How do I cope with stage 4 melanoma and find support who understands?

Welcome to this supportive community where many members truly understand the unique challenges that come with advanced melanoma, including the physical side effects of treatment and the complex emotions that arise throughout this journey. Finding others who can relate to both the medical aspects and the feeling of being seen as "strong" while still needing support can make a meaningful difference in navigating this experience.

I truly get what you’re going through. Exactly 4 years ago today I was diagnosed with stage four melanoma. It was in my lymph nodes and my bones, in my brain and of course it all seemed very overwhelming at the time. I ended up going through immunotherapy, radiation, and removal of my spleen, and I have now been complete remission, or NED, for almost 2 years. Stay as positive as you can and try not to let negative people influence your thoughts. And give yourself some grace for those dark days. Perfectly normal. It’s a crazy crazy mind trip and your body will go through changes, hopefully not too severe. I was really lucky in that I didn’t lose any hair and I didn’t get sick. I hope for you the same .It’s a tough place to be, but you can get past it.

Thank you, yea it’s been appointments here and there and haven’t had time to process anything really and now that I am done with radiation and I only have to do my treatments every three weeks, now it’s hitting me and I have told people that if they can’t stand in agreement with me and stay positive then I don’t want them around me. I can not fall into that trap of negativity and giving in to this cancer and let it beat me. I stand on Jeremiah 30:17 that God will restore my health and heal all my wounds. Now my oncologist is no longer at the cancer center and idk who is taking over my case and they haven’t made any appointments for my third treatment and have been calling them but it’s always the same thing, “we will have the scheduler contact you” when they would just make appointments for me without consulting me.