It's back....

Not the news I was hoping for. But yes, it's true, my melanoma has sprouted and shown its ugly head again.  I felt it as a lump in my neck (near the place the original infected lymph node was removed) about a week or 10 days ago.  I had been suffering from a nasty cold the week before that so I was hoping it was just some effect from the congestion. Or maybe a side-effect of the chemo-drug I had taken, an inflammation of sorts.  But when my clinician saw it on Tuesday she recommended a biopsy immediately. O joy! The pathologists came right up with their big needles and syringes and began poking and aspirating my lump.  On the third try the got the positive cells. It is melanoma. So, I'm out of the study.  No more free super drug for me. Back to square one.

Scans on Thursday showed it has not spread from my neck, but it is on both sides now. Left and Right lymph nodes will have to come out via surgery. Because I am at Moffitt now, that also entails meeting a new surgeon.  His first available appointment isn't til the 11th.  That's just to meet him, surgery would be scheduled after that time. Needless to say I am anxious about the waiting. I have asked my doctor to personally ask if there is a way to get me in earlier. She has, but we are waiting for an answer. The aggressive nature of this thing makes me want to  be even more aggressive with it. But again I find myself waiting and trusting God, nothing I can do to control it....

Please pray with me for mercy with the surgeon's scheduler. I would love to meet him on Wednesday and have surgery on Thursday. (or something like that.)

Thank you for praying.