no trial for Julie

Forums General Melanoma Community no trial for Julie

  • Post
    Julie in SoCal
    Participant

      Greetings Friends,

      im not sure why, but this post has been rejected 2 times now. Maybe the third time's a charm.

      It's been a wild roller coaster of a ride the last few weeks.  I thought that the treatment ride was leveling out (though probably not coming to a full and complete stop).  I thought I was joining a clinical trial. Alas it's not to be.  So here kicking Mel as I know it-
       
      I will not be joining either of the trials I had hoped and thought I qualified fo. My liver numbers are too high and so I don't qualify.  So the plan is to get to get my liver back in shape where it should be and then move on with Mel.
       
      My Rock Star Doc and I also talked about having the lung tumor resected and being done with it for now.  But again, there's no hurry on the lung critter and I still have options, just not clinical trial options at this time.
       
      So that's all the news.  Of course, like a good coaster with hidden ups and downs, the plan is liable to change -seemingly at any moment (usually after I just catch my breath).  I'll be keeping my hands and arms inside the car at all times, but full and complete stop is a long ways off.
       
      Here's to the process!  Thanks for riding with me,
       
      shalom,
       
      Julie
    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        Patina
        Participant

          Can you have gamma knife for liver mets. Seems like that might be an option. – You'd need a good radiation oncologist. – Dr. Erick Chang was my Mom's.

          Another local guy missed one of my Mom's brain tumors. Not a lot of experience I guess. – Be careful with who you go with, if this is possible.

            cancersnewnormal
            Participant

              You're right Patina, Dr Eric Chang at USC is an amazing radiation oncologist. Absolutely brilliant man, and incredibly good with patient care/contact. I call him "MY" brain genius. If not for him, I'd be long dead. #truth

              Julie, Dr. O'Day has a fabulous reputation. I know another of his patients, and he also considers him a "Rock Star". 😉  

              If you do consider lung surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Hagen is so talented, that other surgeons say they would use him if they ever found themselves in need for thoracic surgery! 

              By the time I had Pembro as an option, most of my tumor load was removed and/or gamma treated. I'm in the lucky pile of people that completely responded to the drug. So completely… too completely… and now we're managing the mounting (and very late blooming) side effects. 

              With your rock star medical oncologist, you've got the best possible scenario for making it back up those downhills on the coaster ride! 

              cancersnewnormal
              Participant

                You're right Patina, Dr Eric Chang at USC is an amazing radiation oncologist. Absolutely brilliant man, and incredibly good with patient care/contact. I call him "MY" brain genius. If not for him, I'd be long dead. #truth

                Julie, Dr. O'Day has a fabulous reputation. I know another of his patients, and he also considers him a "Rock Star". 😉  

                If you do consider lung surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Hagen is so talented, that other surgeons say they would use him if they ever found themselves in need for thoracic surgery! 

                By the time I had Pembro as an option, most of my tumor load was removed and/or gamma treated. I'm in the lucky pile of people that completely responded to the drug. So completely… too completely… and now we're managing the mounting (and very late blooming) side effects. 

                With your rock star medical oncologist, you've got the best possible scenario for making it back up those downhills on the coaster ride! 

                cancersnewnormal
                Participant

                  You're right Patina, Dr Eric Chang at USC is an amazing radiation oncologist. Absolutely brilliant man, and incredibly good with patient care/contact. I call him "MY" brain genius. If not for him, I'd be long dead. #truth

                  Julie, Dr. O'Day has a fabulous reputation. I know another of his patients, and he also considers him a "Rock Star". 😉  

                  If you do consider lung surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Hagen is so talented, that other surgeons say they would use him if they ever found themselves in need for thoracic surgery! 

                  By the time I had Pembro as an option, most of my tumor load was removed and/or gamma treated. I'm in the lucky pile of people that completely responded to the drug. So completely… too completely… and now we're managing the mounting (and very late blooming) side effects. 

                  With your rock star medical oncologist, you've got the best possible scenario for making it back up those downhills on the coaster ride! 

                Patina
                Participant

                  Can you have gamma knife for liver mets. Seems like that might be an option. – You'd need a good radiation oncologist. – Dr. Erick Chang was my Mom's.

                  Another local guy missed one of my Mom's brain tumors. Not a lot of experience I guess. – Be careful with who you go with, if this is possible.

                  Patina
                  Participant

                    Can you have gamma knife for liver mets. Seems like that might be an option. – You'd need a good radiation oncologist. – Dr. Erick Chang was my Mom's.

                    Another local guy missed one of my Mom's brain tumors. Not a lot of experience I guess. – Be careful with who you go with, if this is possible.

                    debwray
                    Participant

                      Aww Julie,

                      Not news I was  hoping for from you  when you even had note than on plan lined up.

                      You are so right about melanoma being a  roller coaster ride. 

                      My trials treatment for resected stags 3 pembro was officially ended this week.. due to a combo of too long on treatment holiday caused by other medical problems possibly trials related. Came to an outpatients appointment and 3 weeks later still in hospital on IV antibiotics and another surgery on the list for my lymphoedema leg. So have been prowling round the forum and learning / reading more about treatments in between the iv infusions.

                      You have a brilliant approach to all of this and as pembro gets washed out of your system maybe the liver enzyme stuff will sort itself out. Keeping the resectable lung met might even help you qualify for the next set of trials which seem to be coming tghrough think and fast fee combination treatments and ideal timing of dual agent approaches.

                      Thank you for posting about this. At times I feel quite raw with tgbe emotional impact of melanoma but seeing other people dealing with problems makes me feel less isolated and our ability as a group to cope with adversity is at times humbling.

                      Thinking of you and sending you an internet hug which is fallback option when words fail me.

                      Shallom and good luck,

                      Deb

                       

                       

                      debwray
                      Participant

                        Aww Julie,

                        Not news I was  hoping for from you  when you even had note than on plan lined up.

                        You are so right about melanoma being a  roller coaster ride. 

                        My trials treatment for resected stags 3 pembro was officially ended this week.. due to a combo of too long on treatment holiday caused by other medical problems possibly trials related. Came to an outpatients appointment and 3 weeks later still in hospital on IV antibiotics and another surgery on the list for my lymphoedema leg. So have been prowling round the forum and learning / reading more about treatments in between the iv infusions.

                        You have a brilliant approach to all of this and as pembro gets washed out of your system maybe the liver enzyme stuff will sort itself out. Keeping the resectable lung met might even help you qualify for the next set of trials which seem to be coming tghrough think and fast fee combination treatments and ideal timing of dual agent approaches.

                        Thank you for posting about this. At times I feel quite raw with tgbe emotional impact of melanoma but seeing other people dealing with problems makes me feel less isolated and our ability as a group to cope with adversity is at times humbling.

                        Thinking of you and sending you an internet hug which is fallback option when words fail me.

                        Shallom and good luck,

                        Deb

                         

                         

                        debwray
                        Participant

                          Aww Julie,

                          Not news I was  hoping for from you  when you even had note than on plan lined up.

                          You are so right about melanoma being a  roller coaster ride. 

                          My trials treatment for resected stags 3 pembro was officially ended this week.. due to a combo of too long on treatment holiday caused by other medical problems possibly trials related. Came to an outpatients appointment and 3 weeks later still in hospital on IV antibiotics and another surgery on the list for my lymphoedema leg. So have been prowling round the forum and learning / reading more about treatments in between the iv infusions.

                          You have a brilliant approach to all of this and as pembro gets washed out of your system maybe the liver enzyme stuff will sort itself out. Keeping the resectable lung met might even help you qualify for the next set of trials which seem to be coming tghrough think and fast fee combination treatments and ideal timing of dual agent approaches.

                          Thank you for posting about this. At times I feel quite raw with tgbe emotional impact of melanoma but seeing other people dealing with problems makes me feel less isolated and our ability as a group to cope with adversity is at times humbling.

                          Thinking of you and sending you an internet hug which is fallback option when words fail me.

                          Shallom and good luck,

                          Deb

                           

                           

                          Casitas1
                          Participant

                            Dang, sounds like the Riddlers Revenge now! Talked to Rock Star today and said i missed you by a few hours. We are debating weather to discontinue treatment now or wait till Jan. Prolly just get a Fast Pass and ride it out till then. Good luck Julie and may there be many Lazy Rivers ahead…

                            Best, Paul

                            Casitas1
                            Participant

                              Dang, sounds like the Riddlers Revenge now! Talked to Rock Star today and said i missed you by a few hours. We are debating weather to discontinue treatment now or wait till Jan. Prolly just get a Fast Pass and ride it out till then. Good luck Julie and may there be many Lazy Rivers ahead…

                              Best, Paul

                              Casitas1
                              Participant

                                Dang, sounds like the Riddlers Revenge now! Talked to Rock Star today and said i missed you by a few hours. We are debating weather to discontinue treatment now or wait till Jan. Prolly just get a Fast Pass and ride it out till then. Good luck Julie and may there be many Lazy Rivers ahead…

                                Best, Paul

                                Bubbles
                                Participant

                                  Well, good grief! Sorry, Julie! I hate that for you…not that there aren't other things you can do…but the infernal melanoma merry-go-round is anything but merry! Hang in there. I know you will persevere in your lovely way. Keep us posted on what you do decide to do. Yours, celeste

                                  Bubbles
                                  Participant

                                    Well, good grief! Sorry, Julie! I hate that for you…not that there aren't other things you can do…but the infernal melanoma merry-go-round is anything but merry! Hang in there. I know you will persevere in your lovely way. Keep us posted on what you do decide to do. Yours, celeste

                                    Bubbles
                                    Participant

                                      Well, good grief! Sorry, Julie! I hate that for you…not that there aren't other things you can do…but the infernal melanoma merry-go-round is anything but merry! Hang in there. I know you will persevere in your lovely way. Keep us posted on what you do decide to do. Yours, celeste

                                      Mamapegela
                                      Participant

                                        Hi Julie-

                                        I know the feeling of being so ready to start a clinical trial then finding out nope!- ineligible.  I'm sorry your'e going through this.  

                                        Melanoma is such an enigma!  To compare, my sister had breast cancer with positive axillary lymph nodes, had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection, then bam! Chemo and radiation- bye bye cancer.  I have melanoma with positive cervical lymph nodes, WLE, neck dissection, possible lung mets now yet I'm waiting and waiting for treatment.  Waiting, wondering and praying.

                                        Anyway I am with the others who are wishing well for you.  I'm thankful that we have this forum to meet and get support and understanding from other people who are where we are at.  Please keep us updated!

                                        All the best-

                                        Peggy

                                         

                                        Mamapegela
                                        Participant

                                          Hi Julie-

                                          I know the feeling of being so ready to start a clinical trial then finding out nope!- ineligible.  I'm sorry your'e going through this.  

                                          Melanoma is such an enigma!  To compare, my sister had breast cancer with positive axillary lymph nodes, had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection, then bam! Chemo and radiation- bye bye cancer.  I have melanoma with positive cervical lymph nodes, WLE, neck dissection, possible lung mets now yet I'm waiting and waiting for treatment.  Waiting, wondering and praying.

                                          Anyway I am with the others who are wishing well for you.  I'm thankful that we have this forum to meet and get support and understanding from other people who are where we are at.  Please keep us updated!

                                          All the best-

                                          Peggy

                                           

                                          Mamapegela
                                          Participant

                                            Hi Julie-

                                            I know the feeling of being so ready to start a clinical trial then finding out nope!- ineligible.  I'm sorry your'e going through this.  

                                            Melanoma is such an enigma!  To compare, my sister had breast cancer with positive axillary lymph nodes, had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection, then bam! Chemo and radiation- bye bye cancer.  I have melanoma with positive cervical lymph nodes, WLE, neck dissection, possible lung mets now yet I'm waiting and waiting for treatment.  Waiting, wondering and praying.

                                            Anyway I am with the others who are wishing well for you.  I'm thankful that we have this forum to meet and get support and understanding from other people who are where we are at.  Please keep us updated!

                                            All the best-

                                            Peggy

                                             

                                        Viewing 14 reply threads
                                        • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                                        About the MRF Patient Forum

                                        The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                                        The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                                        Popular Topics