Hi, I was diagnosed with melanoma in september 2007.I have a rare form commonly referred to as a hidden melanoma due to the fact that they attach to mucous membranes.These are not sun related and so far i have no idea why i got one. But i did. I always say about myself that i never do anything in half measures and always have been the individual.Not like everyone else.Well typically i get a melanoma which is not like everybody else.Yes i still ask myself the question, WHY did this happen to me?But still no answers. I just look at it as oh well, SHIT happens and i just have to deal with it.I was operated on last year melbourne cup day. what a bummer!But i did win one good bet that day, The tumour was removed and the sentinal lymph nodes which were removed were also clear.Now almost a year later my hitchiker(as i call it) has jumped back on board for a ride.Well, his free ride is almost over and i go for surgery on 28th october to remove the new tumour. It has attached itself to the old scar tissue from the previous operation.Pretty scary stuff at times especially when you have two children and you are a single mother.Luckily for me i have been blessed with fantastic children,They are both good kids my son is  17 and my daughter is 14.I have had the added bonus of having a heart attack on septemer 11 which kinda complicates things a bit more now, but i am sure i will be in the best of hands with Professor John Thompson and his team at R.P.A..Like i have told them all along. Dying is not an opton.. I have far too much to do yet, so i am not planning on leaving this world for quite a while. All i can say to anyone is to keep positive and never give in.I refuse to let this incidious disease take my life away from me and my children to live without their mother. ... View more

Hi,I Just wanted to update on the latest course of events which have been happening. I recently returned to R.P.A. for more surgery to remove a recurrent melanoma. The original was removed last year on Melbourne Cup Day. This year i went in a week earlier.The tumour had grown quite rapidly this time and was about a golfball size by the time it was removed.Again I owe my health/life to Professor Thompson and his wonderful team, A big thankyou goes out to Will McMillan who did a fantastic job of making the wound look as normal as possible. He is a legend!!! Now i have radiation to look forward to as an added bonus. Certainly not looking forward to that very much. But, It has to be done so..what can you do?If you want to live then you must do what you are told and get on with the job of living.Especially since i have two beautiful children who depend on me to be there.Went to Mater Hospital newcastle yesterday for my booking and they all seemed really nice, so that was a positive start. Will start treatment on 8th december for 5 weeks.Shame it will run over xmas and new year but... i guess you get that. If anyone out there has had melanoma experiences/radiation i would love to hear from you. as this is the first time that i have ever accessed this type of thing.I reckon that it;s time i did. It just may help me through those days when nothing much matters.Well, Good Luck to all. Hope to hear back soon.Donna. ... View more