Stage IIIa – Update

Can I inquire as to your dietary and vitamin changes? I have been looking into this as well…..

Congrats on feeling better!!!!!

Can I inquire as to your dietary and vitamin changes? I have been looking into this as well…..

Congrats on feeling better!!!!!

Can I inquire as to your dietary and vitamin changes? I have been looking into this as well…..

Congrats on feeling better!!!!!

Can I inquire as to your dietary and vitamin changes? I have been looking into this as well…..

Congrats on feeling better!!!!!

Can I inquire as to your dietary and vitamin changes? I have been looking into this as well…..

Congrats on feeling better!!!!!

Can I inquire as to your dietary and vitamin changes? I have been looking into this as well…..

Congrats on feeling better!!!!!

One of the few vitamin supplements proved worthy is vitamin D,

One of the few vitamin supplements proved worthy is vitamin D,

One of the few vitamin supplements proved worthy is vitamin D,

Regular scans are done in Canada.  It may depend on where you are located and the views of your doctor.  It is true that in the past some doctors felt nothing was gained by scanning routinely as there really wasn't much to offer patients in the way of treatment.  This is nolonger true.  Finding recurrences early is important because there are now treatments that provide durable responses. At our centre, scans are done (for Stage 111 patients) every 3-4 months or more frequently as warranted by symptoms.

Regular scans are done in Canada.  It may depend on where you are located and the views of your doctor.  It is true that in the past some doctors felt nothing was gained by scanning routinely as there really wasn't much to offer patients in the way of treatment.  This is nolonger true.  Finding recurrences early is important because there are now treatments that provide durable responses. At our centre, scans are done (for Stage 111 patients) every 3-4 months or more frequently as warranted by symptoms.

Regular scans are done in Canada.  It may depend on where you are located and the views of your doctor.  It is true that in the past some doctors felt nothing was gained by scanning routinely as there really wasn't much to offer patients in the way of treatment.  This is nolonger true.  Finding recurrences early is important because there are now treatments that provide durable responses. At our centre, scans are done (for Stage 111 patients) every 3-4 months or more frequently as warranted by symptoms.

Glad to hear you're well my friend…. was wondering if you went down trial path, Check in and keep us up to date. Be well!!!

Josh

Glad to hear you're well my friend…. was wondering if you went down trial path, Check in and keep us up to date. Be well!!!

Josh

Glad to hear you're well my friend…. was wondering if you went down trial path, Check in and keep us up to date. Be well!!!

Josh

Hi, Samuel-

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering what you finally decided to do and how you were feellng. It sounds like you're doing really well. Good for you! I also think that focusing on a healthful diet plus a few extra "kickers" for the immune system is a great idea. That's probably the best thing you could do for yourself right now.

I do think that it is important for you to ge CT scans on a regular basis. Two or three times a year for the first 2 or 3 years and then once or twice a year for the next couple of years. I find it hard to believe that the Canadian health care system won't pay for that. I suggest you post a message about follow-up scans on the Melanoma International Foundation forum ( http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/ ). They have a lot of Canadian members. 

If you do have to pay for it out of pocket, read the Consumer Reports article on how much CT scans cost (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/07/that-ct-scan-costs-how-much/index.htm ). Most of the article talks about American health insurance which won't apply to you. But check out the part near the end of the article that talks about   FairHealthConsumer.org and  HealthcareBlueBook.com . According to them, you should be able to get a CT scan with and without contrast for about $300. You would 2 scans (chest and abdomen) each visit.

You're doing great! Just keep doing what you are doing and continue to enjoy your life. May you never see melanoma again!

Hi, Samuel-

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering what you finally decided to do and how you were feellng. It sounds like you're doing really well. Good for you! I also think that focusing on a healthful diet plus a few extra "kickers" for the immune system is a great idea. That's probably the best thing you could do for yourself right now.

I do think that it is important for you to ge CT scans on a regular basis. Two or three times a year for the first 2 or 3 years and then once or twice a year for the next couple of years. I find it hard to believe that the Canadian health care system won't pay for that. I suggest you post a message about follow-up scans on the Melanoma International Foundation forum ( http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/ ). They have a lot of Canadian members. 

If you do have to pay for it out of pocket, read the Consumer Reports article on how much CT scans cost (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/07/that-ct-scan-costs-how-much/index.htm ). Most of the article talks about American health insurance which won't apply to you. But check out the part near the end of the article that talks about   FairHealthConsumer.org and  HealthcareBlueBook.com . According to them, you should be able to get a CT scan with and without contrast for about $300. You would 2 scans (chest and abdomen) each visit.

You're doing great! Just keep doing what you are doing and continue to enjoy your life. May you never see melanoma again!

Hi, Samuel-

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering what you finally decided to do and how you were feellng. It sounds like you're doing really well. Good for you! I also think that focusing on a healthful diet plus a few extra "kickers" for the immune system is a great idea. That's probably the best thing you could do for yourself right now.

I do think that it is important for you to ge CT scans on a regular basis. Two or three times a year for the first 2 or 3 years and then once or twice a year for the next couple of years. I find it hard to believe that the Canadian health care system won't pay for that. I suggest you post a message about follow-up scans on the Melanoma International Foundation forum ( http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/ ). They have a lot of Canadian members. 

If you do have to pay for it out of pocket, read the Consumer Reports article on how much CT scans cost (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/07/that-ct-scan-costs-how-much/index.htm ). Most of the article talks about American health insurance which won't apply to you. But check out the part near the end of the article that talks about   FairHealthConsumer.org and  HealthcareBlueBook.com . According to them, you should be able to get a CT scan with and without contrast for about $300. You would 2 scans (chest and abdomen) each visit.

You're doing great! Just keep doing what you are doing and continue to enjoy your life. May you never see melanoma again!

Hi Sbrooks. Glad to see your post.  We were diagnosed close together I think.  I had inguinal nodes removed which were clear after a positive sentinel node.  I too have chosen to watch and wait.  My MD at University of Michigan has ordered a brain MRI and full body CT scan for me in a couple of weeks.  He stated if it spread, we would want to know because of all the treatments available now.  He said if scans OK….another at 2.5 years and one at 5 years, if I am symptomatic. That is it.  Seems like everyone has a different opinion about how many scans to get, but I am comfortable with the schedule he gave me.  Might be good for you to get periodic scans.  As far as the vitamins and supplements go, I have done the same thing.  Check out turmeric too, there are some promising studies in relation to that spice and I have seen that others on this site take it as a supplement.  Good Luck!  

Hi Sbrooks. Glad to see your post.  We were diagnosed close together I think.  I had inguinal nodes removed which were clear after a positive sentinel node.  I too have chosen to watch and wait.  My MD at University of Michigan has ordered a brain MRI and full body CT scan for me in a couple of weeks.  He stated if it spread, we would want to know because of all the treatments available now.  He said if scans OK….another at 2.5 years and one at 5 years, if I am symptomatic. That is it.  Seems like everyone has a different opinion about how many scans to get, but I am comfortable with the schedule he gave me.  Might be good for you to get periodic scans.  As far as the vitamins and supplements go, I have done the same thing.  Check out turmeric too, there are some promising studies in relation to that spice and I have seen that others on this site take it as a supplement.  Good Luck!  

Hi Sbrooks. Glad to see your post.  We were diagnosed close together I think.  I had inguinal nodes removed which were clear after a positive sentinel node.  I too have chosen to watch and wait.  My MD at University of Michigan has ordered a brain MRI and full body CT scan for me in a couple of weeks.  He stated if it spread, we would want to know because of all the treatments available now.  He said if scans OK….another at 2.5 years and one at 5 years, if I am symptomatic. That is it.  Seems like everyone has a different opinion about how many scans to get, but I am comfortable with the schedule he gave me.  Might be good for you to get periodic scans.  As far as the vitamins and supplements go, I have done the same thing.  Check out turmeric too, there are some promising studies in relation to that spice and I have seen that others on this site take it as a supplement.  Good Luck!  

Hi dear,
my name is Maria am a young girl, it give's me a great pleasure to write you when i saw your profile i became interested in you, If you will have the desire with me so that we can get to know each other and see what happens, i will be very happy if you can write me back through my email address (maria23sankor@yahoo.com) to enable me send you some of my pictures and also introduce my self fully to you.
thanks so much and i will be hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours new friend, Maria.

Hi dear,
my name is Maria am a young girl, it give's me a great pleasure to write you when i saw your profile i became interested in you, If you will have the desire with me so that we can get to know each other and see what happens, i will be very happy if you can write me back through my email address (maria23sankor@yahoo.com) to enable me send you some of my pictures and also introduce my self fully to you.
thanks so much and i will be hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours new friend, Maria.

Hi dear,
my name is Maria am a young girl, it give's me a great pleasure to write you when i saw your profile i became interested in you, If you will have the desire with me so that we can get to know each other and see what happens, i will be very happy if you can write me back through my email address (maria23sankor@yahoo.com) to enable me send you some of my pictures and also introduce my self fully to you.
thanks so much and i will be hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours new friend, Maria.