mrhudgens

Hi there. I was on three months of Opdivo July 2018 – October 2018, and my tumor grew. Found out that I’m BRAF+ so my Onco put me on BRAF/MEK around the end of last October. Felt like I had the flu for about 3 straight weeks, then things started getting better. I still have bouts of nausea and fatigue, but long story short, the targeted therapy shrunk my tumor to the point that they removed in May 8, and the pathology showed no viable melanoma. So after about 6 months of the targeted therapy combo, I’m NED. Going back for scans this Sunday and Monday, planning to be off the pills in October, then scans again in November, but so far, it’s been a success story for me. Good luck to you and you’re husband!

Great news, and  congratulations!  Mind if I ask where your spots were and what stage you are?

February 2016, my tumor was 3.6mm deep and ulcerated in my upper middle back.  Had a wide excision with clear margins and my SLNB was negative.  However, found out on July 2 that it's back – in my right shoulder and most likely in my lungs.  Starting immunotherapy this month.  Good luck to you!

Mine changed drastically from August 2015 (when my wife first noticed it and brought it to my attention) until January 2016 (when I finally decided to do something about it).  Stage IIB.

I was diagnosed with Stage IIB in January 2016.  Had the surgery, clear margins, had three nodes removed (all clear).  I see either my dermatologist or my surgical oncologist every three months, and everything has been good so far.  Still, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it.  The internet and Facebook are a blessing and a curse.  Lot of helpful people, lot of good stories, but lot of scary stuff, too.  I chose to be informed and stay informed, and I do what I'm supposed to do.  But I don't think the fear will ever go away.

Read, read, read.  Learn enough about what you've got so that much of what the doctor tells you will make sense.  Otherwise, you're going to hear a lot but not be able to process much of it.  Take someone with you to take notes.  And good luck to you!

Read, read, read.  Learn enough about what you've got so that much of what the doctor tells you will make sense.  Otherwise, you're going to hear a lot but not be able to process much of it.  Take someone with you to take notes.  And good luck to you!

Read, read, read.  Learn enough about what you've got so that much of what the doctor tells you will make sense.  Otherwise, you're going to hear a lot but not be able to process much of it.  Take someone with you to take notes.  And good luck to you!