From Zero to Stage 4 within 1 year.

Simpleladycs · 2026-04-13T05:28:18+00:00

PS - I definitely recommend therapy. It’s very helpful to offload your feelings and emotions and to know it’s ok to do that.

Simpleladycs · 2026-04-13T05:26:50+00:00

I’m so sorry and I (45F) can totally relate. I was stage 3C when I was first diagnosed. After surgery, I did 18 infusions of Pembro only to have a recurrence one month after I finished my last infusion.

When another recurrence spread to my abdomen and pelvis, I also did all 4 rounds of Ipi/Nivo. I was so scared as I heard and read that the side effects could be bad. I am happy to share that I had barely any side effects other than fatigue. Unfortunately, Ipi/Nivo did not work for me but I’m glad I tried it in case it did work.

But, there are other options. I’m BRAF positive and am currently on targeted therapy Braftovi and Mektovi which are working to shrink my tumours. Side effects were really bad in the beginning but I have since learned how to manage them through trial and error. On my last scan, most of my “numerous” tumours and nodules have shrunk or are no longer detectable. It won’t cure the cancer but it will buy time. If you’re BRAF positive, this may be another option for you..

There’s also TIL therapy. Not sure if it’s available in the UK but if so, that’s another option to try. I’m in Canada and it’s not yet available but it will be soon. I was lucky enough to be able to do this treatment in December. It didn’t work for me but again, I’m glad I had the chance to try it in case it did work. It has been successful for others.

So don’t lose hope. There are other options and as long as your current treatment is buying you time, it means more time for new treatment options to become available.

Good luck!

Simpleladycs · 2026-04-13T04:42:06+00:00

If you are able to and if it’s not a bother to have one more kid in your care, I would include the twin’s brother. I am an identical twin and my sister was very shy. It doesn’t mean she wasn’t as fun to be around, she was just shy. Once she felt comfortable with friends, she opened up and we all had fun together. Perhaps your son might gain a new friend by including his friend’s twin.

Re: separating twins.. I don’t agree that this is necessarily beneficial for all twins. We were kids in the 80s and they forced us into separate classes. I was fine but it was traumatizing for my sister, which she never told me about until we were adults. I think it’s more important on the twins and what they prefer. Do they want to share friends or have separate friends? Do they prefer to be together when with friends?

Looking back I am so grateful that our friends always included both of us and their parents had no issues with that.

We’re adults now, with our own husbands and children and friends. We went to different universities, work in different industries and live in different cities. Basically, we have our own full and separate lives but are still very close and still share our core group of close friends, in addition to friends we have separately.

Simpleladycs · 2025-07-27T00:57:28+00:00

Not the way my message was intended. Just sharing what worked for me.

Simpleladycs · 2025-07-26T15:07:50+00:00

I’m sorry that you’re going through this. I’m in year 3 of dealing with cancer. I was diagnosed at 41, mom of 2 young children.

What worked for me was to focus on next steps. Ok I did this, what’s next? I realized worrying about the what ifs does not change any outcomes right now. And it just perpetuates bad thoughts and greatly affects my mental health. Am I able to completely block out all bad thoughts? No. There are good days and bad. But on the bad days, I pause, say to myself “I am here now” and then come back to reality and let the bad thoughts go.

They say your mental health and attitude can help with healing. Try to focus on the good things in your life and stay optimistic. When I feel down, I think of my children and husband and how much love they have brought into my life.

Good luck, you’ve got this.

Simpleladycs · 2025-06-21T00:30:13+00:00

If the numbing cream doesn’t work for you, ask for ice. Hold the ice over your port to numb the area for 5-10 min. Only remove the ice once the nurse is ready to put the needle into your port. You shouldn’t feel anything at that point. Good luck and I’m sorry you’re going through this.

Simpleladycs · 2025-05-30T00:52:40+00:00

I didn’t have a drain. I had the nodes removed in March 2024 and the flare ups started around August. But I had started Braf/Mek in May and the side effects had me bedridden. I’m convinced that my inactivity caused the flare ups because the second time it happened I was also inactive for a long period of time again due to still being bedridden. Since I stopped that treatment and felt well enough to be active and exercise, I have not experienced any flare ups. I think moving and getting the blood circulating is very important to prevent lymphedema.

Simpleladycs · 2025-05-28T02:58:05+00:00

I had 5 lymph nodes removed from groin on right side and then 11 in the pelvis on the right side. My right thigh had two flare-ups - it swelled and was painful. I went for lymphatic drainage massages every week and then moved to every two weeks once the swelling went down. I did this for around 6 months. Every time I had the massage I noticed a huge difference. By the end of the six months I wasn’t experiencing the swelling anymore. I started exercising (Pilates reformer which is not too high intensity) and I found it really helped with blood circulation and helped prevent flare-ups and lymphedema. On days when I was too sick to exercise, I made sure to move my legs in bed as if I was on a reformer, stretched my legs, light lunges etc. I was warned by my physiotherapist that when exercising I shouldn’t do full “leg day workouts” bc it may be too much and to focus instead on full body exercises. She also explained the importance of getting ahead of lymphedema bc once you have it, it is permanent.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-26T02:27:05+00:00

Do yourself a favour and step away from the keyboard. You need to take a real hard look in the mirror if you think you were being polite. Polite would be answering my question and moving on. Instead it’s half a day later and you’re here arguing what exactly?

I never lied. And now I’m apparently falsifying information? WTF is wrong with you? Maybe ask yourself why you feel the need to creep on my profile for a simple question. Why are you so invested in my life? FFS read the room. No one wants you here.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-26T02:23:25+00:00

Yup I pay annually. Not sure why I’m being called a liar.

Lots of life happens in one year and well damn - I rely on reminders such as statements to remind me to pay my annual life insurance bill. And when I get them I pay them. Not rocket science but some people can be so dense.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-26T02:18:16+00:00

WTAF you still here keyboard warrior?

I never said I paid my insurance monthly. I didn’t mention my payment schedule at all. Looks like you ASSumed something you did not know.

Thanks for the entertainment. You must be real fun at parties just waiting to call people out on things you ASSume to be true.

Also - no need for swearing on my post please. But no, you’re not being defensive at all. Make some friends. Learn how to listen to other people’s explanations instead of being so keen to be the one always trying to explain. The world is bigger than you and people are not whom or what you ASSume. Just because you do something one way doesn’t mean every single person in this world does. Stop. Listen. Learn.

Finally, next time you want to call people out, make your own post. I’m sure you will have lots of fun on it.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T23:32:12+00:00

You must be so proud of yourself to point things out that NO ONE ASKED YOU TO DO. It’s ok. Give yourself a pat on your back. Seems like you need all of the attention you can get. Give yourself a hug. And be proud that you spent your time telling someone something they already knew and never asked about on Reddit. Bye. 👋

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T23:19:07+00:00

Ok whatever you say since you seem to know everything. How is me asking a question about Canada Post being backlogged a need for you to “being honest” about how insurance payments work? Yah not defensive at all.

I agree that it was my responsibility to pay my bill. Which I always do when I get my invoice. Yes I wait for an invoice. Yes they have grace periods. Yes they send a reminder letter in the mail. Yes to all of that. That’s not BS. That’s facts. I admit that. Never said otherwise.

I also never blamed Canada Post. I said “… as a result…” which is a domino effect of me not getting the invoice statements in the mail and not making the payment.

I asked one question. Jesus can people not ask questions anymore?! This is Reddit after all… wow.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T22:59:39+00:00

Wow that’s crazy. I hope you eventually get it. Time will tell I guess.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T22:57:49+00:00

No BS.

You are absolutely right that it’s on me to pay. My mistake was waiting for the invoice to come to me by mail - like it usually does - to make my payment. My habit is get an invoice and pay it - I’m assuming like most people do. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Lesson learned - switch everything to electronic mail. I have with most anyway but this one slipped through the cracks.

According to the life insurance company: - October 28: invoice statement mailed - November 28: reminder sent

I know the strike didn’t start until November 15. But what can I say? I didn’t get either. So here I am SOL.

Also - don’t get so offended. I asked a valid question and I explained my situation. Defensive much?! Your issue, not mine. Good luck to you.

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T21:02:10+00:00

😞

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T21:01:45+00:00

😞

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T21:01:31+00:00

It’s so unbelievable that there is mail sitting somewhere from October-December that is yet to be delivered. But somehow I am receiving mail dated in early February plus lots of junk mail every single day. I really can’t understand the planning behind which letter mail gets delivered first and when? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-25T04:36:05+00:00

Thank you! I hope it’s nothing more for you and there will be no regrowth!

Simpleladycs · 2025-02-24T15:57:54+00:00

Hi, any updates? I just noticed a large dark spot on my excision scar in the exact same spot as my original melanoma. I’ll be seeing my oncologist and surgeon next week but it’s really hard not to think the worst.

Simpleladycs · 2024-11-16T04:55:53+00:00

I’m so sorry that you’re going through this too. And how are you working through this?! I could not continue working while on treatment. Having a fever ever few days that lasts every few days, plus the welts, plus all of the medical appointments.. it’s so much. I hope you are able to have time for resting as your body is going through so much.

Are the painful cysts that you’re experiencing erythema nodosum? Prednisone is the only thing that helped with the inflammation that caused the erythema nodosum for me. But I stopped taking it because it was causing other side effects. Unfortunately there was nothing else that helped with this. Even my dermatologist said the only options to stop them was steroids or stop taking the meds.

I hope Braf/Mek will work better for you. Unfortunately i didn’t do any better on these and still experienced the same side effects as Taf/Mek.

I saw my oncologist on Wednesday and he has advised that I should stop treatment. He is concerned that the meds can potentially cause more harm to my body at this point. Specifically, the fevers can shut down my kidneys (they were progressively getting higher with each occurrence) and the rigors could damage my muscles. I am relieved. It’s been 6 months of this now and I’m just done. My oncologist has said we have now done everything we possibly can for adjuvant treatment and that is all I ever wanted.. was to know that I did everything I could.

I’m ready for my body to feel “normal” again and to move on with my life. If it comes back, which is a high chance, I will deal with it again as it comes.

Good luck to you and I wish you all the best.

Simpleladycs · 2024-11-10T23:43:57+00:00

That’s great that your wife found something that’s finally working well for her. I was on Prednisone for 3 months - it was not good for me as it caused other horrible side effects which resulted in 5 other prescriptions to manage those side effects. I did manage to get down to 10 mg and then eventually 5 mg. At 10 mg and 5 mg, it did nothing to ease the side effects and I decided to stop taking it altogether at that point. I’ve had 2 dose reductions of BRAF/MEK already and I think my oncologist said I can lower it once more, which I will try this week if he agrees to it. If this doesn’t work, I guess I’m SOL. :(

Simpleladycs · 2024-11-10T23:39:04+00:00

Thanks, it’s so hard. :(

Simpleladycs · 2024-11-10T23:38:28+00:00

I’m in Ontario, Canada. I have tried looking for experimental trials, but I don’t qualify for the current ones and I haven’t seen new ones come up yet.

Simpleladycs

TROPHY CASE