Team Melissa’s Angels
Survivor Melissa Gagliardi
A Little About Melissa
Hello,
My name is Melissa. I had stage 4 metastatic malignant melanoma. I had 7 tumors in my brain and 1 in the right top lobe of my lung.
I was 34 weeks pregnant with a beautiful little girl. I just came home. I was driving my husband , myself and my 4 year old son at the time. I stepped out of my suv and I felt weird. I went in my house and I told my husband I felt weird. I took off all my clothes, laid on my bed, and a minute later I was having a seizure. It was a bad one. My sister came by immediately and my husband called 911. They thought I had prenatal diabetes and preeclampsia so they gave me orange juice. It did nothing. They took me to the nearest hospital, LIJ which is only a few blocks away. After several test and scans they told me I had cancer .
I worked in the field of skin cancer with dermatopathologists, and was familiar with a variety of diagnosis. I screamed at the doctor, “how can you be so sure you need to do a skin biopsy first”. With that they conducted more test, performed a C-section and put my baby girl in NICU, and did some exploratory surgery on my abdomen. They found nothing there. So far in their scans it was only in my brain. Subsequently, I decided that I wanted to continue my treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK).
I got admitted to MSK where they conducted more tests and scans. The MRI of my Brain showed 6 tumors, which only one of was operable. Dr. Gutin and his team went in immediately and removed it. I stayed there for a few days, and was taking a lot of medications, especially steroids (which I gained a lot weight) no biggie because they need you to have some weight on you for the treatments. I was discharged and later returned to the city with my family to meet with Dr. Jedd Wolchok. He explained everything to us. He told me I did not have a death sentence and it was treatable, he educated us about Ipilumilab or Yervoy and how I would have to come into the city for my infusions. I am laughing now because my beautiful baby girl who saved my life is 20 months old now and is dancing as I write this. But on with my story. In addition to the infusions I was getting in NYC, I was also receiving whole brain radiation in Rockville Centre. Treatment wasn’t easy, as I experienced complications along the way e.g., elevated liver enzymes that would require daily monitoring via blood test, and an additional seizure requiring hospitalization and more monitoring. This was all in June 2011. I finally finished my treatments, i.e., radiation and infusions, however I continued to get scans. They found another tumor in my brain, bringing the total to 8, and later found one in my lung.
I had another seizure in October 2011 and was OK, not requiring hospitalization at the time, but later that month was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and possible organ failure, I survived. I kept going for scans and finally they were going to blast the tumors in my brain with a special machine. They mapped my brain and found out the tumors were dead. In June 2012 they took out part on my right lung top third and I was cancer free. I was very aggressive with all my treatments and it was worth it.
I am a survivor because of Dr. Wolchok’s determination and of course his skilled and committed team of health care professionals. I wake up every morning and I thank GOD I am alive!!! I had to fight hard, I had a newborn and a four year old son and my husband and family to fight for. I had a lot of help from my family. Without them and some friends I would never have made it.
Melissa
Purpose: Team Melissa’s Angels was formed to help raise awareness of Melanoma Skin Cancer, and to provide support for all those living with Melanoma. Join our team and help support the cause.
Team Captain: Melissa Gagliardi
Be Sun Smart!