A Rainy Day Homily

My biased opinion is that Stage III melanoma patients have too few “adjuvant” treatment options to improve their odds of avoiding, or at least significantly delaying, a recurrence and progression to Stage IV. And that way too many folks aren’t presented with all of the treatment options that are currently available, probably because they weren’t referred to an oncologist who specializes in melanoma treatment. So I was pleased to stumble upon a YouTube video of a recent presentation by a melanoma specialist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, outlining the adjuvant treatment options for Stage IIC and Stage III patients.



Through dumb luck I stumbled into being offered a 4-cycle regimen of biochemotherapy, as an adjuvant treatment following a Stage IIIC diagnosis with fourteen malignant lymph nodes. It beat the living daylights out of me, but nearly ten years later I’m showing no evidence of disease and boring my oncologist. So if you’re a newly-diagnosed Stage III melahomie, please watch this video and learn what’s out there. And if you’re seeing a doc who hasn’t discussed all of these adjuvant treatment options with you, please think long and hard about getting a second opinion from a top-flight melanoma specialist who has all of these ‘tricks’ in his or her bag. And then you and that doc can decide what’s right for you from a full menu of options. It just might save your life.

To the tune of Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love”…



When your youth is bound to C’s wiles
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to drug
Don't you need somebody to drug
Wouldn't you love somebody to drug
You better find somebody to drug

When the doctor glowers, Ray C is read yes
And your mind, your mind, is so full of dread
Don't you want somebody to drug
Don't you need somebody to drug
Wouldn't you love somebody to drug
You better find somebody to drug

Your prize, I say your prize may look like this, yeah
But in your head baby I'm afraid you don't know where it is
Don't you want somebody to drug
Don't you need somebody to drug
Wouldn't you love somebody to drug
You better find somebody to drug

Tears are running, ahhh, they're all running down your breast
And your ‘friends’ baby they treat you like a pest.
Don't you want somebody to drug
Don't you need somebody to drug
Wouldn't you love somebody to drug
You better find somebody to drug