Jen's Story - Touched By Melanoma Stages 3 & 4

Jen's baby was 10 days old when her doctor rang to tell her that she had stage 3 melanoma. After a full clearance, she developed severe staph infections that put her in hospital for weeks. Nine months later she noticed some lumps in her groin and found out she had stage 4 melanoma.
This is Jen's incredible story of strength and resilience.
To read more stories visit: melanomapatien...
Emotional and practical support is available if you or a loved one is dealing with a melanoma diagnosis. Call us on 1300 884 450 and we'll be there to help. 💛

[@Idontgafjk]

I am a 60 year old woman. I recently lost one of my two kids. I have decided to not have anymore surgeries. When I was younger (35), I had my first surgery. I commend your positive and aggressive course of action. For those of us who have had years of surgeries and recoveries, the battle becomes futile. I just want to let people know out there that once you have done everything through the years to treat this horrible cancer you may, like me, decide that the continuing disfigurement and pain and burden is just too much. I believe that there is a plan for me, and I believe I have the right to choose when I've had enough. I send you all the love and strength as you fight for yourself and your kids.

[@giovannimaisano9194]

Jeannette.... Sending a BIG HUG to you! I've been battling stage 4 Melanoma, that showed up in my brain almost 3 years ago. AND it was hiding for who knows how long! My whole life changed, 2 major brain surgeries, treatments,brain radiation! I'm permanently disabled, had to learn a NEW way of life! I had to learn to swallow, so weak I couldn't roll over in bed, took months to build up strength to stand and now trying to WALK, serious side effects from treatments left me with serious nerve damage and Intractable PAIN 24.7. It's all horrible ,ALL of it! Melanoma should be discussed like BREASTcancer IS discussed . MANY have no idea about Melanoma and how deadly serious it is. Silent and deadly cancer. I had no mole found on my body. There was a tiny bump, smaller than a pea, on my right upper leg near pelvis for a few years. No pain. Year of 2019. I started getting head aches, and Dr after Dr pushed off as migraines, stress, I worked in the Army for 23 years, long years! Many Dr's kept pushing me OFF.as your healthy, it's nothing". Then I started to have weakness in right arm and Dr said pulled muscle.Then BANG , lights OUT, I went unconscious to awake in ICU. Neurologist calling my name, MARY do you know where you are, We found a walnut size tumor in you cerebellum. AND 3 others in the Center of your brain, inoperable ! I was NUMB... still waking from the PAIN, Then weeks later started coming around. Saw 55 stables in my head with drain. WOW this is REAL and my LIFE changed forever! Since I've been in n out of hospital, pain management, Palliative care ! I FEEL so terrible for all those I SEE fighting this! I live ONE hour, sometimes ONE day at a time... fighting the PAIN, I used to be afraid of medicine and trying to take as little as possible .NOW I NEED some quality of LIFE or its unbearable some days, body locking from severe Nueropathies ,Neuropathic pain! I too, have already discussed end of life choices with my family, as they SEE how I fight through! I wish there was more support group in US as there seems to be in other countries! I'd love to MEET others and make friends with those also battling this! ♡ LOVE and LIGHT ♡ Take care Mary

[@Love-ql7rd]

@@giovannimaisano9194 Was this a mucosal melanoma? We do have a support group for this rare, aggressive cancer. Our group is wonderful. Our melanomas are not cutaneous though. They are mucosal in nature. Much more aggressive than cutaneous. But, I wanted to let you know there is a support group for this. You are not alone.

[@glendawells3738]

@@giovannimaisano9194 j

[@44macymoo]

@@giovannimaisano9194 I am so sorry for all you have endured. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[@NYC_Urbanista]

You are in my thoughts, Jeannette

[@naligsEkr]

You look a lot younger than 40 + have the most beautiful smile. It is amazing how you got through being diagnosed so soon after having your son, having the surgery for the areas on your thigh, + be strong enough to bounce back through all that + are now helping others! I wish you all the very best!!!

[@colinnz]

I was thinking the same thing

[@tropicallyfit]

Ridiculous comment. How on earth can someone look "a lot younger than 40+"??? Someone in their 40s is still quite young!!!

[@dalhousieDream]

Jen is cancer free! (May 20, 2022)

[@melindawood9851]

So glad for her and her family!!

[@sandym4317]

Wonderful News!!

[@cheryllehman6065]

Praise God!!!

[@sandgrownun66]

@@cheryllehman6065 Praise god for what? It was humans and the medicine they created, that put her into remission.

[@skygazer6898]

Brilliant news! Let's hope the sun always shines brightly on Jen, now and for always

[@ilianadiaz8039]

Grateful that you are well now. You have your children, your husband, your parents, your family and friends so much Love! God’s Blessings! 🙏🏻 💞

[@sw6118]

I hope Jen makes it to a ripe old age, and sees her youngest become a much loved independent and resilient adult. Hospitals are horrible, but watching someone be told:”go home, there’s nothing for you at a hospital,” that’s devastation.

[@melanomapatientsaustralia]

Thank you for your kind words

[@patriciaromero145]

I am glad you made it through! Thank God for your family and all the support you received!

[@joelhenderson3641]

So glad to hear your doing better 🙏❤️ I've just had surgery to remove 2 stage one melonomas and am hoping for a good outcome.

[@heru-deshet359]

God bless you and congratulations on your complete recovery. I was diagnosed with stage one. after treatment and transplant I have been cancer free over three years now.

[@MuhammadAhmad-gm2uq]

If you recite the under mentioned prayer 400 or 2000 times, all your illnesses will vanish by Allah's permission (all glory,praise and greatness be to Him). "O Allah, send prayers, peace and blessings upon our Master Muhammad, the medicine of hearts and their treatment, the soundness of bodies and their cure, the light of vision and its illumination, the spirit of all spirits and the secret of their endurance." (Salat al-Tibbiya/Prayer of Medicine)

[@elainecartwright1793]

You are strong and a fighter just stay strong love Elaine from England xxxxxx

[@lj9524]

Thank you so very much for sharing your melanoma fight with us. You likely have saved lives by your testimony. God bless you and your family🙏❤️🧘

[@sandgrownun66]

Medical science blesses. Your god doesn't.

[@leighmarie3348]

So strong 🫶

[@dm2129]

😭I pray she's ok and healthy and healed

[@sandgrownun66]

No need for prayers. Thank medicine instead.

[@loucustidero6674]

Just saw this :-( Does anyone know if she is still with us? I pray she is. Prayers sent for her and to her family and friends.

[@dalhousieDream]

She is cancer free now after immunotherapy.

[@loucustidero6674]

@@dalhousieDream Praise God.

[@sandgrownun66]

Prayers don't work. Medicine does.

[@joannetaylor950]

Is Jen still doing well?

[@melanomapatientsaustralia]

We are happy to say that yes, she is doing great!

[@simka4874]

My mum had an aggressive form of melanoma. itself melanoma is aggressive but mum's were way too bad. She temporarily responded to Braf treatment but never responded to Keytruda,

[@MuhammadAhmad-gm2uq]

If you recite the following prayer 400 or 2000 times, all of your mother's illnesses will vanish by Allah's grace (all glory,praise and greatness be to Him). "O Allah, send prayers, peace and blessings upon our Master Muhammad, the medicine of hearts and their treatment, the soundness of bodies and their cure, the light of vision and its illumination, the spirit of all spirits and the secret of their endurance." (Salat al-Tibbiya/Prayer of Medicine)

[@bevtregenza3079]

Yes my husband had aggressive invasive melanoma. All treatments failed. Suffered terribly. Went to doc with itchy unmarked area back of leg. Skin scraping negative. Hubby had a feeling something wrong. 2nd doc visit he insisted on biopsy. Worst report. Died last year age 59yrs. Never got to retire. I’m 7 yrs older & was waiting for camping adventures Never dreamed I’d have to grow old alone 😞🇦🇺

[@mudchair16]

Cancer is cancer, doesn't matter what type, and there can never be a quick cure. Fix the diet, change the lifestyle and remove the stress. Too many workaholics are making themselves sick.

[@flowersandcandy]

But this is different. It's from the sun.

[@Ceerads]

Cancers can be very different; each cancer is unique in many ways. Diet and lifestyle changes can make people feel better and be healthier, but they won’t really affect cancers or their treatments.

[@judybarton455]

YAYYYYYY

[@judybarton455]

👏👏👏❤️❤️👏👏👏👏

[@yomama8873]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@judybarton455]

👏👏👏👏❤️

[@audreyheart2180]

🙏❤ 3. Soup or salad? Salad, by a long shot. 🙏❤ You can spend so much energy worrying about not noticing race that you do worse in your social interactions as a result. The solution? Acknowledge differences, rather than try to fight an uphill battle to ignore them. This strategy is known as multiculturalism, and differs from colorblindness, in that it embraces diversity and difference. 🙏❤ In the battle of the “melting pot” versus the “salad bowl” ideologies, the research is clear: The salad wins by a long shot. -The Top 10 Strategies for Reducing Prejudice / RODOLFO MENDOZA-DENTON / JANUARY 3, 2011 A Happy New Year to all. Peace on Earth.

[@MuhammadAhmad-gm2uq]

If you recite the under mentioned prayer 400 or 2000 times, all your sicknesses will disappear by the grace of Allah (all glory, praise and greatness be to Him). "O Allah, send prayers, peace and blessings upon our Master Muhammad, the medicine of hearts and their treatment, the soundness of bodies and their cure, the light of vision and its illumination, the spirit of all spirits and the secret of their endurance." (Salat al-Tibbiya/Prayer of Medicine)