Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Hi everyone I would like to share my journey with you to give strength to others. In February 2002 I was diagnosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma a very rare & aggressive cancer, it had metastasised from the primary in the middle of my chest to a lymph node under my left arm, stage two. I also have had SCC & BCC. My treatment for MCC consisted of Carboplatin, Etoposide Chemo & Radiation, jointly. I have ten radiation tattoos on my upper body. The trip wasn't easy. Thanks' to my carer Dr Peter O'Brien from the Mater Hospital Newcastle a member of TROG who had just finished trials on Merkel Cell Carcinoma, their trials & treatment saved my life.  I can't thank the staff at the Mater Newcastle enough for their professionalism & compassion during my five years of treatment. Just when I thought the clouds had cleared, three years down the track. I went for my three year checkup, still clear. I was over the moon, you don't usually get that far with MCC, so I knew I was on the right road. Two days later my husband was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer - Muscle Invasive that was March 2005. My world just collapsed, again. I kept saying this can't be happening, not again. I felt over the last three years I had clawed my way up this steep dark muddy hole as I reached  the top & felt the sun on my face the mud gave way & I fell right back down to the bottom of the hole to start the climb all over again. My husband had two operations the first operation was to remove the tumour, the second operation was nearly thirteen hours. He  was lucky enough to have had a reconstructed Neobladder, that's where doctors removed 42cm of his bowel & made a new bladder joining it up to his internal plumbing. It's now three years since his operation. There's been a few hiccups  along the way, so far so good. Another visit to his oncologist in December. Then, yes, there's more. January this year 2008 another three years on, my brother was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer, by the time he was diagnosed his cancer had metastasised to his liver. He passed away twelve week's later on April 1st, 2008. My grandfather died of carcinoma of the stomach, my father of Melanoma & my cousin of lung cancer, that's now six of us diagnosed with cancer. Update: My Aunt has just been diagnosed with Bowel Cancer, Metastasised to her liver. Diagnosed 7/2008. That now makes seven family members diagnosed with cancer, two with bowel cancer this year. Having a full physical checkup I can't stress this point enough. Early detection is the biggest cure. My aunt passed away 11/2008. The moral of this story is, early detection, that's why my husband & I are still here today, with the help of great medical staff & having checkups every year, especially skin checks, that's how my MCC was found, I was at the cross roads. I made the right turn on the road by having regular checkups . I hope you will do the same, go today, don't delay. Merkel

Update 2009: December, 2008 my husband developed another tumour he passed away 22nd August 2009.

Update Feb, 2011: It's 9 years since I was diagnosed with MCC & I'm still cancer free.

Merkel