Just want to hi to anybody who will listen.

Hi JasmineK and a very warm welcome to the Community but I am so sorry to hear about your Melanoma diagnosis.

Navigating a cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked the ‘exact same' cancer journey can help you a lot. (I have a completely different cancer).

This New to Community area is like our reception desk where we look to try and direct you to the best part of the Community for you to get support.

The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms)…… but I do see that you have already joined and put up a reply to a post in one discussion in our dedicated Melanoma support group.

This group is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.

To connect in fully with the group please click on the link below…….

          Melanoma

……. and when the group page opens you can then introduce yourself to the group by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post]or [+] in the top right of the group page.

You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

The Macmillan Support Line is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear.

Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing and give support to all the family.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community but all the very best going forward  ((hugs))

Hi, sorry to hear you’ve been diagnosed with melanoma i know it’s a very worrying time. I too was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in October last year with lesions in my lungs and a lump near my original site. 
I’ve been on immunotherapy (Nivolumab) since November and all my tumours are shrinking or have disappeared. 
Feel free to ask me anything about my journey.

Hi and wow!

Thank you so much for your reply. I could have cried, it gave me hope when I was defo feeling sorry for myself. I've got another Oncology appointment next Friday where I decide which treatment I'm going for. My gut says the most aggressive which is Ipilimumab and Nivolumab.

I currently have 4 more lumps but they say I'll likely get more.  It feels so unreal, I dont feel sick.

Have you had any side effects?

The only noticeable side effect I’ve had is tiredness but sometimes I’m not sure if that’s the immunotherapy or the stress and anxiety of having cancer. 
When treatment was discussed with me I just told the consultant that I’d go with whatever he thought best and that was single immunotherapy to begin with x

Well I've made my choice out of the immunotherapy options I was given I will go for the most aggressive. There is also the possibility of  clinical trial and if accepted I'm going to do that aswell. I feel better having decided that. It will delay starting treatment slightly but I'm ok with that if there is the possibility of additional benefits. I will know more after I've spoken to my Oncologist next wk.

I really hope you continue to move in the right direction an can beat the cancer x