In July 2024, it started with the removal of a mole. A few days later, we received the call that it was melanoma.
Based on the Breslow thickness, the measure indicating how deep a melanoma has grown into the skin, the melanoma was classified as stage 2. At that time, there were no visible metastases, but the tumor’s thickness did carry an increased risk.
That news hit hard. As soon as you hear the word cancer, little feels self-evident anymore.
During the surgery in August, the sentinel lymph node in the groin was also removed. This is the first lymph node that collects lymphatic fluid from the tumor area and therefore provides an important indication of whether the cancer has spread. If cancer cells are found there, it means the disease has spread beyond its original location.
A small metastasis of 0.5 millimeters was found in that node. With that result, stage 2 changed to stage 3. Even though the metastasis was minuscule, the word hit hard, and that moment remains vivid in our memory.
The scan that turned everything upside down
At the end of August, a PET-CT scan followed. During the appointment afterwards, the oncologist said that so much lit up in the groin that it looked like a string of beads. Based on what he saw, he said we should assume these were metastases.
That image came home with us. We felt the ground give way beneath our feet, and the certainty of the future disappeared. You immediately think about later, about everything you still want to do together, and how much of that is still certain.
At the same time, we felt an increasing need not to live only by scans, results and medical conversations, but also to look at what we could do ourselves. We started reading, searching and listening, delving into nutrition, lifestyle, stress and everything that could support Arnaud’s body in daily life alongside medical care.
One of the first concrete steps was a smoothie we put together ourselves. On September 21, 2024, Arnaud began drinking it daily. It became a fixed morning ritual and provided structure during a period when so much was beyond our control.
An unexpected turn
On October 10, 2024, the next PET-CT scan followed. We went with tension in our bodies and were prepared for bad news.
The scan was good.
There were no indications of distant metastases, and the lymph nodes that had previously shown activity were now less active. What had seemed almost certain at first turned out to be reactive. We felt relief, gratitude and disbelief, but also confusion, because something that had been presented so emphatically and worryingly suddenly turned out to be different.
We still don’t know exactly why the image changed. Possibly the surgery, the body’s recovery response or the initial interpretation played a role. What we do know is that this period set something in motion within us. The smoothie and our initial lifestyle choices provided a foothold and helped us stay involved in what was within our reach.
From October 20, we made significant changes to our diet. We switched to plant-based nutrition and continued exploring nutrition, lifestyle and other ways to support the body alongside medical care. It became a joint decision based on everything we had read and learned, and it gave us something to hold on to during a period that felt anything but stable.
Since then, Arnaud has remained clear on the scans. That brings much gratitude, especially because the risk of recurrence or metastases remains elevated with stage 3 melanoma.
A difficult personal consideration
At Amphia, immunotherapy was strongly recommended because the risk of recurrence was considered high, and from a medical perspective, starting treatment was the clear recommendation.
For Arnaud, that choice felt less obvious. We talked at length about the potential benefits, side effects and what felt right for him at that moment. There was no visible disease, and he wanted to give his body time for recovery, lifestyle changes and trust in his body.
After much deliberation, Arnaud decided not to start immunotherapy. That choice felt heavy because it meant deviating from medical advice, and he strongly felt the responsibility that came with that decision. At the same time, the decision felt right for him, his body and what he considered the most careful choice at that moment.
Living with uncertainty
We don’t know why Arnaud is still clear or why that ‘string of beads’ ultimately did not become a reality.
What we do know is what this period has done to us. It made us vulnerable, grateful, and more aware, and it changed how we view health, how we approach nutrition, and how we make choices.
For us, ‘taking charge’ does not mean that you can control everything. It means being actively involved in the choices you make, exploring what works for you and carefully considering what feels right for you and your situation. For us, that involvement doesn’t come from fear, but from a desire to live as consciously as possible with what is within our reach.
Today, Arnaud is clear, and we are grateful for that every single day.
Do you want more explanation about terms from this story? On the All About Melanoma page, you will find a clear overview of articles and concepts.
