Stage IV; it’s official…

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  • Post
    • May 7, 2011 at 3:54 am
    shellebrownies
    Participant

      Bad news from Dana Farber today; Don is officially Stage IV. It appears that it is spreading even more rapidly than the doctors expected. The PET scan done last week showed not only increased tumor growth deeper in his right shoulder, but it also showed at least 2 mets in his liver (one on each lobe), bone lesions in several areas away from the original site.

      Bad news from Dana Farber today; Don is officially Stage IV. It appears that it is spreading even more rapidly than the doctors expected. The PET scan done last week showed not only increased tumor growth deeper in his right shoulder, but it also showed at least 2 mets in his liver (one on each lobe), bone lesions in several areas away from the original site.

      We are still waiting for the BRAF test results (our old hospital dragged their feet on getting DF the sample…), but Don had to get another CT and MRI today and he will be getting a liver met biopsied the early part of next week. The doctors are hoping to get him into the BRAF/MEK trial, assuming the test results are in the brain are still clear.

      Please…. we could really use listening to your stage IV sucess stories right about now…. 

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 7, 2011 at 10:49 am
        FormerCaregiver
        Participant

          Sorry to read that Don has reached stage IV. Thanks for completing his profile. I have just read
          it and it is comprehensive and very well written.

          Very recently, I posted the details to an amazing stage IV success story. Just in case you
          haven't seen it already, here is the link:
          http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/tremendous-success-story

          You may have read about other long-term stage IV people in this forum. They have really defied
          the odds. I am hoping that perhaps they might like to say a bit about their experiences.

          Hope this helps.

          Frank from Australia

          • May 7, 2011 at 10:49 am
          FormerCaregiver
          Participant

            Sorry to read that Don has reached stage IV. Thanks for completing his profile. I have just read
            it and it is comprehensive and very well written.

            Very recently, I posted the details to an amazing stage IV success story. Just in case you
            haven't seen it already, here is the link:
            http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/tremendous-success-story

            You may have read about other long-term stage IV people in this forum. They have really defied
            the odds. I am hoping that perhaps they might like to say a bit about their experiences.

            Hope this helps.

            Frank from Australia

            • May 7, 2011 at 10:33 pm
            Carol Taylor
            Participant

              While I can't give you a stage 4 success story because I'm 3b, I do want to encourage you and Don to hang in there!  I'm sorry you two got the news you did, it's got to be a huge blow.  Praying for you both, Friend.

              Lord, in Your mercy, open the doors for Don to receive the treatment he needs to beat this horrible disease and hold him and Michelle together through this time and close to You. Amen.

              Grace and peace,

              Carol

              • May 7, 2011 at 10:33 pm
              Carol Taylor
              Participant

                While I can't give you a stage 4 success story because I'm 3b, I do want to encourage you and Don to hang in there!  I'm sorry you two got the news you did, it's got to be a huge blow.  Praying for you both, Friend.

                Lord, in Your mercy, open the doors for Don to receive the treatment he needs to beat this horrible disease and hold him and Michelle together through this time and close to You. Amen.

                Grace and peace,

                Carol

                • May 7, 2011 at 10:38 pm
                King
                Participant

                  Hello Michelle,

                  I'm sorry to see that Don has advanced to Stage IV.  You've asked for Stage IV success stories so that's why I have responded.  I advanced to Stage IV in 2005….10 weeks after completing 1 year of Interferon for Stage III.  At that time, in 2005, my only area of metastasis was a 4.5cm tumor in the liver.  I was very fortunate and was able to have the tumor removed surgically (70% of my liver).  In 2008, I had a recurrence in 2 areas….around my pancreas and a subcutaneous tumor in my hip/buttock area.  Normally, surgery is not an option when one is dealing with more than one area of metastasis.  However, the surgeon who had performed my liver resection agreed to the surgery after some urging from my medical oncologist.  I have been NED since 2008.

                   

                  Don's journey is different from mine since he has multiple areas of mets.  However, he also might have more choices than I had.  There were no BRAF trials for melanoma in 2008, Yervoy had not been FDA approved, etc.

                  I know the news is very scary.  Try to take one day at a time and continue doing your own research.  Dana Farber is a well respected melanoma center as you probably know.

                  Keep us posted.

                  Stay Strong

                  King/Kathie

                  Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets

                    • May 7, 2011 at 11:07 pm
                    boot2aboot
                    Participant

                      i am so sorry to hear this news about Don, and for that matter Lisa's too and this news is particularly sad as Don, Lisa and i are in the same 'graduation class'…we are all in it together and i hope that some stage 4ers can give you good advice

                      boots

                      • May 7, 2011 at 11:07 pm
                      boot2aboot
                      Participant

                        i am so sorry to hear this news about Don, and for that matter Lisa's too and this news is particularly sad as Don, Lisa and i are in the same 'graduation class'…we are all in it together and i hope that some stage 4ers can give you good advice

                        boots

                      • May 7, 2011 at 10:38 pm
                      King
                      Participant

                        Hello Michelle,

                        I'm sorry to see that Don has advanced to Stage IV.  You've asked for Stage IV success stories so that's why I have responded.  I advanced to Stage IV in 2005….10 weeks after completing 1 year of Interferon for Stage III.  At that time, in 2005, my only area of metastasis was a 4.5cm tumor in the liver.  I was very fortunate and was able to have the tumor removed surgically (70% of my liver).  In 2008, I had a recurrence in 2 areas….around my pancreas and a subcutaneous tumor in my hip/buttock area.  Normally, surgery is not an option when one is dealing with more than one area of metastasis.  However, the surgeon who had performed my liver resection agreed to the surgery after some urging from my medical oncologist.  I have been NED since 2008.

                         

                        Don's journey is different from mine since he has multiple areas of mets.  However, he also might have more choices than I had.  There were no BRAF trials for melanoma in 2008, Yervoy had not been FDA approved, etc.

                        I know the news is very scary.  Try to take one day at a time and continue doing your own research.  Dana Farber is a well respected melanoma center as you probably know.

                        Keep us posted.

                        Stay Strong

                        King/Kathie

                        Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets

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