Dan, Pam and Mara HowardNovember 2004
Six weeks after the joy of welcoming Mara into the world, Dan had finally found the time to have the mole on his back removed. It was tested again and this time, it showed it's true nature and Dan was diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma. At Thanksgiving, the family marveled over Mara and slapped Dan a few times on the back right where he had the mole removed. Dan's wince of pain of course, led to a few more back slaps.
Given the positive biopsy, Dan was scheduled for testing of the area around the mole and also of his lymph nodes. The cancer was quickly upgraded to Stage II Melanoma and Dan went through surgery number 2 and then surgery number 3 as it was discovered to have already spread to his lymph nodes. By the time these surgeries were complete, Dan had some impressive scars (back, neck and arm), was short about 15 lymph nodes and was 'upgraded' to a stage III Melanoma.
Six weeks after the joy of welcoming Mara into the world, Dan had finally found the time to have the mole on his back removed. It was tested again and this time, it showed it's true nature and Dan was diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma. At Thanksgiving, the family marveled over Mara and slapped Dan a few times on the back right where he had the mole removed. Dan's wince of pain of course, led to a few more back slaps.
Given the positive biopsy, Dan was scheduled for testing of the area around the mole and also of his lymph nodes. The cancer was quickly upgraded to Stage II Melanoma and Dan went through surgery number 2 and then surgery number 3 as it was discovered to have already spread to his lymph nodes. By the time these surgeries were complete, Dan had some impressive scars (back, neck and arm), was short about 15 lymph nodes and was 'upgraded' to a stage III Melanoma.
