Nothin’ quite like a good anniversary. Octbober 1, 2025 is my one year anniversary with Uveal Melanoma. Technically, my oncologist, Dr Kim called it at the end of September (as I saw on my online portal). I guess if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck…. And a biopsy in October confirmed it. Calling it early gave me about a three week jump on care. So Grateful. So I am going with October 1 - basically the last quarter of the year.
What a year it has been! A brief recap just to remind me of how good the good really is.
October 2024 - MRI, CT Scan, bloodwork and biopsy to confirm it is Uveal Melanoma. So much chaos and uncertainty of what life did or did not hold for Mela and myself. When I was diagnosed 7 years ago (who says lucky 7?) with Ocular Melanoma there was no statiscal survival rate if it returned. It likes the liver and the lungs. So grateful for the research and that things have changed during these past 7 years. Maybe that’s the lucky 7.
November 2024 - First two drug (Opdivo & Yervoy) immunotherapy infusion the first week of November. Went virtually blind - in remaining good eye - and a rash from head to toe. Thank goodness for steroids and cortisone cream.
December 2024 - Second two drug immunotherapy infusion the first week of December. Chills, fever, no appetite, severe and chronic diarrhea. Lost over 20 pounds in 10 days. A hard month for me & Mela. More steroids.
Welcome to 2025……..
January 2025 - Was supposed to do four rounds of the two drug infusion but body was not up for it. Round one of one drug infusion. No side effects. Productive rest and trying to gain weight.
How many people had a New Year’s Resolution of trying to pack on 15 to 20 pounds as quickly as possible. Thank goodness for the NFL playoffs and an excuse to eat. Not that I needed one. I had not bought store brand cookies in decades. But apparently I needed 3 family sized packages of double stuffed Oreo’s. Don’t get me started on Daisy Sour Cream French Onion Dip. Eat by the spoonful.
I do want to note that aside from my ‘football snacking’ Mela and I did eat relatively healthy meals. I gained about 10 pounds in January.
February 2025 - More productive rest, healthy weight gain and very modest exercise.
March and April 2025 - Started to feel ‘semi-normal’ but still weak. Weight was back and significantly increasing exercise.
May 2025 - Felt much better physically. But it was a hard month. Felt better physically but felt like now what. What does life look like? Plus my MRI’s were a month apart for various timing reasons. Finished one at the first of the month and could not stop thinking about the next one at the end of May.
June 2025 - Getting back on track. Feeling good. Feel like strength is close to being back to where it was and mental clarity.
July thru September 2025 - Living life. Getting used to routine and living with terminal cancer. Well that was the year but also so much good.
Gratitude is the Attitude………
First, speaking for myself - I am grateful to still be here. Mela. Family. Friends. Faith.Great medical team. Great insurance coverage. My blog that keeps me sane. And on and on………
As hard as November and December 2024 were I was able to enjoy both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hard part from the two drug infusion was about getting my health back. Perhaps, somewhat ironically, the infusions were great for my health as it related to the cancer but devestating to other aspects of my health.
Anyway, in 2025 we have celebrated the new year. Mela and I both celebrated our 65th birthday. My daughter, Nicole, flew up from LA and surprised me on my birthday. February 20, our newest grandchild, Luca, was welcomed into this world. Celebrated another year of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Easter. A decent night’s sleep. The sales of my photographs on Adobe Stock.
Long time friend, Kevin, and brother-in-law, Rick for drving me to SF for appointments when I was too blind or weak to do so myself. Hitting balls at the back of range at Haggin Oaks with my swing coach, Lila, our poodle. Played some golf. Pretty much watched the four golf majors. Our neighbor, Dick, that took out our garbage cans week after week, helping with Lila while I slept on the couch 16 hours a day and his absolutely scrumptious corn chowder. Mela has been 12 years cancer free. We celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary. Our 13 year engagement anniversary and our first date 14 years ago October 1, 2011 at Land Ocean in Folsom .
Nicole & Mela by new car
An incredible vacation thru Paris and Provence with Mela, our daughter Gina, son-in-law Steven and grandson, Luca. A wonderful weekend in Mendocino for our wedding anniversary. Mela’s business, Onyx Real Estate is doing great. So proud of her. (Shameless plug - Check out Onyx at onyx-re.com ) So many breakfasts & lunches with long time friend, Kevin. Great meals at newly discovered (for me) in SF during my trips for appointments with Dr Kim and infusions etc. Overnight stays with kids and grandson. New car - Land Rover Defender 90 (nothing like a 6 year loan to keep you around). New camera - Sony a7CR. New backyard furniture and pergola (my sanctuary). Exercise. Good coffee. Good wine. Good food. Laughter. Reading a good book. Sunrise and Sunset.
Birthday dinner
The Family, Wine tasting at Alpha Omega for Mela’ birthday
My photography. Attending our church, Vintage Grace. But God. Luca’s baptism. One of the mildest Sacramento summers in a long time. All the prayers that lift me up. Morning walks with our poodle, Lila. All our kids and grandchildren are doing great. Those of you that have faithfully followed along with me on my journey and hopefully had a laugh or two. Those of you that have read this far. The breath in my lungs.
What are you grateful for?
At the end of August Mela and I attended the Tom Ferry Real Estate Coaching conference in Dallas, Texas. Tim Carver was the keynote speaker. He definitely has next level intensity. He said - if you find yourself going thru Hell - leave the scars and bring the fire. I like that phrase.
I can’t say I will finish the year stronger than last year. Last year took every ounce of fight I had. But hopefully stronger in a different way. Here’s to the last quarter of 2025 & 2026!
Finally, life goes on….. If I get a headache, I take an aspirin. I take a simvastatin for my cholesterol and now take Opdivo for Uveal Melanoma.
Before I go. I had the pleasure of being a guest telling my story regarding my journey with cancer on a podcast with a ‘Cure in Sight’. The podcast should be out in a couple of weeks but below is a link to a trailer.
Stay Strong, Be Kind, Be Humble and God Bless!