Blood tests

The following is a copy and paste from the question inquiry about how I was doing.  Please read the additional details I have added at the end of this posting.

Thanks for your inquiry.  I will give the cliff notes version of my melanoma.  It started from a mole in 2007 on the back of my scalp.  As a typical male, I ignored my wifes request to go see a Dr.  It finally started seeping so I knew that I should listen to her and went to see a dermatologist.  He removed the seeping mole and sent it out for testing.  It came back melanoma and was 10.5 mm deep and the journey began.  I have had 4 surgeries to remove melanoma that kept reoccurring. Last fall when I thought I was all done with this beast another lesion was discovered growing on the back of my scalp.  This time surgery was not an option as it was to close to the spine to do surgery.  I tried to get into the Oncovex trial only to be turned down because the liver melanoma lesions were to large.  I was accepted for the IPI with GM-CSF arm trial.  I started on the trial in March 2011 and did 4 treatments.  After the second treatment the lesions on the back of my scalp started shrinking very quickly.  My 12 week follow up scans showed that the lesions in my liver, lungs and scalp have shrunk by more than 50%.  Thank God and all the people that are praying for me!!!!!   I am a firm believer that family and prayers as well as high dose of Vitamin D3 and selenium daily and not to forget the red wine helped along with the treatments to send my melanoma into regression.  Now I am on the maintenance schedule for IPI and the GM-CSF.  My next visit to my Dr. will be June 17 and I will let you know the results from that visit.  I am scheduled for more scans the end of July. 

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As far as the high dosage Vitamin D3,  I have done countless hours researching about melanoma cancer and my personal opinion is I believe it is partly caused by the lack of Vitamin D3.  The best recommended dosage that I am aware of is 35 IU's multiplied by your body weight.  For example a 200# person should be taking 7000 IU's daily.  The government is finally acknowledging that Vitamin D3 is to low but there recommendation is still less than what is needed to help overcome cancer.   The high low testing range is 32.0 to 100.0 ng/mL.  Vitamin D3 – 25 hydroxy is the proper test.  When I had mine tested it was 90.  So I definitely feel this was one of the factors for my regression with the fight with melanoma.  It also should be noted that I worked my entire adult life (40 years) in the afternoons and midnight turn with sleeping during the day and due to this fact did not get adequate sunlight.  So in my opinion the sun did not cause my melanoma but a compromised immune system due to my work schedule.  Please spend some time to research Vitamin D3 as it is not really a vitamin but a hormone.  It should also be noted the correct vitamin D3 test is for the 25 Hydroxy.

Best Wishes,  Gene Stage IV, scalp/head/liver/lungs

The following is a copy and paste from the question inquiry about how I was doing.  Please read the additional details I have added at the end of this posting.

Thanks for your inquiry.  I will give the cliff notes version of my melanoma.  It started from a mole in 2007 on the back of my scalp.  As a typical male, I ignored my wifes request to go see a Dr.  It finally started seeping so I knew that I should listen to her and went to see a dermatologist.  He removed the seeping mole and sent it out for testing.  It came back melanoma and was 10.5 mm deep and the journey began.  I have had 4 surgeries to remove melanoma that kept reoccurring. Last fall when I thought I was all done with this beast another lesion was discovered growing on the back of my scalp.  This time surgery was not an option as it was to close to the spine to do surgery.  I tried to get into the Oncovex trial only to be turned down because the liver melanoma lesions were to large.  I was accepted for the IPI with GM-CSF arm trial.  I started on the trial in March 2011 and did 4 treatments.  After the second treatment the lesions on the back of my scalp started shrinking very quickly.  My 12 week follow up scans showed that the lesions in my liver, lungs and scalp have shrunk by more than 50%.  Thank God and all the people that are praying for me!!!!!   I am a firm believer that family and prayers as well as high dose of Vitamin D3 and selenium daily and not to forget the red wine helped along with the treatments to send my melanoma into regression.  Now I am on the maintenance schedule for IPI and the GM-CSF.  My next visit to my Dr. will be June 17 and I will let you know the results from that visit.  I am scheduled for more scans the end of July. 

————————————————————————————–

As far as the high dosage Vitamin D3,  I have done countless hours researching about melanoma cancer and my personal opinion is I believe it is partly caused by the lack of Vitamin D3.  The best recommended dosage that I am aware of is 35 IU's multiplied by your body weight.  For example a 200# person should be taking 7000 IU's daily.  The government is finally acknowledging that Vitamin D3 is to low but there recommendation is still less than what is needed to help overcome cancer.   The high low testing range is 32.0 to 100.0 ng/mL.  Vitamin D3 – 25 hydroxy is the proper test.  When I had mine tested it was 90.  So I definitely feel this was one of the factors for my regression with the fight with melanoma.  It also should be noted that I worked my entire adult life (40 years) in the afternoons and midnight turn with sleeping during the day and due to this fact did not get adequate sunlight.  So in my opinion the sun did not cause my melanoma but a compromised immune system due to my work schedule.  Please spend some time to research Vitamin D3 as it is not really a vitamin but a hormone.  It should also be noted the correct vitamin D3 test is for the 25 Hydroxy.

Best Wishes,  Gene Stage IV, scalp/head/liver/lungs