My First Day of Cancer Treatment - Stage IV Melanoma Vlog

Because I get to do oral BRAF blockers rather than an IV infusion of immunotherapy or a different treatment, I thought it would be cool if I discussed what I encountered during my first day taking these pills.
Granted, I don't know if this is a traditionally cool thing to do... but it's a stage 4 cancer vlog, so I guess we have to work within the parameters. Either way, today I discuss how I have felt taking the pills, both from a side effect standpoint as well as an emotional standpoint, and I also go on some wild tangents because I decided to do these shots in one take.
I hope you enjoyed this style of video - please let me know in the comments or by liking and subscribing.
Byyyyyeeee!

[@TheMic74key]

Mike thanks so much for these videos…there isn’t a lot of videos on melanoma…..im going through breast cancer as well as melanoma and there are so many on breast cancer…..so I knew exactly what to expect as I was following their journeys…..very grateful to those who are so open with their lives and what they are going through. My doctor and I had discussed the braf inhibitors if the immunotherapy doesn’t work….so I’m very interested in how you make out with them….praying you breeze through them with no side effects.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Two days in and it's not so bad! Obviously, there's going to be some twists and turns, but I hope your immunotherapy works so you never have to find out :)

[@judithcrotty6839]

You are amazing! Your content helps so many people. I hope you'll very soon be free of cancer.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

I really appreciate your kind words ❤️

[@illy915]

Thank you for mentioning how “alone” you feel no matter how many people love and support you. It’s exactly how I describe it.

[@sherrithomas4350]

Praying for no side effects and great results!! Rocking that shirt!

[@Rainbow-it2nz]

Nice Aloha shirt 👕 !!! Think Hawaii and you will be heald. Prayers and best wishes 🙏 🙏🙏❤️

[@slinnview]

Nice shirt for the first day of treatment! It looks like you are going to rock this treatment. You have my never-ending support. I am sending you love, hugs and hopes for a long, cancer-free life. ❤❤

[@GarethSewell1982]

BRAF/Mek are commonly known as Enco/Bini in the UK and are an alternative to taking Taf/Mek which are commonly known as Dab/Tram in the UK. I am on my 10th of 13 four week cycles of the latter which no real side effects, apart from minor fatigue! Good luck and thanks for the great content! 👍 🇺🇸 🇬🇧.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Thanks for sharing - it really helps to hear real experiences. Appreciate you and hope the experience remains mellow for you 💪🏻

[@MarzenaP22]

I'm 36 with melanoma stage1 diagnosis. Thank you for your videos and your amazing attitude ❤️I hope the treatment works really well for you and soon you get cured🙏

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

I hope your melanoma stays at bay. It's sneaky, but luckily below stage 2 it's very curable. Hoping the best for us both ❤️

[@Tamara-tf8tw]

I’m new to following your journey Mike, but I hope you beat melanoma once again. My mom passed away from Melanoma 20 years ago. I know there have been a lot of advances in medicine since that time. I had a couple precancerous spots removed earlier this year and am doing 6-month check-ups. Everyone on here… stay vigilant with regular self checks and dermatology appointments. Keep fighting Mike!

[@TheQueensWish]

I’m one of the Pandas 🐼 from Dr. Dan and I just want to wish you good luck Mike with this new treatment. Stay strong.

[@Tamara-tf8tw]

RIP Dr. Dan 🙏 👼 ❤

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Awww man, I was following Dr. Dan - such a good dude, and he left a real impact. Thanks for chatting with me, and RIP Dr. Dan for sure ❤️

[@TheQueensWish]

@@Linn_Laugh_Love Dr. Dan has a brother in the military who came to be with him by his bedside in the last week. His name is Jon. Anyway Dr. Dan shared with him a few thoughts. One of many Jon relayed to us from Dr. Dan’s you tube channel. Dr. Dan told his brother that he considered himself a “pain Sherpa.” Dr. Dan having accepted many patients into his Chiro practice for pain, but then it took on another meaning after he could no longer practice. He created a Panda family and that’s how we became Pandas. A Sherpa is there to help carry the burden and that is what we must do for one another. Every moment counts. Kindness and love and being a Sherpa helps.

[@nessfox2038]

I pray for healing, minimal side effects and days filled with special blessed moments 🙏🇿🇦

[@jenniferthomas5926]

Mike, I am such a slacker...my apologies! I saw that you posted a video the other day and didn't get around to watching it. I am so glad that you posted this video and I applaud your bravery on being so real and raw on this journey. I will be completely honest...the tears flowed a little bit while you were explaining how many pills and for how long BUT you are facing this with resolve, resilience and strength that you don't know you have and are inspiring others. Take care of yourself and best of the best wishes for minimal side effects and a quick year. Thank you for keeping us updated! Hugs and lots of goodness coming your way. (I shall slack no more...).

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

How dare you not base your life around my KZbin videos! 😂 Seriously, though - I really appreciate your support and real emotion that you reciprocate. It helps me a lot to connect with kind people like you, and you're never slacking. Appreciate ya. Byyyyeeee 💜

[@missiris1234]

Good luck with your treatment Mike. I’ll be following along. Seventy year old grandma here🙏❤️🙏

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Thanks; I'll need it! I'm sure it will be an interesting adventure :)

[@kellyfarley9678]

I hope you do well with your protocol. I wish you the best. A great guy you seem to be

[@Vestu]

You got this! I'm on cancer treatment as well. Got diagnosed at 39. Things looking good right now.

[@laurieann5961]

You’re a model patient 😇 keep up the good work!

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

haha appreciate you saying that ❤️

[@dblanchfield]

Good luck, Mike. I hope the side effects don't impact you too much. I was on TAF and MEK for 13 months in 2021 and had zero issues. I just googled the cost of Braftovi; wow, those pills are expensive. Almost $140 per pill!!

[@Jimmo85]

Super insightful and pragmatic as always, Mike. All the best.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

I'm trying; I didn't exactly know how taking pills with no editing would go... turns out OK!

[@geocape7060]

Love the shirt Mike. You clean up good.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

All credit to my lovely girlfriend. For both, I suppose 😬

[@CharDoge]

Hello Mike, I think that within all the negative aspects of your situation, melanoma along with lymphomas and leukemia are some of the types of cancer in which the most progress has been made in experimental therapies in recent years, be it TIL therapy, CAR- T, vaccines, immunotherapy, precision medicine. Ideally, your cancer could be kept at bay for a few years, as you have managed to do, until these new alternatives come out and I hope you can be cured or turn your disease into something chronic, but manageable, like HIV patients. I sincerely hope that this happens, you must keep the faith and continue fighting. Greetings and I hope everything goes well 🙏

[@GarethSewell1982]

I take 2 x Dab in the morning and 1 x Tram and then 2 x Dab in the evening, 12 hours apart and no food 2 hours before or 1 hour after. This is the maximum dosage too 👍.

[@tracymayer-hv6rb]

Cute shirt. Glad to see the side effects have been mild so far. Fingers crossed.

[@andrewjung2885]

Sick shirt!!!!!!! You got this boi!

[@CattyT1]

The ability to Swallow pills is a much under rated skill. There’s a huge number of patients who “can’t”!

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Haha I knew my abilities to crush food (and or pills) would come in handy one day!

[@Anthropoahagus]

I'm really sorry you have cancer again, and I wish you the best. But one thing I would tell advise someone with cancer not to do is say you beat cancer. That alone brings bad luck I would be afraid to say that myself, because then it almost certainly will come back.

[@sevenarc9]

I just got my cancer tattoos for targeted radiation. I have colorectal cancer. Will be taking my doses of chemo in a couple of weeks. Prayers...for you.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Thinking of you as well - this shit is never easy, but we'll give it our best ❤️

[@amandag7777]

Thank you. 🙏🏼♥️

[@estherkariuki3975]

See dr berg, dr Thomas seyfried

[@Stew1962]

Was just told I have melanoma that has spread to a lymph node, waiting for my first appointment with an oncologist to see where we go from here. It's tough not knowing if it's spread any further.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

Man... waiting for more information is one of the toughest mental portions of this whole game. Not that it isn't difficult once you're in treatment or recovering or anything else, but once you have a defined diagnosis and goal, at least you aren't playing the 'what-if' game. Hope it goes as well as possible for you 💪🏻

[@shaynelahmed6323]

Luvvy, you may have already said, sorry if i missed it.....but during this year how often are doctors gonna check your progress or markers? Btw...shirts cool🎉

[@hsiaolinkane8854]

good luck !!what kinds of diet you do now！！

[@butchdavis6073]

i tried to send message off my phone but don't see it. i am trying again. i have been through the exact same treatments and now on the same meds. My results have been three years of clear scans on brathtovi and mectovi. sorry for spelling. i feel like i can help in some way but not sure how to even communicate it. Big difference is i am much older than you. so much to say but cant do it on this forum

[@dolcevitausa6448]

Fingers crossed no side effects for you...

[@chazlon5061]

Sorry but it's gonna be right back despite the treatment....and then you'll..well, you know..

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

I didn’t know, so I asked ChatGPT, and it turns out you can die of cancer if treatment doesn’t work. Wow, scary! Glad you told me in an informative and considerate way; now I’m up to speed. I also asked ChatGPT if you were cool, and it said you are definitely fun at parties. Neat!

[@chazlon5061]

@Linn_Laugh_Love This isn't just any cancer as you know it's stage 4 Melanoma. Sorry, but you don't really have a much of a chance. I know, must be terrifying to face the darkness of eternal nothing and to be fooling yourself you stand a real chance

[@jenniferthomas5926]

​@@chazlon5061I agree with ChatGPT... you must be a fricking blast at parties. What is wrong with you? Why would you say something like this to a cancer patient (or other cancer patients will see)? There is always HOPE and if you have spent anytime watching this channel and learning from Mike is that treatments are constantly evolving for the better. With that said, I hope you find hope, happiness and grace because that comment sure isn't those things.

[@Linn_Laugh_Love]

It's relatively scary to know what will probably kill you. It's probably also scary to be an absolute sociopath. Anyway, where'd you study medicine, again? Because I have had the leading melanoma experts in the world tell me that I have a prognosis in years, not months. They might be wrong, but that's the risk I have to take (and it actually doesn't matter) as treatment gets better. But holy shit, you should seek help.

[@Jimmo85]

@@Linn_Laugh_Love No point in even responding to scumbags like that Mike. It's clearly the only way they can get any attention. All you can do is pity them, as they clearly had a truly terrible and unloved upbringing to turn out in such a vile way.

[@Sedaytad]

Play the victim and you WILL be the victim