Tag Archives: melanoma

don’t think twice, it’s alright

Posted on November 8, 2017 by straightouttasotham

A lot has happened since my last blog post: a hospitalization, a trip to LA to give a TED Talk, a trip to Austin to be a part of my cousin’s baby shower, and another hospitalization which I am in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer, cancer research, cancer treatment, end of life, fuck cancer, grieving, hospice, medical, melanoma, melanoma complications, melanoma prognosis, melanoma progression, melanoma treatment, palliative care, stage 4 cancer, support, TED, TEDx | 42 Comments

the good, the bad, and the fucking weird

Posted on August 26, 2017 by straightouttasotham

This morning, I can feel the tendrils of indian summer folding back the edges of summer proper. I usually feel a tinge of sadness at this time of year – a little bit of post-birthday blues along with my seasonal … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer, cancer progression, cancer treatment, clinical trial, false progression, friendship, health, IL-2, immune system, immunology, immunotherapy, Korea, life, melanoma, melanoma complications, melanoma prognosis, melanoma progression, melanoma recurrence, melanoma treatment, metastatic cancer, metastatic melanoma, mortality, pseudo progression, skin cancer, stable disease, stage 4 cancer, stage 4 melanoma, t-cells, tumor growth, tumors | 15 Comments

one flew over the red herring

Posted on August 5, 2017 by straightouttasotham

This is my third attempt in three weeks at writing a new blog post – hopefully not another false start. The first post, which I started on my last day in the hospital, was to be entitled “One Flew Over … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer, clinical trial, hospitals, IL-2, illness, living with cancer, melanoma, side effects, stage 4 cancer, stage 4 melanoma | 14 Comments

chapter….um… six? i think?

Posted on July 14, 2017 by straightouttasotham

So remember , like, a month ago, when I wrote a blog entry about novelty? About how nothing about my cancer was really new anymore, so I had less fuel to write? Yeah, well, about a week later, I got … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ALKS 4230, cancer, cancer research, clinical trial, Guniea Pig, hospital, IL-2, Interleukin, malignant melanoma, medical, melanoma, melanoma progression, melanoma treatment, metastatic melanoma, NYU, stage 4 cancer, stage 4 melanoma | 27 Comments

epitaph for novelty

Posted on June 9, 2017 by straightouttasotham

If you’ve been following my blog from the beginning, you’ve likely noticed that my posts have become less and less frequent. There is a very singular reason for this. When it comes to writing creative nonfiction, there are two types … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blogging, cancer, creative nonfiction, fuck cancer, health, illness, life, living with cancer, melanoma, metastatic cancer, metastatic melanoma, mortality, novelty, stage 4 cancer, stage 4 melanoma, therapy, travel, when breath becomes air, writing | 6 Comments

red herrings and silver linings

Posted on April 5, 2017 by straightouttasotham

I have a lot to say. A LOT. Ideally, I would have been publishing small, digestible blog posts with updates every few days. I managed to write a chunk of this blog post, but alas, my limited mobility, a constant … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bowel obstruction, cancer, melanoma, melanoma prognosis, melanoma treatment, metastatic melanoma, stage 4 cancer, surgery | 12 Comments

the good

Posted on February 19, 2017 by straightouttasotham

I’m writing from the balcony of a gorgeous beach house in St. Augustine, staring at an exquisite seascape. It’s 62 degrees. I have a strong cup of coffee. The only sounds are the steady crash of waves and some buzzy … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged be here now, cancer, clinical trial, friendship, glembatumumab, health, melanoma, metastatic melanoma, mortality, stage 4 cancer, stage 4 melanoma, varlilumab, weddings | 11 Comments

bombs away!

Posted on January 18, 2017 by straightouttasotham

So, my scans happened. One of my tumors -the largest one- shrunk. The other four grew. This to say, I didn’t respond to the Ipi/Nivo this time. Now, before you go blubbering on the subway (Dana), know that I consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer, cancer treatment, clinical trial, glembatumumab, immune system, immunotherapy, ipilimumab, melanoma, melanoma recurrence, melanoma treatment, metastatic melanoma, nivolumab, NYU Langone, stage 4 cancer, stage four melanoma, urelumab, varlilumab | 9 Comments

back in the saddle again

Posted on October 20, 2016 by straightouttasotham

“Angry. Sad. Terrified… The usual suspects. And a few I can’t identify.” That’s how I responded to a text message from my close friend, Aubrie, last Thursday morning. She was texting to see how I was holding up in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer, cancer research, cancer treatment, documentary, fuck cancer, immunotherapy, infusions, ipilimumab, Korea, melanoma, melanoma prognosis, melanoma progression, melanoma recurrence, melanoma treatment, metastatic melanoma, mortality, MRI, nivolumab, scans, skin cancer, stage 4 cancer | 20 Comments

the verdict

Posted on July 17, 2016 by straightouttasotham

Part I – Written in my journal Friday morning… 7/15/16 Today is huge. HUGE. I feel like I’m on my way to a courthouse to be sentenced, knowing that I haven’t done anything wrong but afraid that the jury is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged BRAF, BRAF inhibitors, BRAFV600, cancer, cancer treatment, cobimetinib, cotellic, documentary, documentary film, filmmaking, fuck cancer, immunotherapy, ipilimumab, ipilimumab side effects, ipilimumab success, living with cancer, malignant melanoma, MEK inhibitors, melanoma, melanoma prognosis, melanoma progression, melanoma recurrence, melanoma treatment, metastatic melanoma, nivolumab, NYU, NYU Langone, PET scan, photosensitivity, side effects, skin cancer, stage 4 melanoma, stage four cancer, stage four melanoma, targeted therapy, treatment, tumors, vemurafenib, vemurafenib side effects, writing, zelboraf | 15 Comments

Tag Archives: melanoma

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