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Advice?

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  • Post
    • March 29, 2017 at 2:29 am
    ajpeterson
    Participant

      After being diagnosed with melanoma in my lymph node 3 weeks ago, I am going in to have my initial meeting with an oncologist/surgeon who specializes in melanoma.  My meeting is this Friday (10/31), and I'm assuming that we will talk about a lymph node dissection, and then treatment options following the surgery?  

      Ive been reading different posts about various types of treatment, and wondered if you all have any sage advice for me?  Any questions (aside from the set questions that are on melanoma.org) that you think I should ask?  Any types of therapy I should avoid, or be careful of?  

      Thanks in advance! 

      Amy

       

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    • Replies
        • March 29, 2017 at 2:36 am
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          Treatment options for the adjuvant setting which is what you'll be in are limited. Yervoy (Ipi) is the best approved option, has it's list of side effects but not everyone gets a bad side effect so don't assume you'll get one, just be aware of what they are to watch for signs. AVOID any talk of Interferon.. it's proven not to be any better than observation and makes patients very sick for a year. Clinical trials are the only way to get the other drugs like Opdivo (Nivo) or Keytruda (Pembro). Watch and wait is also an option. That's doing scans, bloodwork, and seeing your doctor often. IF anything came back, you'd address it then with surgery and/or treatment. Many stage 3ers have done watch and wait and never had the mel come back.

          • March 29, 2017 at 2:47 am
          eric w
          Participant
              • March 29, 2017 at 7:46 pm
              debwray
              Participant

                Looks great for stage 3 and also looks like will start recruiting in April….good spot…

                Deb

                • March 30, 2017 at 3:38 am
                ajpeterson
                Participant

                  Will the oncologist bring this up?  Or is this something I should ask about? 

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