by BrandiDickey on Jun 27, 2013
Red from the sun and lack of sunscreen.

You would think at 32 I would be raising kids, attending their events with school, going to sporting events with them or possibly traveling and seeing the different parts of the world. That is far from what I am doing. I am instead traveling back and forth from Fort Worth to Houston every two weeks. Instead of traveling to those sporting events, I am going to MD Anderson Cancer Center. Here is my story and why at 32 I am attending a cancer center so often and will for the rest of my life.

As a child my family and I traveled to the beach every year and sunscreen didn’t seem to be a staple in our packing necessities. I would burn so bad on the first day I could hardly sleep that night.

As I got to the age of 15, I realized, with my parents consent, I could tan in a tanning bed. That was and still is my biggest mistake to this day. I would tan three days a week and before any social event at school. Everyone was tanning and vanity at that age was so important. I remember feeling so great with a tan, but also remember that smell of burning skin. I even remember thinking, “This can’t be good for me,” but I continued to tan because it looked good and again, everyone else was doing it. I tanned off and on for probably 10 years and of course sunscreen was never something I applied.

Brandi, prior to diagnosis

Three years ago at the age of 28, I discovered a mole on my abdomen, which would be the beginning of my long road ahead and my fight against melanoma. I was very hesitant to see a dermatologist; in my heart I knew it wasn’t good. My dog at the time jumped on me and made the mole bleed. At that point I had no choice but to make an appointment. I was scared, lost and wanted to run. When my biopsy results came back my doctor said to me, “You have cancer, this isn’t a death sentence but it is going to be the fight of your life.” He was so right. I had the mole removed thinking, “Oh it’s just skin cancer it can be cut off and I’ll go back to doing what I do.” Was I ever wrong. Fourteen surgeries, five different types of chemotherapy and numerous amounts of radiation later, I am still fighting for my life.

First of many chemotherapy sessions

The first two years of my fight are a blur to me. I was so in shock and scared, I didn’t realize what was going on or what the next minute would bring. It’s like when you first take your training wheels off, you know what’s going on but you really have no idea how it’s going to turn out or if you can even do it. You have everyone cheering you on, but you’re scared and nervous. I had no choice but to pedal my way through.

I want to share with you my year 2013 so far, which is my third year fighting melanoma.This past January, I had a bone tumor in my tailbone that temporarily disabled me and my ability to walk, which had to be followed up with radiation. In February, I had a tennis ball size melanoma tumor removed from my bowel. In that same visit to MD Anderson Cancer Center, I found out a previous tumor in my brain was hemorrhaging and needed to be operated on. I underwent surgery for the hemorrhage in the brain. Four weeks later at a follow up MRI for my brain surgery it showed growth in another tumor as well as a new melanoma brain tumor in the front lobe of my brain. Again, I was back in surgery to remove one brain tumor. One week after surgery I underwent gamma knife radiation to the front lobe tumor, in which I will find out July 9, 2013, if the radiation worked and if the surgery was a success. My body is currently clear of melanoma except for a small spot in my pelvis area, I am waiting on doctors and their knowledge as to what we will do with this possible new melanoma tumor. I have endured all FDA approved drugs for melanoma and could possibly be entering into a trial to hopefully control my disease.

Following most recent brain surgery

I am very passionate about getting my message out to young adults, teenagers and parents about the dangers of tanning bed use. As we speak, Texas is in the process of passing a bill to ban the use of tanning beds for those under the age of 18. I hope my story will help encourage others to be sun safe. Melanoma is preventable with sunscreen and staying out of tanning beds. I am extremely happy to share my story with you. If you get anything out of this I hope it’s to keep your children and yourself out of tanning beds and to use sunscreen. I promise you don’t want to go through this or watch a loved one go through this .

Melanoma is not just skin cancer.

Love the skin you’re in!

Brandi as she looks today

Below are reasons to say goodbye to tanning beds for good provided by skincancer.org.

1. Your risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when you use tanning beds before the age of 35.�
 2. Last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer shifted indoor tanning devices to the highest cancer risk category: “carcinogenic to humans.” (They were formerly classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”)

3. Tanning can be addictive. For some people, UV radiation can have a druglike effect; they feel dependent on it and can experience withdrawal symptoms, says David Fisher, M.D., Ph.D.

4. Not only are tanning-bed users more vulnerable to melanoma, they’re also 2½ times more likely to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and 1½ times more susceptible to basal cell.

Learn more important information about sun safety from Cook Children’s pediatrician Anna Nezafati, M.D.

Saturday, March 23

Caring Bridge Updates Mar 25th - Apr 26th, 2012

  • Upcoming MDA Visit

    Written Apr 26, 2012 12:05pm by Paula Pittsinger
    On Tuesday May 1st we will fly back to Houston for Brandi's MOH's procedure on May 2nd.  They will take tissue from where the cancer was removed and we will have to wait 2 hours for the results.  If there is still cancer at the margins they will repeat until the margins are clear.  Pray that the first removal is all they have to take.
    On Thursday the 3rd is another MRI of the brain. We will not have results until Friday morning.  We feel sure she will be clear this time as well.  Keep her in your prayers for the side effects to lessen or be controlled as much as possible. 
    Thank you all for you love and support....our gratitude is infinite!! 
    S

  • Recent Biopsy Results

    Written Apr 20, 2012 2:22pm by Paula Pittsinger
    Brandi was back in Houston for her follow up visit with oncologist and dermatologist.  They removed two places from her face that were believed to be "warts" as a side effect of the BRAF.  They came back as squamous cell carcinomas.  The one on her forehead was very early stages.  The one on her left jaw area was more extensive and will require further surgery and evaluation.  They are so pleased with the control of her cancer within her body that they want to deal with the side effects as they arise.  She is as determined as ever to beat melanoma.  Will update you all as to when her surgery will be.  Thank you for your continued prayers, love and support.
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  • Recent Scan Update

    Written Mar 25, 2012 5:45pm by Paula Pittsinger
    Brandi had follow up scans last Wednesday and the results were so much more than we gave God credit for what he is able to do.  Granted the BRAF is a miracle drug for melanoma patients who test postive for the BRAF mutation.  But God deserves all the glory for the research scientists and their knowledge that went into testing and ultimately FDA approval for this drug. 
     As we waited for the results for 45 minutes in the exam room all that we could hear was...tick, tick, tick from the clock.  Bran was having an anxiety attack and I was holding it together for her.   I told her   whatever the news we will deal with it.  Just like we have for 2 years.  Our lives are not the same but would not change a thing.  I have the most loving, big hearted, non judgmental and will to live daughter!!  She is mine...and I am proud.  I did not give that to her...she and God did this all by themselves.  
    Brandi had tumors in her lungs, liver, bowel and ovaries.  Not to mention the 3 small lymph nodes with tumor under her left arm.  Those had been there for 2 years!!!  The doctors could not see anything on the scans.  The tumors were gone or so small they were not at all visible even with smallest slice of imaging!! 
    We love you all...although we can never thank you all enough in person.  We talk of you daily and how much more difficult would this journey be without the angels God placed here to pray for us, love us and get us through.  Everytime we make that trip to Houston we know we are not alone.  
    Pray for her to eventually have relief from the side effects of BRAF.  It's the toughest so far..... 

Posted by DarlaR
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