Judy's Medical and Travel Expenses
Donation protected
Please help Judy Bradshaw by donating to fund her travels to treatment. This has been a long, long road for Judy and just recently, she learned the cancer was back and has spread to her lungs. Here is her story. She will have to travel to Houston and to other facilities for treatments and possible surgeries.
Here is her story written by Judy:
"It was nothing major at all. I even laughed that I was using a door to help scratch it like my grandfather use to. I thought it was an insect bite. I couple of weeks went by and I asked a co-worker to check it for a small mole and looked harmless. I figured the irritation would go away however it did not. It was not a bothersome everyday but it was enough that one day in May I asked the same co-worker to check it again. She then stated it was a little bigger and I needed to have a doctor look at it. I did not rush nor did I drag my feet to make the appointment to see the doctor. I knew it could not wait either.
The appointment was set up for June 28. I had my primary care physician look at the mole. It was in the center of my back in between my shoulder blades. As expected he stated there was nothing to worry about. He said it was inflamed due to the area it was in but he would have the office call and set me up an appointment to see the dermatologist. The appointment with the dermatologist was set up for July10 at 9:45am.Within minutes the mole was removed and I was again reassured there was nothing to worry about. The doctor not only removed the mole from my back but my abdomen as well on the same day. The nurse that took care of me was awesome. She also assured me that she did not see an issue, while she was not a doctor; she had worked with the doctor for over 20 years. She went on to explain that I would most likely get a piece of paper in the mail stating everything was fine and to call if I had another issues. If I received a phone call NOT to be alarmed either. Most likely they just need to cut out additional margins. I left the office confident in the fact that I had nothing to worry about.
On July 17 at 4:45pm my cell phone went off from the doctor's office. I was working and we have policy of not answering cell phones calls while working. Certain that the nurse was calling to tell me everything was ok I continued working. It was only seconds later the phone at my desk rang. I remember laughing and thinking how persistent the nurse must be to get me off her list of things to do. I answered the phone without a care in the world. The nurse introduced herself and stated the mole on my abdomen was normal however the mole on my back was malignant melanoma. The words did not register. She proceeded to explain that I would need to see an oncologist, have blood work, x-rays and grocery list of other items that I could not comprehend. I finally had to stop her and had to ask her directly if I have cancer. She stated Yes, Judy you have cancer. She then went on to explain my Breslow and Clark s scores. I was lost. I demanded her to stop! I said you are telling me I have BAD cancer! She explained yes. In the matter of 5 minutes my life changed all over a simply mall mole.
To this day I am in shock. It is not the size of the mole that we see on the surface of the skin that is the problem it is the depth of the mole. The Clark's score of the mole is 4 out of 4. The Breslow score is a 5.22 out of 4. Due to the depth of the mole I have circular incision on my back 8cm by 8cm with a depth of 3cms. The skin graft on my left hip is 20cm by 20cm. I also had a drain from my left arm pit due to a lymph node biopsy where the doctor removed 5 lymph nodes.
I completed a month of interferon Infusion 5 day a week in October along and a month 2 1/2 months of three times a week before I decided to stop treatment after talking to my new doctor at Mayo clinic in Jacksonville.
In November they found yet another mole that needed to be removed. They thought it was an in situ but later determined it was a .3mm tumor that would need to be removed. So this is why I find myself waiting to go back for yet another surgery and lymph node biopsy.
I would say I have kept up with my CT scans and skin checks for the most part. In 2016 I was stubborn and to be honest sick of the roller coaster! I just wanted to go back to a life without doctors and test. After speaking with a friend, who strongly encouraged me to go, I made an appointment. They completed the full work up August of 2016. I waited patiently for the oncologist. I knew the routine all too well. Fasting blood work first thing in the morning, CAT scan of the pelvis and chest and then sit around and wait. Wait to hear if I would be allowed another 6 months to live life as normal as you can. The doctor came in and explained that the scans came back “okay” but we need to watch my lower left lung closely. He brushed it off stating it could be aa mucus plug from the recent severe upper respiratory infection I was still struggling to get over. The doctor sent me on my way and explained I needed to return for my normal appointment in 6 months. Repeat the entire test and scans again.
While explained the findings to my family and friends and really did not think much about it. However one person did, my dad. It seemed every time I was on the phone with him I would cough. It was a nagging cough that would not go away. Then Michael started to notice it more. Again, nothing terrible just a nagging cough that seems to hang on for dear life. To have a cough at any time in South Georgia is not uncommon. We live in an area where everyone seems to have terrible with allergies.
Mayo called and set my appointment. The date was set for February 13. As time got closer I got more anxious. To say the appointments did not affect me would be a lie! I knew I have not felt “right’. I knew something was off. After my morning blood work posted on to the hospital webportal, I of course reviewed the numbers. While I am not a doctor or a nurse, I am a doctor of MY melanoma and my body. By now I know what to look for when reviewing my lab results. The numbers were off. What I didn’t know is if they scans showed anything. I had an idea that my life was about to change again before I even saw the doctor.
When I walk on the oncology floor I saw all the people who were receiving chemotherapy. I broke down and cried. Not for me but for them. I have an idea of what they were going through and how they were feeling. I wanted to tell them it was going to be ok and just go and hug them all! Normally, being on the floor does not affect me like that. I want us all to be ok!
I waited to be called back to the office for what seemed like a lifetime. Finally I was called back and the oncologist entered shortly after. He didn’t have to say a word. I saw his face. I knew. He looked at me and said, “Judy, it is back and it is in your lungs. I recommend starting treatment.” I told him we needed to try this again and that he needed to leave and walk back in and try again. He said it is just a speed bump and that this treatment would be like drinking a glass of what. A GLASS OF WATER!!!! I still cannot believe he said that!! Wonder if you would like to drink the water?!
All I could think was “I have not reached the statistically average. If it was going to come back it should be 3 years and 8 months from the diagnosis. I was 13 months short! I WANT those 13 months! I am in the middle of a semester, NOW IS NOT THE TIME!”
To be honest I don’t remember must after that. However, I do remember my dad calling at the exact moment I walked out of the doctor’s office. He was all excited and in a good mood. He asked about my appointment and I asked him if he was driving. He said yes and I told him I needed him to pull over. He knew. How could he not. Then I called Michael (my husband). I heard him go numb. I was in shock and stayed there for a week. I had started to gather information. I needed clarification from the oncologist regarding what he had told me. I emailed him Friday and on Monday at 8:30 I received his response.
The last question I asked was what would happen if I decided against treatment? He responded with, the average life expectancy is approximately 14 months once the melanoma has traveled to your organs. I lost it! I fell apart. I did not know what to do. I did not want to upset anyone around me. No one could fix me and I didn’t know what I needed to feel better. I am so thankful for an understanding employer and a Pastor and his wife that dropped everything to help me pick up the pieces that day.
For now, Michael and I are working together to make the best decision for us. I don’t want to be sick again. I don’t want to give up my life in HOPES the melanoma goes away this time and we wait for its return. That is not living to me. What I want is to LIVE! To live a life free of CANCER! Free of melanoma!"
Anything you can do to help supplement her travel for treatment is greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray for this sweet woman! She is so selfless and one of the most amazing women I've met.
Here is her story written by Judy:
"It was nothing major at all. I even laughed that I was using a door to help scratch it like my grandfather use to. I thought it was an insect bite. I couple of weeks went by and I asked a co-worker to check it for a small mole and looked harmless. I figured the irritation would go away however it did not. It was not a bothersome everyday but it was enough that one day in May I asked the same co-worker to check it again. She then stated it was a little bigger and I needed to have a doctor look at it. I did not rush nor did I drag my feet to make the appointment to see the doctor. I knew it could not wait either.
The appointment was set up for June 28. I had my primary care physician look at the mole. It was in the center of my back in between my shoulder blades. As expected he stated there was nothing to worry about. He said it was inflamed due to the area it was in but he would have the office call and set me up an appointment to see the dermatologist. The appointment with the dermatologist was set up for July10 at 9:45am.Within minutes the mole was removed and I was again reassured there was nothing to worry about. The doctor not only removed the mole from my back but my abdomen as well on the same day. The nurse that took care of me was awesome. She also assured me that she did not see an issue, while she was not a doctor; she had worked with the doctor for over 20 years. She went on to explain that I would most likely get a piece of paper in the mail stating everything was fine and to call if I had another issues. If I received a phone call NOT to be alarmed either. Most likely they just need to cut out additional margins. I left the office confident in the fact that I had nothing to worry about.
On July 17 at 4:45pm my cell phone went off from the doctor's office. I was working and we have policy of not answering cell phones calls while working. Certain that the nurse was calling to tell me everything was ok I continued working. It was only seconds later the phone at my desk rang. I remember laughing and thinking how persistent the nurse must be to get me off her list of things to do. I answered the phone without a care in the world. The nurse introduced herself and stated the mole on my abdomen was normal however the mole on my back was malignant melanoma. The words did not register. She proceeded to explain that I would need to see an oncologist, have blood work, x-rays and grocery list of other items that I could not comprehend. I finally had to stop her and had to ask her directly if I have cancer. She stated Yes, Judy you have cancer. She then went on to explain my Breslow and Clark s scores. I was lost. I demanded her to stop! I said you are telling me I have BAD cancer! She explained yes. In the matter of 5 minutes my life changed all over a simply mall mole.
To this day I am in shock. It is not the size of the mole that we see on the surface of the skin that is the problem it is the depth of the mole. The Clark's score of the mole is 4 out of 4. The Breslow score is a 5.22 out of 4. Due to the depth of the mole I have circular incision on my back 8cm by 8cm with a depth of 3cms. The skin graft on my left hip is 20cm by 20cm. I also had a drain from my left arm pit due to a lymph node biopsy where the doctor removed 5 lymph nodes.
I completed a month of interferon Infusion 5 day a week in October along and a month 2 1/2 months of three times a week before I decided to stop treatment after talking to my new doctor at Mayo clinic in Jacksonville.
In November they found yet another mole that needed to be removed. They thought it was an in situ but later determined it was a .3mm tumor that would need to be removed. So this is why I find myself waiting to go back for yet another surgery and lymph node biopsy.
I would say I have kept up with my CT scans and skin checks for the most part. In 2016 I was stubborn and to be honest sick of the roller coaster! I just wanted to go back to a life without doctors and test. After speaking with a friend, who strongly encouraged me to go, I made an appointment. They completed the full work up August of 2016. I waited patiently for the oncologist. I knew the routine all too well. Fasting blood work first thing in the morning, CAT scan of the pelvis and chest and then sit around and wait. Wait to hear if I would be allowed another 6 months to live life as normal as you can. The doctor came in and explained that the scans came back “okay” but we need to watch my lower left lung closely. He brushed it off stating it could be aa mucus plug from the recent severe upper respiratory infection I was still struggling to get over. The doctor sent me on my way and explained I needed to return for my normal appointment in 6 months. Repeat the entire test and scans again.
While explained the findings to my family and friends and really did not think much about it. However one person did, my dad. It seemed every time I was on the phone with him I would cough. It was a nagging cough that would not go away. Then Michael started to notice it more. Again, nothing terrible just a nagging cough that seems to hang on for dear life. To have a cough at any time in South Georgia is not uncommon. We live in an area where everyone seems to have terrible with allergies.
Mayo called and set my appointment. The date was set for February 13. As time got closer I got more anxious. To say the appointments did not affect me would be a lie! I knew I have not felt “right’. I knew something was off. After my morning blood work posted on to the hospital webportal, I of course reviewed the numbers. While I am not a doctor or a nurse, I am a doctor of MY melanoma and my body. By now I know what to look for when reviewing my lab results. The numbers were off. What I didn’t know is if they scans showed anything. I had an idea that my life was about to change again before I even saw the doctor.
When I walk on the oncology floor I saw all the people who were receiving chemotherapy. I broke down and cried. Not for me but for them. I have an idea of what they were going through and how they were feeling. I wanted to tell them it was going to be ok and just go and hug them all! Normally, being on the floor does not affect me like that. I want us all to be ok!
I waited to be called back to the office for what seemed like a lifetime. Finally I was called back and the oncologist entered shortly after. He didn’t have to say a word. I saw his face. I knew. He looked at me and said, “Judy, it is back and it is in your lungs. I recommend starting treatment.” I told him we needed to try this again and that he needed to leave and walk back in and try again. He said it is just a speed bump and that this treatment would be like drinking a glass of what. A GLASS OF WATER!!!! I still cannot believe he said that!! Wonder if you would like to drink the water?!
All I could think was “I have not reached the statistically average. If it was going to come back it should be 3 years and 8 months from the diagnosis. I was 13 months short! I WANT those 13 months! I am in the middle of a semester, NOW IS NOT THE TIME!”
To be honest I don’t remember must after that. However, I do remember my dad calling at the exact moment I walked out of the doctor’s office. He was all excited and in a good mood. He asked about my appointment and I asked him if he was driving. He said yes and I told him I needed him to pull over. He knew. How could he not. Then I called Michael (my husband). I heard him go numb. I was in shock and stayed there for a week. I had started to gather information. I needed clarification from the oncologist regarding what he had told me. I emailed him Friday and on Monday at 8:30 I received his response.
The last question I asked was what would happen if I decided against treatment? He responded with, the average life expectancy is approximately 14 months once the melanoma has traveled to your organs. I lost it! I fell apart. I did not know what to do. I did not want to upset anyone around me. No one could fix me and I didn’t know what I needed to feel better. I am so thankful for an understanding employer and a Pastor and his wife that dropped everything to help me pick up the pieces that day.
For now, Michael and I are working together to make the best decision for us. I don’t want to be sick again. I don’t want to give up my life in HOPES the melanoma goes away this time and we wait for its return. That is not living to me. What I want is to LIVE! To live a life free of CANCER! Free of melanoma!"
Anything you can do to help supplement her travel for treatment is greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray for this sweet woman! She is so selfless and one of the most amazing women I've met.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amy Hayslip Brooke
Organizer
Duncan, SC
Judy Bradshaw
Beneficiary