Anita Mellie

Welcome and thank you for visiting Anita's CaringBridge web site.  Anita was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and so begins her journey.  We were stunned by the diagnosis, but already feel the strength of the thoughts and prayers coming from family and friends.  Instead of sending emails, we are going to use this website as a hub for information and inspirations.  Please feel free to share your thoughts and prayers and invite others.


Mom / Anita is no stranger to back pain, but the pain recently worsened and move into to her leg prompting further investigation.  Several tests were conducted including a MRI which found a mass at the bottom of her right lung which is pushing on her spine and, hence, causing the pain in her back and leg.  They also found a mass on her neck along with several spots on her spinal column. 


A bone scan, unfortunately, revealed hot spots on her spine, ribs and hip.  A soft tissue biopsy confirmed the growth in the right lung was cancerous.  The final test was a PET Scan which tied all the results together confirming cancer had spread to all major lymph nodes around in the lungs and in the chest and metastatic lesions on lower right rib, spine, neck, right hip and top of right femur.  The conclusion was Stage 4 Cancer which can only be controlled and not eradicated.  The silver lining is the tumor in her lung is not small cell and there is no evidence the spread to other major organs.