Hi merkel,My dad also had a  melanoma removed from behind his ear in 1963 which needed a skin graft... since than has had many basal cell and squamous cell cancers on arms, leg and face some were frozen others cut out one on his hand needed a skin graft 3 on his face were removed and a  flap of skin pulled over where the cancers were removed from...dad had a BCC remove from his head in September the doctor did a flap so that dad would still have a full head of hair ( my dad is very proud of his hair)...  we got such a shock when the doctor rang to tell us that BCC he removed was a MCC we had never heard of a merkel cell cancer before...dad had the MCC removed from his head and a skin graft from his thigh on the 1st of Oct and we are now waiting to hear when he is to start radiation....we don't know anything about this type of cancer...dad has new cancers on his head already only been there for a week or so.. don't no what to make of them...Dad was in the navy during the last war (WW11)  his cancers are all sun related ... Pat ... View more

this kind of news may still be ahead for me, so even thinking about it is tough. You must be going through hell. But I can only say, youre here, you still have hope. Hang on to that and do what you must, because like all of us, its also for our families and friends.     ... View more

Pat, My deepest sympathy to you and your father on the loss of your mother. I have enclosed a poem that may offer some comfort to you both. She is Gone - Remember me. You can shed tears that mum is gone, Or you can smile because she lived, You can close your eyes and pray she will come back, Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see her Or you can be full of the love you shared You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her and only that she is gone Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on, You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. Merkel Your dad's going back to his specialist today. When you feel up to it, let me know how he went.   ... View more

I too practise positive thinking, now I'm practising acceptance as well. Hard to do when I really want a postponement of the inevitable. There's a saying "Grant me the wisdom(?) to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference" that sums up my current outlook. Just knowing others find it tough going is somehow comforting to me. I'm usually the strong one, hard to accept I am as vulnerable as I feel at times. I am starting to realise how important it is to care for myself and I've just spoken to Carers Victoria about getting counselling because now it's more about facing the facts. I still head into denial even as I say that. Anyway, I hope you are doing ok Doreen. ... View more