melanoma treatment options for someone on immunosuppression drugs after kidney transplant
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melanoma treatment options for someone on immunosuppression drugs after kidney transplant

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › melanoma treatment options for someone on immunosuppression drugs after kidney transplant

  • Post
    • December 3, 2012 at 8:19 pm
    nsabel
    Participant

    Hi– thanks for taking time to look at this question. 

    Hi– thanks for taking time to look at this question. 

    My 70 year old father received a kidney transplant in early 2008 and melanoma was found on his neck and several lymph nodes around his jaw/neck in mid-2009. All impacted areas were surgically removed (at tampa general) and he has been doing well until the most recent pet scan (5 lymph node areas in neck).  We're trying to find someone who understands his situation (metastatic melanoma in a immunosuppressed patient) and can spearhead a treatment plan. He doesnt really have a DR right now who is guiding his through things. Does anyone have experience with this situation? Any DRs you could recommend contacting? He can go anywhere for treatment but lives near tampa  and also in ohio. 

    thanks so much,

    Naomi

Viewing 14 reply threads
  • Replies
      • December 3, 2012 at 8:55 pm
      JC
      Participant

      I hear a lot on this board about H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Dr Jeffrey Weber is a melanoma specialist there

      • December 3, 2012 at 8:55 pm
      JC
      Participant

      I hear a lot on this board about H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Dr Jeffrey Weber is a melanoma specialist there

      • December 3, 2012 at 8:55 pm
      JC
      Participant

      I hear a lot on this board about H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Dr Jeffrey Weber is a melanoma specialist there

      • December 3, 2012 at 11:06 pm
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      I am sorry to hear about your father.  This is the second question I have seen on treatment of immunosuppressed patients in the past few days.  As you can guess, it is a challenge.  

      I always recommend that patients with Stage IV melanoma see someone who is very familiar with melanoma.  This is particularly true in your father's case.

      As has been mentioned, Jeff Weber is a leading expert in melanoma.  And, he is very familiar with immunotherapy approaches to treatment.  This gives him extra experience in dealing with the immune system.  If he can't help your father he will refer out to someone else, or will caucus with other on the best course of action.  

       

      Tim–MRF

      • December 3, 2012 at 11:06 pm
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      I am sorry to hear about your father.  This is the second question I have seen on treatment of immunosuppressed patients in the past few days.  As you can guess, it is a challenge.  

      I always recommend that patients with Stage IV melanoma see someone who is very familiar with melanoma.  This is particularly true in your father's case.

      As has been mentioned, Jeff Weber is a leading expert in melanoma.  And, he is very familiar with immunotherapy approaches to treatment.  This gives him extra experience in dealing with the immune system.  If he can't help your father he will refer out to someone else, or will caucus with other on the best course of action.  

       

      Tim–MRF

        • December 4, 2012 at 5:38 pm
        nsabel
        Participant

        Tim– thanks so much.

        N

        • December 4, 2012 at 5:38 pm
        nsabel
        Participant

        Tim– thanks so much.

        N

        • December 4, 2012 at 5:38 pm
        nsabel
        Participant

        Tim– thanks so much.

        N

      • December 3, 2012 at 11:06 pm
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      I am sorry to hear about your father.  This is the second question I have seen on treatment of immunosuppressed patients in the past few days.  As you can guess, it is a challenge.  

      I always recommend that patients with Stage IV melanoma see someone who is very familiar with melanoma.  This is particularly true in your father's case.

      As has been mentioned, Jeff Weber is a leading expert in melanoma.  And, he is very familiar with immunotherapy approaches to treatment.  This gives him extra experience in dealing with the immune system.  If he can't help your father he will refer out to someone else, or will caucus with other on the best course of action.  

       

      Tim–MRF

      • December 4, 2012 at 12:15 am
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Naomi,

      I am sorry to hear about your father's situation. His treatmentwould be very complicated. Since he is a transplant patient, he is given drugs to suppress the immune system so it won't reject his new kidney. On the other hand , you need to activate his immune system to go after the Melanoma.

      One thing you might try is to get your Father tested for tumor mutations. (C-kit, Nras, Braf Etc.) hopefully he has the Braf or C-kit mutation because there are drugs available for those tumor types

      As for melanoma Specialists:

      Dr. Jeff Weber at the Moffit

      Dr. Patrick Hwu At MD Anderson

      Dr. John M. Kirkwood at the Hillman

      Dr. Keith Flantery at MGH

      Dr. Mario Snzol at Yale

      Dr. Jedd D. Wolchok at Sloan Kettering

      Dr. Cassian Yee at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  

      Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg at NCI

      This is a set of Melanoma Specialists that I would consider.

       

      Best regards

       

      Jimmy b

      • December 4, 2012 at 12:15 am
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Naomi,

      I am sorry to hear about your father's situation. His treatmentwould be very complicated. Since he is a transplant patient, he is given drugs to suppress the immune system so it won't reject his new kidney. On the other hand , you need to activate his immune system to go after the Melanoma.

      One thing you might try is to get your Father tested for tumor mutations. (C-kit, Nras, Braf Etc.) hopefully he has the Braf or C-kit mutation because there are drugs available for those tumor types

      As for melanoma Specialists:

      Dr. Jeff Weber at the Moffit

      Dr. Patrick Hwu At MD Anderson

      Dr. John M. Kirkwood at the Hillman

      Dr. Keith Flantery at MGH

      Dr. Mario Snzol at Yale

      Dr. Jedd D. Wolchok at Sloan Kettering

      Dr. Cassian Yee at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  

      Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg at NCI

      This is a set of Melanoma Specialists that I would consider.

       

      Best regards

       

      Jimmy b

        • December 4, 2012 at 5:45 pm
        nsabel
        Participant

        Jimmy– yes– thats exactly our dilemma regarding his immune system. thanks for the list and the tip on tumor mutations–both are incredibly helpful.

        thanks again, N

        • December 4, 2012 at 5:45 pm
        nsabel
        Participant

        Jimmy– yes– thats exactly our dilemma regarding his immune system. thanks for the list and the tip on tumor mutations–both are incredibly helpful.

        thanks again, N

        • December 4, 2012 at 5:45 pm
        nsabel
        Participant

        Jimmy– yes– thats exactly our dilemma regarding his immune system. thanks for the list and the tip on tumor mutations–both are incredibly helpful.

        thanks again, N

      • December 4, 2012 at 12:15 am
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Naomi,

      I am sorry to hear about your father's situation. His treatmentwould be very complicated. Since he is a transplant patient, he is given drugs to suppress the immune system so it won't reject his new kidney. On the other hand , you need to activate his immune system to go after the Melanoma.

      One thing you might try is to get your Father tested for tumor mutations. (C-kit, Nras, Braf Etc.) hopefully he has the Braf or C-kit mutation because there are drugs available for those tumor types

      As for melanoma Specialists:

      Dr. Jeff Weber at the Moffit

      Dr. Patrick Hwu At MD Anderson

      Dr. John M. Kirkwood at the Hillman

      Dr. Keith Flantery at MGH

      Dr. Mario Snzol at Yale

      Dr. Jedd D. Wolchok at Sloan Kettering

      Dr. Cassian Yee at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  

      Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg at NCI

      This is a set of Melanoma Specialists that I would consider.

       

      Best regards

       

      Jimmy b

      • December 4, 2012 at 1:31 am
      vivian
      Participant

      Naomi,

       I had a successful allogenic bone marrow transplant in 2002 for myelodysplasia, a bone marrow/blood cancer and was diagnosed  stage 3a melanoma in 2010.  I am now stage 4.  The difficulty for me is just as it is for your dad – must not do anything to reject the graft.  This is not a common situation, apparently.  I see an oncologist locally, but also Dr. Jedd Wolchok at Sloan-Kettering.  Since I know he is totally on top of my situation, I would recommend that you contact him for your father.  He is a lovely, caring, brilliant doctor, and his staff is exceptional.

      Best wishes to your dad,

      Lear

      • December 4, 2012 at 1:31 am
      vivian
      Participant

      Naomi,

       I had a successful allogenic bone marrow transplant in 2002 for myelodysplasia, a bone marrow/blood cancer and was diagnosed  stage 3a melanoma in 2010.  I am now stage 4.  The difficulty for me is just as it is for your dad – must not do anything to reject the graft.  This is not a common situation, apparently.  I see an oncologist locally, but also Dr. Jedd Wolchok at Sloan-Kettering.  Since I know he is totally on top of my situation, I would recommend that you contact him for your father.  He is a lovely, caring, brilliant doctor, and his staff is exceptional.

      Best wishes to your dad,

      Lear

        • December 5, 2012 at 1:53 am
        nsabel
        Participant

        Lear– thanks so much for the comment.  if you dont mind me asking, given your immune system issues- what types of treatment have been available to you? Are you able to take any of the immunotherapy drugs? 

        thanks again, 

        Naomi

        • December 5, 2012 at 1:53 am
        nsabel
        Participant

        Lear– thanks so much for the comment.  if you dont mind me asking, given your immune system issues- what types of treatment have been available to you? Are you able to take any of the immunotherapy drugs? 

        thanks again, 

        Naomi

        • December 5, 2012 at 1:53 am
        nsabel
        Participant

        Lear– thanks so much for the comment.  if you dont mind me asking, given your immune system issues- what types of treatment have been available to you? Are you able to take any of the immunotherapy drugs? 

        thanks again, 

        Naomi

      • December 4, 2012 at 1:31 am
      vivian
      Participant

      Naomi,

       I had a successful allogenic bone marrow transplant in 2002 for myelodysplasia, a bone marrow/blood cancer and was diagnosed  stage 3a melanoma in 2010.  I am now stage 4.  The difficulty for me is just as it is for your dad – must not do anything to reject the graft.  This is not a common situation, apparently.  I see an oncologist locally, but also Dr. Jedd Wolchok at Sloan-Kettering.  Since I know he is totally on top of my situation, I would recommend that you contact him for your father.  He is a lovely, caring, brilliant doctor, and his staff is exceptional.

      Best wishes to your dad,

      Lear

      • December 4, 2012 at 8:47 pm
      audgator
      Participant

      Just returned from my 3-hour drive to Tampa & my appointments at Moffitt.  I can't imagine anyone living that close NOT going there. Dr. Weber is leading the trial I am on but my doctor is Kudchadkar.  Of course I know nothing about your special circumstance.  Best wishes.  Dan

      • December 4, 2012 at 8:47 pm
      audgator
      Participant

      Just returned from my 3-hour drive to Tampa & my appointments at Moffitt.  I can't imagine anyone living that close NOT going there. Dr. Weber is leading the trial I am on but my doctor is Kudchadkar.  Of course I know nothing about your special circumstance.  Best wishes.  Dan

      • December 4, 2012 at 8:47 pm
      audgator
      Participant

      Just returned from my 3-hour drive to Tampa & my appointments at Moffitt.  I can't imagine anyone living that close NOT going there. Dr. Weber is leading the trial I am on but my doctor is Kudchadkar.  Of course I know nothing about your special circumstance.  Best wishes.  Dan

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