› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Next Step in this Journey
- This topic has 18 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 4 months ago by
Linny.
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- September 11, 2012 at 6:32 pm
First off, thanks to all the posters on here for the information and encouragement. I posted on here over a year ago (Feb 2011) when I was first diagnosed at stage 2C from something that looked like a wart on my left forearm… went through the WLE and sentinel lymph node biopsy – all clear. PET scan was clear. Life continued as normal with the exception of the oncology and dermatology followups.
First off, thanks to all the posters on here for the information and encouragement. I posted on here over a year ago (Feb 2011) when I was first diagnosed at stage 2C from something that looked like a wart on my left forearm… went through the WLE and sentinel lymph node biopsy – all clear. PET scan was clear. Life continued as normal with the exception of the oncology and dermatology followups.
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago – noticed a strange lump between my armpit and my elbow. Was not too concerned but asked my dermatologist about it since I had an appointment anyway. The next day I was talking to the oncologist (new one since I moved to North Carolina a few months ago). He did not think lymph nodes were in that location but he had me scheduled for a biopsy the very next day.
When they were doing the biopsy, they noted that it was a lymph node after they drew cells from it. At that point, my heart sunk a little. Then I made a comment about not expecting good news since it was a lymph node… dead silence in the room for about 30 seconds and at that point I knew. I had the weekend to come to terms with what I expected to hear and then heard today from the oncologist. The lymph node contained melanoma so I am now stage 3C.
Now I am being referred to a Dr. John Stewart at the Wake Forest Baptist Health Cancer Center in Winston-Salem, NC (about an hour from where I am in Mooresville). Not too many choices for stage 3 other than interferon which I have already decided against. Just going to try to keep a positive attitude and take one step at a time… none of us ask for this but we deal with the hand we are given. Seeing the long term stage 3 and 4 survivors on here is encouraging.
Kevin
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- September 11, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Sorry you got the news no one wants to hear. Kevin it is great to have a positive mindset.You can live with this.Will keep you in my prayers .Beat the Beast. Al
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- September 11, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Sorry you got the news no one wants to hear. Kevin it is great to have a positive mindset.You can live with this.Will keep you in my prayers .Beat the Beast. Al
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- September 11, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Sorry you got the news no one wants to hear. Kevin it is great to have a positive mindset.You can live with this.Will keep you in my prayers .Beat the Beast. Al
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- September 11, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Hi Kevin, sorry to hear your news. We are in Boone, North Carolina and my husband is stage 4 and has been for 6 years. We see Dr. Asim Amin at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and he is wonderful. He is a melanoma specialist and works very closely with a surgical oncologist named Rich White who is equally as wonderful. We are currently at MD Anderson for a "study" possibilitity but just wnated to let you know that we think very highly of our two doctors in Charlotte since you are in Mooresville. Best of luck, Iso appreciate your positive outlook, that has made a huge difference in our journey as welll! Wishes, thoughts and prayers to you, Melissa
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- September 11, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Hi Kevin, sorry to hear your news. We are in Boone, North Carolina and my husband is stage 4 and has been for 6 years. We see Dr. Asim Amin at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and he is wonderful. He is a melanoma specialist and works very closely with a surgical oncologist named Rich White who is equally as wonderful. We are currently at MD Anderson for a "study" possibilitity but just wnated to let you know that we think very highly of our two doctors in Charlotte since you are in Mooresville. Best of luck, Iso appreciate your positive outlook, that has made a huge difference in our journey as welll! Wishes, thoughts and prayers to you, Melissa
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- September 11, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Hi Kevin, sorry to hear your news. We are in Boone, North Carolina and my husband is stage 4 and has been for 6 years. We see Dr. Asim Amin at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and he is wonderful. He is a melanoma specialist and works very closely with a surgical oncologist named Rich White who is equally as wonderful. We are currently at MD Anderson for a "study" possibilitity but just wnated to let you know that we think very highly of our two doctors in Charlotte since you are in Mooresville. Best of luck, Iso appreciate your positive outlook, that has made a huge difference in our journey as welll! Wishes, thoughts and prayers to you, Melissa
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- September 12, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Kevin,You may want toast your dr about radiation to that whole area in hopes that if any other cells are in the area you can stop them from spreading.
Please watch that area carefully if you choose not to do any treatments. Feel the area for lumps and bumps. If you notice anything, get it checked out right away. Another option might be to see if they would use diagnostic ultrasound to monitor that area.
Good luck to you and hope you have no further issues.
Julie in Las Vegas
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- September 12, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Kevin,You may want toast your dr about radiation to that whole area in hopes that if any other cells are in the area you can stop them from spreading.
Please watch that area carefully if you choose not to do any treatments. Feel the area for lumps and bumps. If you notice anything, get it checked out right away. Another option might be to see if they would use diagnostic ultrasound to monitor that area.
Good luck to you and hope you have no further issues.
Julie in Las Vegas
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- September 12, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Kevin,You may want toast your dr about radiation to that whole area in hopes that if any other cells are in the area you can stop them from spreading.
Please watch that area carefully if you choose not to do any treatments. Feel the area for lumps and bumps. If you notice anything, get it checked out right away. Another option might be to see if they would use diagnostic ultrasound to monitor that area.
Good luck to you and hope you have no further issues.
Julie in Las Vegas
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- September 13, 2012 at 12:53 am
Thanks for the info on CMC Charlotte – I have a PET scan scheduled for this Friday and Dr. Rich White is actually the person I am seeing down there. I did make the drive up to Dr. John Stewart at the Wake Forest Baptist Health Cancer Center today. He will be the one doing my surgery in 2 weeks – going to remove the infected lymph node and conduct another sentinel lymph node biopsy.
After the surgery, he mentioned the possibility of getting involved in one of two trials – one was a group split between interferon and yervoy and the other was a vaccine trial, which sounded more interesting. Have some research to do… the thing that seems tough to me about the trials is you seem to be rolling the dice relative to which treatment you get since you could be part of the control group.
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- September 13, 2012 at 3:23 am
Just wanted to let you know that Dr Amin is also my melanoma specialist and Dr White has been my oncology surgeon. Now joining the team now is Dr Heather Brooks.
I know that CMC has that same trial.
Linda
stage IV since 06 presently have brain mets and on zelboraf
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- September 13, 2012 at 3:23 am
Just wanted to let you know that Dr Amin is also my melanoma specialist and Dr White has been my oncology surgeon. Now joining the team now is Dr Heather Brooks.
I know that CMC has that same trial.
Linda
stage IV since 06 presently have brain mets and on zelboraf
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- September 13, 2012 at 3:23 am
Just wanted to let you know that Dr Amin is also my melanoma specialist and Dr White has been my oncology surgeon. Now joining the team now is Dr Heather Brooks.
I know that CMC has that same trial.
Linda
stage IV since 06 presently have brain mets and on zelboraf
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- September 13, 2012 at 12:53 am
Thanks for the info on CMC Charlotte – I have a PET scan scheduled for this Friday and Dr. Rich White is actually the person I am seeing down there. I did make the drive up to Dr. John Stewart at the Wake Forest Baptist Health Cancer Center today. He will be the one doing my surgery in 2 weeks – going to remove the infected lymph node and conduct another sentinel lymph node biopsy.
After the surgery, he mentioned the possibility of getting involved in one of two trials – one was a group split between interferon and yervoy and the other was a vaccine trial, which sounded more interesting. Have some research to do… the thing that seems tough to me about the trials is you seem to be rolling the dice relative to which treatment you get since you could be part of the control group.
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- September 13, 2012 at 12:53 am
Thanks for the info on CMC Charlotte – I have a PET scan scheduled for this Friday and Dr. Rich White is actually the person I am seeing down there. I did make the drive up to Dr. John Stewart at the Wake Forest Baptist Health Cancer Center today. He will be the one doing my surgery in 2 weeks – going to remove the infected lymph node and conduct another sentinel lymph node biopsy.
After the surgery, he mentioned the possibility of getting involved in one of two trials – one was a group split between interferon and yervoy and the other was a vaccine trial, which sounded more interesting. Have some research to do… the thing that seems tough to me about the trials is you seem to be rolling the dice relative to which treatment you get since you could be part of the control group.
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- September 13, 2012 at 10:49 am
Sorry to hear you're now at IIIc. It's hard, but try to stay positive.
A short while ago Lynn Luckeroth posted a link to an Anti PD-1 trial for Stage IIIc patients at Moffitt over in Tampa. The trial has been available only to those at Stage IV but Moffitt has expanded it at their facility to include some IIIc patients. This might be something worth looking into. But you need to act on it quickly as there are not many slots available. Lynn is at Stage IV and is a long term survivor thanks to this trial.
http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=682183&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=10185044#AlternateTitle_CDR0000682183 -
- September 13, 2012 at 10:49 am
Sorry to hear you're now at IIIc. It's hard, but try to stay positive.
A short while ago Lynn Luckeroth posted a link to an Anti PD-1 trial for Stage IIIc patients at Moffitt over in Tampa. The trial has been available only to those at Stage IV but Moffitt has expanded it at their facility to include some IIIc patients. This might be something worth looking into. But you need to act on it quickly as there are not many slots available. Lynn is at Stage IV and is a long term survivor thanks to this trial.
http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=682183&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=10185044#AlternateTitle_CDR0000682183 -
- September 13, 2012 at 10:49 am
Sorry to hear you're now at IIIc. It's hard, but try to stay positive.
A short while ago Lynn Luckeroth posted a link to an Anti PD-1 trial for Stage IIIc patients at Moffitt over in Tampa. The trial has been available only to those at Stage IV but Moffitt has expanded it at their facility to include some IIIc patients. This might be something worth looking into. But you need to act on it quickly as there are not many slots available. Lynn is at Stage IV and is a long term survivor thanks to this trial.
http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=682183&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=10185044#AlternateTitle_CDR0000682183
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