KRBaum's Journey with Skin Cancer - Melanoma

The incision was small, but very sore. Using those muscles in activities like pushing myself out of bed, or reaching for items above my head was painful and more difficult.

This one hurt, a lot. The surgery was 2 hours long, and the incision ended up being twice as long at a total of 8 cm. I was fully sedated along with a local anesthetic for pain, and they had to give me a tube down my throat for breathing during the surgery. It is very difficult to raise my arm (left) or wash my hair, or open doors with my left arm. The stitches are not the dissolvable kind, but have to be removed in two weeks. There is a lot of draining from the incision, and I'm on meds for the pain. It's very sore.....

The oncologist called me on Oct 18 to let me know the cancer has indeed spread to my lymph nodes. One out of the three lymph nodes they removed had cancer, which put me at stage 3A. Next step is a PET scan and a CT scan to determine if cancer has spread to other organs. First time I actually started to feel a little scared. The Oncologist also told me I'll need another surgery, which is waiting to be scheduled.

I had three types of general anesthesia for this surgery - patch behind my ear, gas, and IV. I woke up extremely tired, and in a lot of pain. Pain meds are a MUST for recovery. I have to wear a drain for 7-10 days (which I'm still wearing as I write this) to drain the incision of excess fluids. The incision is swollen and black and blue, which feels like a rock in your side. I have nerve damage on the under side of my upper left arm, but the surgeon says the nerves will heal in time. I will need physical therapy to regain control and mobility of my left arm. The drain makes recovery especially painful for this surgery. I've dealt with nausea and sharp pains from the pull on my muscles/nerves in recovery. Massaging my arm has helped immensely!

Been on oxycodone (aka Perkiset) for almost a whole month now - the month includes two surgeries. Lately I've had some nausea, and I've been trying to take it only at night which has helped. I get some fatigue and "spacey-ness" from it.

Lexapro (5mg) - I'm about to start immunotherapy on Intron A (aka Interferon) for one year, so I'm taking Lexapro. It's mostly for anxiety at the moment as I'm not depressed right now, but it is a side effect of Intron A.

I chose Interferon - the one year option. Intron A for the first four weeks, then half dose for 11 months.

Interferon...... side effects are terrible. High fever, nausea, fatigue, aches/pains.

Not 100% sure, but my scans revealed two nodes in my lungs - not sure if they are cancer yet. Too small to biopsy yet.

Mass in right lung is gone!

Was inpatient for four days.