janward

Hi,

I was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma October 2010.  It was in my left thumb which was amputated; the melanoma had gone to the lymph nodes under my left armpit and those nodes were removed.  I was pronounced cancer free.  Six months later, lesions started showing up in my left lung and in July 2011 and after a biopsy, was found to have cancer in my lung.  I had Avastin and Temodar for two months and the cancer grew in my left lung and was also found in three other places . February 2012 I started Yervoy Ipilimumab) infusions.  I was able to tolerate all four infusions.  This drug targets the immune system which in turn targets the cancer.  Yervoy has a lot of side effects and I did end up with significant neuropathy in my feet and hands.  I will probably be taking systemic corticoscosteriods to help with the immune-medicated neuropathy.  I, too, was at stage 3 when the acral lentiginous melanoma was diagnosed, and am now stage 4.  Hope this helps.  Good luck

Hi,

I was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma October 2010.  It was in my left thumb which was amputated; the melanoma had gone to the lymph nodes under my left armpit and those nodes were removed.  I was pronounced cancer free.  Six months later, lesions started showing up in my left lung and in July 2011 and after a biopsy, was found to have cancer in my lung.  I had Avastin and Temodar for two months and the cancer grew in my left lung and was also found in three other places . February 2012 I started Yervoy Ipilimumab) infusions.  I was able to tolerate all four infusions.  This drug targets the immune system which in turn targets the cancer.  Yervoy has a lot of side effects and I did end up with significant neuropathy in my feet and hands.  I will probably be taking systemic corticoscosteriods to help with the immune-medicated neuropathy.  I, too, was at stage 3 when the acral lentiginous melanoma was diagnosed, and am now stage 4.  Hope this helps.  Good luck

Hi,

I was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma October 2010.  It was in my left thumb which was amputated; the melanoma had gone to the lymph nodes under my left armpit and those nodes were removed.  I was pronounced cancer free.  Six months later, lesions started showing up in my left lung and in July 2011 and after a biopsy, was found to have cancer in my lung.  I had Avastin and Temodar for two months and the cancer grew in my left lung and was also found in three other places . February 2012 I started Yervoy Ipilimumab) infusions.  I was able to tolerate all four infusions.  This drug targets the immune system which in turn targets the cancer.  Yervoy has a lot of side effects and I did end up with significant neuropathy in my feet and hands.  I will probably be taking systemic corticoscosteriods to help with the immune-medicated neuropathy.  I, too, was at stage 3 when the acral lentiginous melanoma was diagnosed, and am now stage 4.  Hope this helps.  Good luck