Don’t know what to think about Dr visit yesterday
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Don’t know what to think about Dr visit yesterday

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Don’t know what to think about Dr visit yesterday

  • Post
    • April 24, 2012 at 5:06 pm
    yoopergirl
    Participant

    We traveled to Madison Wi to see my Oncologist, had blood work and then saw the doctor. He just asked how I was doing and then took a look at my arm and said that my lumps were getting bigger but nothing can be done now, he ordered a ct scan for June 4th to see if the Yervoy did any good even with just 3 treatments. I am having alot of itching so I asked about that and was told just keep using the cream that I get over the counter, I don't know was I expecting more from that visit? BTW my blood work was all good. So now it is a waiting game again.

    We traveled to Madison Wi to see my Oncologist, had blood work and then saw the doctor. He just asked how I was doing and then took a look at my arm and said that my lumps were getting bigger but nothing can be done now, he ordered a ct scan for June 4th to see if the Yervoy did any good even with just 3 treatments. I am having alot of itching so I asked about that and was told just keep using the cream that I get over the counter, I don't know was I expecting more from that visit? BTW my blood work was all good. So now it is a waiting game again. I should have asked him why they don't remove the tumors on my arm, so many questions and not getting all the answers. He is a specialist in Melanoma so I guess I just have to have faith in him. 

Viewing 17 reply threads
  • Replies
      • April 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm
      Kathy of Massachusetts
      Participant
      I have the same frustrations. This is the order my dr puts things for my case brain, then liver, and all others lungs and any others way down on the list. He really treats the brain and liver simultaneously since tumor burden in both was multiple. I feel we may be making some progress but we’ve been fighting stage 4 since july of 2011. I have had afew bumps and lumps cloe the surface I couldn’t understand why they would not remove. I was told because I am being treated with Yervoy which is suppose to tell your immune system to attack all melanoma. It should work in them all. If not or they begin to cause problems they will remove then. This is my personal experience. It drives my husband crazy. If he can see it,or feel it he wants it off of me. Patience has shown many shrink, fade or remain unchanged because of the drugs I am on.
      Kathy D
      • April 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm
      Kathy of Massachusetts
      Participant
      I have the same frustrations. This is the order my dr puts things for my case brain, then liver, and all others lungs and any others way down on the list. He really treats the brain and liver simultaneously since tumor burden in both was multiple. I feel we may be making some progress but we’ve been fighting stage 4 since july of 2011. I have had afew bumps and lumps cloe the surface I couldn’t understand why they would not remove. I was told because I am being treated with Yervoy which is suppose to tell your immune system to attack all melanoma. It should work in them all. If not or they begin to cause problems they will remove then. This is my personal experience. It drives my husband crazy. If he can see it,or feel it he wants it off of me. Patience has shown many shrink, fade or remain unchanged because of the drugs I am on.
      Kathy D
      • April 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm
      Kathy of Massachusetts
      Participant
      I have the same frustrations. This is the order my dr puts things for my case brain, then liver, and all others lungs and any others way down on the list. He really treats the brain and liver simultaneously since tumor burden in both was multiple. I feel we may be making some progress but we’ve been fighting stage 4 since july of 2011. I have had afew bumps and lumps cloe the surface I couldn’t understand why they would not remove. I was told because I am being treated with Yervoy which is suppose to tell your immune system to attack all melanoma. It should work in them all. If not or they begin to cause problems they will remove then. This is my personal experience. It drives my husband crazy. If he can see it,or feel it he wants it off of me. Patience has shown many shrink, fade or remain unchanged because of the drugs I am on.
      Kathy D
      • April 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm
      Kathy of Massachusetts
      Participant
      I have the same frustrations. This is the order my dr puts things for my case brain, then liver, and all others lungs and any others way down on the list. He really treats the brain and liver simultaneously since tumor burden in both was multiple. I feel we may be making some progress but we’ve been fighting stage 4 since july of 2011. I have had afew bumps and lumps cloe the surface I couldn’t understand why they would not remove. I was told because I am being treated with Yervoy which is suppose to tell your immune system to attack all melanoma. It should work in them all. If not or they begin to cause problems they will remove then. This is my personal experience. It drives my husband crazy. If he can see it,or feel it he wants it off of me. Patience has shown many shrink, fade or remain unchanged because of the drugs I am on.
      Kathy D
      • April 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm
      Kathy of Massachusetts
      Participant
      I have the same frustrations. This is the order my dr puts things for my case brain, then liver, and all others lungs and any others way down on the list. He really treats the brain and liver simultaneously since tumor burden in both was multiple. I feel we may be making some progress but we’ve been fighting stage 4 since july of 2011. I have had afew bumps and lumps cloe the surface I couldn’t understand why they would not remove. I was told because I am being treated with Yervoy which is suppose to tell your immune system to attack all melanoma. It should work in them all. If not or they begin to cause problems they will remove then. This is my personal experience. It drives my husband crazy. If he can see it,or feel it he wants it off of me. Patience has shown many shrink, fade or remain unchanged because of the drugs I am on.
      Kathy D
      • April 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm
      Kathy of Massachusetts
      Participant
      I have the same frustrations. This is the order my dr puts things for my case brain, then liver, and all others lungs and any others way down on the list. He really treats the brain and liver simultaneously since tumor burden in both was multiple. I feel we may be making some progress but we’ve been fighting stage 4 since july of 2011. I have had afew bumps and lumps cloe the surface I couldn’t understand why they would not remove. I was told because I am being treated with Yervoy which is suppose to tell your immune system to attack all melanoma. It should work in them all. If not or they begin to cause problems they will remove then. This is my personal experience. It drives my husband crazy. If he can see it,or feel it he wants it off of me. Patience has shown many shrink, fade or remain unchanged because of the drugs I am on.
      Kathy D
      • April 24, 2012 at 8:24 pm
      Dgentz
      Participant
      Call and ask. At least if you have answer it might put your mind at ease. 🙂
      • April 24, 2012 at 8:24 pm
      Dgentz
      Participant
      Call and ask. At least if you have answer it might put your mind at ease. 🙂
      • April 24, 2012 at 8:24 pm
      Dgentz
      Participant
      Call and ask. At least if you have answer it might put your mind at ease. 🙂
        • April 25, 2012 at 3:42 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        My next appointment is for June 4th and I will write all my questions down so I don't forget when I see him, but then I guess they will pretty much know what to do if the tumors haven't shrunk. 

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:42 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        My next appointment is for June 4th and I will write all my questions down so I don't forget when I see him, but then I guess they will pretty much know what to do if the tumors haven't shrunk. 

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:42 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        My next appointment is for June 4th and I will write all my questions down so I don't forget when I see him, but then I guess they will pretty much know what to do if the tumors haven't shrunk. 

      • April 24, 2012 at 11:06 pm
      LynnLuc
      Participant
        • April 25, 2012 at 3:40 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        Thanks for the link but I already have all that info.

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:40 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        Thanks for the link but I already have all that info.

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:40 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        Thanks for the link but I already have all that info.

      • April 24, 2012 at 11:06 pm
      LynnLuc
      Participant
      • April 24, 2012 at 11:06 pm
      LynnLuc
      Participant
      • April 25, 2012 at 1:27 am
      audgator
      Participant

      Regarding the itching: that was my only side effect from ipi. My onc Rx'd .5% hydorcortizone but I was already taking 1% OTC. Each application helped for about 3 hours & I was going through tube after tube. Since the directions said only use x times a day (I forget the # but I was exceeding it), I started using regular skin lotion with vitamin E with the same 3 hour relief. And it had no use restrictions and was cheaper.   Dan

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:39 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        That is what I am using maybe I will look into lotion with vitamin E in it. How did you do otherwise with the Yervoy?

        • April 25, 2012 at 4:46 pm
        kylez
        Participant

        Protopic (tacrolimus) cream works better for my skin breakouts than (both prescription and off the shelf) hydrocortisone creams.

        I first was prescribed Protopic during IL-2 when my IL-2 docs didn't want me to use any cortisone creams during the treatment. I've been using it for skin breakouts ever since. I've tried prescription hydrocortisone cream again since, but Protopic works better for whatever particular breakouts I get — and I've been getting them since IL-2, and they changed in nature a bit but continued post-IPI.

        • April 25, 2012 at 4:46 pm
        kylez
        Participant

        Protopic (tacrolimus) cream works better for my skin breakouts than (both prescription and off the shelf) hydrocortisone creams.

        I first was prescribed Protopic during IL-2 when my IL-2 docs didn't want me to use any cortisone creams during the treatment. I've been using it for skin breakouts ever since. I've tried prescription hydrocortisone cream again since, but Protopic works better for whatever particular breakouts I get — and I've been getting them since IL-2, and they changed in nature a bit but continued post-IPI.

        • April 25, 2012 at 4:46 pm
        kylez
        Participant

        Protopic (tacrolimus) cream works better for my skin breakouts than (both prescription and off the shelf) hydrocortisone creams.

        I first was prescribed Protopic during IL-2 when my IL-2 docs didn't want me to use any cortisone creams during the treatment. I've been using it for skin breakouts ever since. I've tried prescription hydrocortisone cream again since, but Protopic works better for whatever particular breakouts I get — and I've been getting them since IL-2, and they changed in nature a bit but continued post-IPI.

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:39 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        That is what I am using maybe I will look into lotion with vitamin E in it. How did you do otherwise with the Yervoy?

        • April 25, 2012 at 3:39 pm
        yoopergirl
        Participant

        That is what I am using maybe I will look into lotion with vitamin E in it. How did you do otherwise with the Yervoy?

      • April 25, 2012 at 1:27 am
      audgator
      Participant

      Regarding the itching: that was my only side effect from ipi. My onc Rx'd .5% hydorcortizone but I was already taking 1% OTC. Each application helped for about 3 hours & I was going through tube after tube. Since the directions said only use x times a day (I forget the # but I was exceeding it), I started using regular skin lotion with vitamin E with the same 3 hour relief. And it had no use restrictions and was cheaper.   Dan

      • April 25, 2012 at 1:27 am
      audgator
      Participant

      Regarding the itching: that was my only side effect from ipi. My onc Rx'd .5% hydorcortizone but I was already taking 1% OTC. Each application helped for about 3 hours & I was going through tube after tube. Since the directions said only use x times a day (I forget the # but I was exceeding it), I started using regular skin lotion with vitamin E with the same 3 hour relief. And it had no use restrictions and was cheaper.   Dan

      • April 26, 2012 at 9:49 am
      ElaineLinn
      Participant

      Hi Yoopergirl

      I am sorry for all your going though, I know how hard it is. But hang in you can beat this I know

      • April 26, 2012 at 9:49 am
      ElaineLinn
      Participant

      Hi Yoopergirl

      I am sorry for all your going though, I know how hard it is. But hang in you can beat this I know

      • April 26, 2012 at 9:49 am
      ElaineLinn
      Participant

      Hi Yoopergirl

      I am sorry for all your going though, I know how hard it is. But hang in you can beat this I know

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