👍❤️🙏👍
What a beautiful soul you are. God bless you and your precious children. Stay strong and wonderful💜☮✝☮💜☮✝☮💜☮✝☮💜☮✝☮💜
Sending prayers 🙏🙏🙏
Our 7 yr old son was complaining about knee pain 😫 I told dad that it must really be hurting for him to say that 😞 I called our dr and dad took him in he did not want to guess so they got an X-ray 🩻 the next day I stopped by the dr office after work and they took me into his office I knew that was a bad sign I have had him as my dr since I was 4 yrs old and I’ve never been in his office 😮 well he came in with the X-ray and said THAT IS A TUMOR AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND 😫 I fell to my knees screaming from that moment on our lives changed forever we also had a 6 yr old daughter and like you we tried to not cry in front of them so I usually just took a shower to CRY 😭😭 the next 3 1/2 yrs were some good times but the bad times were horrible we were told 3 times that he was going to die 😭😭💔💔 chemo after chemo then limb salvage surgery that did not get good margins then we were told AMPUTATION WAS next we were devastated I just can’t describe the heart ache and STRESS no matter what we did his cancer kept coming back and doctors made BIG MISTAKES and it came back on his spine and they can’t remove your spine we took him home we did go on trips he died 8 months later he died in my arms 😫😫😭💔 when people come up to us and say HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE I lose my mind and the last time someone said that I lost it and said there is no better place then being with us 💔 and then another couple there daughter survived and they said god saved her ! And that pissed me off 🤬so god saved your daughter but god did not save my child he was unlucky 😫
I hope you continue to live life to the fullest ❤️
I am so sorry ot hear what you've gone through Anna. Nothing can take the pain away from losing someone you love.
I totally understand your anger or frustration towards the comments people made. They meant it well but no one can ever know what someone is going through in times like that. Some time it’s better to say nothing and just give a comforting hug. I’m sorry about your son.🌻❤️
I am so sorry. Your story is heartbreaking. The worse thing to get cancer myself is my kid gets cancer. I hope you heal soon.
@@latersheroams Thank You 😊 my grandparents and my parents have passed away but they all lived a looong lives and not one suffered from cancer I was sad that they passed away but they all lived to there 90’s our son was 7 yrs old and the SUFFERING that he had to go through to win the fight and he lost 😩😭 it was mental torture to stay on that pediatric cancer floor all you heard was screaming and crying and throwing up and kids passing away your mental health takes a hit !!!
@@seans2876 thank you 😊 I really do not think that I will ever heal 😭 when you have a child die in your arms 😩😭💔 it’s tough
I'm outside of Houston and started at Methodist then went to MDA. Keep your chin up, you're young and beautiful. Keep fighting! And yes, do your research! It's your life and you have to be your own best advocate!
So sorry you are going through this. You are very strong and my heart goes out to all you been through .
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I agree with you 💯 that watching NDE’s help me too! It’s so reassuring! Keep on fighting! You got this!❤
Thank you so much for your comment!!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Sweet woman. Rest in peace with your loved ones in Heaven.
🙏 ❤️ 🙏
For You
Always & Forever
Thank you for sharing your story. Praying for you and your family 🙏🏽
Good luck to you in your journey, I will have to agree our children do keep us going and the love for life and living wish you the best!
Praying for you beautiful 😢❤❤
I have a melanoma, I am an old, abandoned by children 64 old lady in a foreign country, don’t speak French and don’t have an idea where and how to proceed.
Don’t take me wrong, in many ways I am responsible for what happened to me, a few things were just a bad luck, so here I am, reading your story and thinking if I can help somehow and take all your pain away and all the tumour leisures - I would.
We have a legalized the assisted dying process, and that is only step I am going to take. My life is a flat line and it’s been 5 years now.
I wish you a courage and a good luck, and lets your love for life wins over the nasty disease!
❤ from 🇨🇦
Jennifer,, do you have a GoFundMe set up? My heart goes out to you!
I do but I never make it known. I just leave it on my social media pages in case someone gets nosey 😂
Thank you so much for letting me share my story!
I'm stage 3 melanoma and have had 16 treatments of Keytruda. I do have a mutation. Thank you for sharing, extremely helpful!❤ ❤❤
Jen thank you so much for sharing your story. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION -- thanks for the information. Letting us know how everything works. We think everything is same when it comes to this. Self advocasy is the right way (my belief). LOVE how you love life. See the positve be the positive and that is what you ar being for a lot of people. PLEASE keep us updated on your story. The system here in Canada does not favour patient with chronic diseases even though most things are paid for
Thank you! I am currently still stable with my new medication. May be developing autoimmune hepatitis again but praying that stabilizes or I can get on steroids and start over again. I don't want to leave these meds!
🙏🛐🙏 mija, my best friend was told she had 6 months to live from breast cancer that spread. That was 9 years ago! She's still here! Pray. Turn to your Father Jehovah. 💓💗
My sister was fiagnosed with breast cancer on March 7th, absolutely no symptoms, she died on April 20th. We as a family are just reeling and just can’t process what has happened.
Father Jehovah should have prevented the cancer in the first place. 🙄
I just read this and I feel gut-punched. I'm so very sorry for you and your family. Love from a random stranger.♥️
lol.. they never consider that . A kind god wouldn’t allow us to die of cancer or even get it in the first place.
God did not promise us eternal life on this earth.
Poor woman, that’s so tough. Sounds like she just got very very unlucky.
No one deserves melanoma, but if you’re an Australian blonde with a love of sun beds, it’s a lot less surprising than this lady’s story
Or any kind of blonde or redhead. We know that Black people can get melanoma, though I’m assuming it’s rarer than for lighter-skinned people.
Aren’t sun beds banned in Australia?
Wishing you all good things. Thank you for sharing your story.
MD Anderson is wonderful. My late husband went there for his Bladder Cancer. He survived 6 years until Pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver, 3 weeks after we found out about his new cancer he passed away. Prayers for you.
@@overton1963 I am so sorry ❤️
Praying for your healing ❤
God bless you. Thank you so much for sharing your story & good, strong advice to do research & self advocate!
I hope that you continue to stay well (for you & your kids!) & flourish always! 🙏💓💯
May Jesus heal you beautiful lady🙏🙏
God bless Jen 🙏🏻❤️
Oh my! 😢💜 Thank you SO much for sharing! 💜
I have to wait 3 months to get a mammogram and 6 month to get a bone density screening and when my annual check up got canceled due to bad weather I had to wait another 3 months . I'll be lucky if I can see anyone right away if I have tumors growing all over my body let alone a specialist . Good luck to me....
Too dark!! Bob Marley died from a melanoma. I had one on my hand two years ago, I had a wide excision and skin graft. Then a few weeks ago I was recalled after a mammogram. I was convinced it was cancer. Luckily, the biopsy came back negative. I hope you get well and kick cancer to the kerb!
I’m with you about watching NDE videos.
People can never be to white or dark, young or too old for cancer. If it is in our DNA it will come in any form it chose to. Always take care of your body. I hope you are doing better soon❤
I found this out after diagnosis. I knew nothing about Melanoma unfortunately. This is so true. Thank you for hearing my story.
It is weird because a dermatologist once told me I didn’t have the skin type to have skin cancer. Like too darkish. I was worried about a little spot but she just laughed 😅 don’t have a family history of it and don’t have it (got a tumor in my small intestine so am in follow up with the oncologist team but that doesn’t have anything to do with melanoma 😅).
@@Doesntmatter20 I hope you feel better soon. ❤️
@@venternicky9599I hope so too 😅 got a lot of symptoms 🤪. But I do know there is a lot worse so; keeps me going.
@@Doesntmatter20 you are much stronger than you think!!! You will get through this. Stand strong and keep positive
The struggle to work breaks my heart❤💔
My skin is terrible. Scars, freckles and actinic keratosis riddle my entire body so I go to my dermatologist every year. The PA in the office said I don’t think this is anything but it’s unusual and I’ve not seen anything like it before so I’m just going to go ahead and biopsy it. She saved my life. It was melanoma. I had already had squamous and basal cell before In addition to renal cell carcinoma. Please get checked every year. It doesn’t matter if you’re fair or dark skinned. I have now been diagnosed with a mass in my heart and awaiting an appointment with a cardiologist. I am praying that it’s not one of the cancers that has spread to my heart. Be your own advocate!
I have MS and recently found out I have a few tumors too. I don’t want to burden my family with this info. I should screen for biopsies. My dad has just been recently dealing with getting dialysis. It’s just a bit much all at once
RIP Jennifer ❤
😢😢❤️
Thank you for sharing ❤
Working might be good. You would get support from co workers will help a lot. Glad family is there for you. God bless you and children.
Thank goodness for asked to be checked ❤
Watching near death experiences is a great coping tool. It’s brings a sense of comfort to death.
Praying for you sweetie 🙏🏻🤍
Great piece. Learned a lot.
Hugs to you!❤
Let us know what you hear about this progression. I know this liver thing was disappointing but maybe your update will encourage you. 🤨
Thank you - I find out if we continue this treatment tomorrow or move on.
All the best😊
Sending love from England
Why would they ask you whether you had a history of endometriosis?
I was coming to see if someone else heard that, too. I played it back a couple times.
@@jmr9735 I wondered whether that was an error? I kept listening for the connection and it never came
Yes. Weird.
history of endometriosis has been linked to a higher risk of developing melanoma.
@@susanayessica7483 I have never heard that in my long life. I was hoping that she would elaborate but never did.
Prayers sent🙏🏻🙏🏻
She died in December 2024. So sad. She was so young and beautiful. I’m also half Mexican, half white with similar skin tone as her. I developed a non cancerous blue nevus when I was about 3-4 and had it removed when I was 19. I spent my childhood at the beach in the 70s when no one used sunscreen. After one really bad burn when I was 18, I never went without sun protection again.
Histotripsy has been FDA-approved for the treatment of liver tumors. Research demonstrates that it can also be used for other tumors outside the brain, including prostate, renal, breast, and pancreatic cancer. It can also be used to treat musculoskeletal tumors.
Can I ask why the doctor asked, did you have a family history of endometriosis?
There are multiple studies out there about the link between endometriosis and various cancers like melanoma!
Thought the same thing when she said it?
@@ThePatientStoryyikes 😮
I also love listening to NDE videos they don’t make dying so scary.
I didn't know about the link between endometriosis and melanoma. I had it all over my internal organs and had 12 surgeries, so I should probably look into this. My brother had thyroid cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma at 17 (45 years ago). My nephew had Burkitts Lymphoma at age 5 (he's now 31).
I had really bad endometriosis too. On my first surgery, the doctor said it looked like a bomb had gone off. After several more surgeries, I finally had a complete hysterectomy around 48-49.