In Memoriam
Sally Hayman 22.05.37 – 17.06.09
My mum Sally Hayman had a black mark under her thumb nail approximately 8 years ago. We originally thought it was a fungal infection. After some time of it not clearing up she went to the doctor who then sent her for tests. This turned out to be a MM. They removed the top of her thumb and said it was all taken out and hopefully all would be fine.
About 8 months ago a small blister type lump appear of the top of her thumb again, and when checked was told it was malignant again. They again removed a bit more. After a couple of months the lump appeared again, but also she found a lump under her arm. She went into hospital to once more have a little more removed from the top of her thumb, have the lump removed from under her arm, and also her lymph node removed. About April this year she found black spots on the top of her arm and around her breast and also another lump on her thumb, her consultant has confirmed that it is MM, he then told her that she would either need a breast reduction and remove the MM or maybe a full mastectomy because it could return on the scar site. As she had a holiday booked in May said, go away on your holiday have a good time. and i will see you on the 17th June and we will decide what we are going to do.
Since coming back from the holiday at the end of May, the lump on her thumb has grown quite a lot, and as well as the black spots on the top of her arm and breast, she has found another lump in her arm. Hence the reason we are trying to get in to see the consultant or someone before the 17th June. Up to today we are still waiting a call from the hospital.
18 June 2008 - mum saw her consultant yesterday, they are going to remove more from the top of her thumb, and then she is going to start on a course of chemo. Not sure if this is good news or not?! - at least she is not having a mastectomy right now. Finger crossed the chemo does the trick.
21 October 2008 - unfortunately the chemo hasn't worked, mum had a scan last Sunday and is waiting for results to make sure the cancer has not spread anywhere else. She has been told that they will need to do the Mastectomy; Update 11th Nov 2008 - scan results show no spread of the cancer, great news, and mum going to take part in a new trial in Middlesbrough. Fingers crossed x
Feb 2009 - Mum has now had 2 lots of electrochemotherapy treatment at Middlesbrough which at the moment seem to be doing a good job of drying out and shrinking the nodules on the top of her arm and breast, she goes to see her consultant in 2 weeks time now to see what happens next.
23rd April 2009 - Mum was in hospital Tuesday to have more removed from her thumb, she hasn't got much left of it now, poor thing. And the consultant is not really convinced that the electrochemotherapy is working too well, as she has new nodules appearing. So the waiting goes on! mum goes back in 2 weeks time to check how her thumb has healed and to discuss what happens next.
May 2009 - My mum is really sick now, tired and breathless, she does not even go out of the house. The doctor has said she may be anaemic and are waiting for more tests before he can treat it. We have been told that the cancer is not curable, I was hoping that it was and with all the chemotherapy and treatments that mum has had, I thought in my heart that we would beat this disease in the end. Its heartbreaking news. Mum is waiting for a CT scan again now, and then a decision to what surgery can be down next.
18th June 2009 - Lost my beautiful mum yesterday, i called an ambulance for her on Monday as she was so unwell. when we got to hospital we were told that he melanoma had spread to her lungs, liver and kidneys and there was nothing that could be done. My dad, brother and i stayed with her through the night constantly telling her that we loved her and on Tuesday lunchtime she passed away. I miss her so much. Can't imagine my life without her in it. Bloody cancer!!!!