bio-chemo

Here is some info about biochemo:
http://www.melanomacenter.org/treatment/biochemotherapy.html

Some people here have tried it, and this is what they have said:
http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/biochemotherapy

I feel that there are better options around these days with fewer side effects.

Frank from Australia

Here is some info about biochemo:
http://www.melanomacenter.org/treatment/biochemotherapy.html

Some people here have tried it, and this is what they have said:
http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/biochemotherapy

I feel that there are better options around these days with fewer side effects.

Frank from Australia

I think I  have responded to one of your posts before, and you've visited my blog, so if the following is redundant for you  I apologize.  But I think others with the same questions may also be reading responses on this topic, so…

I did "neoadjuvant" biochemo in 2003 at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, following a Stage IIIc diagnosis with 14 malignant nodes.  Today I'm healthy and NED.  Biochemo is very rough stuff, but overall it's doable.  I completed it (a total of 16 24-hr rounds) in a period of three months, and within a month thereafter I was feeling well enough to enjoy most of my normal activities (although it took several months of effort before I was back to full physical st rength).  And I found that being a hospital inpatient for 5 days during each set of four rounds was a big pro– I was always pretty heavily sedated and remember very little of my hospital incarceration time.  I'm not qualified to speak to whether there may be "better" options for you today– that's a question for a melanoma specialist.  Best wishes to you!

Rich

http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

I think I  have responded to one of your posts before, and you've visited my blog, so if the following is redundant for you  I apologize.  But I think others with the same questions may also be reading responses on this topic, so…

I did "neoadjuvant" biochemo in 2003 at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, following a Stage IIIc diagnosis with 14 malignant nodes.  Today I'm healthy and NED.  Biochemo is very rough stuff, but overall it's doable.  I completed it (a total of 16 24-hr rounds) in a period of three months, and within a month thereafter I was feeling well enough to enjoy most of my normal activities (although it took several months of effort before I was back to full physical st rength).  And I found that being a hospital inpatient for 5 days during each set of four rounds was a big pro– I was always pretty heavily sedated and remember very little of my hospital incarceration time.  I'm not qualified to speak to whether there may be "better" options for you today– that's a question for a melanoma specialist.  Best wishes to you!

Rich

http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

Hi Boots – I was in your exact shoes last July.  I noticed a lump under my armpit…thought it was breast cancer…and when my doctor called with the diagnosis, she said "I wish I could tell you it is breast cancer because that would be so much better" !!  Thanks doc!  It got my attention, straight away! 

I immediately had surgery to remove the primary (I KNEW which mole it was on my back and that SAME doctor – not a dermatologist – had said that morning not to worry about it … it was nothing) and my lymph nodes.  I had 22 removed.  1 with macro mets (the one I could feel) and another lymph node had micro mets. 

After I recovered from surgery, I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester – they prescribed radiation to the armpit first (because the large lymph node melanoma had extended beyond the edge of the lymph node) and a year of Leukine.  I did the radiation – 20 visits – through the month of September.  Very painless – unless you count the daily masking tape strapping – to get my dang boob out of the way of the radiation rays! (you should have seen the faces of those poor male radiation specialists when they REMOVED the tape!). 

As we've all heard countless times, there isn't much out there that has proven to be effective for long-term survival that is offered to Stage III patients.  I talked to at least 5 oncoloists and they all told me the same thing.  Most recommended 'watch and wait' – the Mayo offered Leukine because it had fewer side effects than Interferon, but they weren't seeing much more of a long term benefit.  Hmmm.  You're facing Stage III with survival rates of 30% – my primary nodular and very DEEP … and I'm supposed to 'watch and wait'?

I'd heard about this biochemotherapy in Colorado and decided to see what the doctor said (Dr. Gonzoles).  I liked the way he talked to me, I liked the way he explained things.  He didn't give me numbers (survival rates)…but, they do treat 400+ advanced melanoma patients/year and his indications were that his treatment can have an effect.  The last thing he said during my consultation visit was…"Well, if my wife had your melanoma, I'd want her to try this treatment".  So, I did it.

(sorry, this is getting long..).  Here's the thing.  I DID develop another tumor in my armpit..probably because of the extensions of the melanoma in that sentinal node.  It was small – the size of a marble and just under the surface.  But, there it was – back and actively growing after only 3 months and AFTER radiation to that exact spot!  (maybe the radiation worked to keep it small?…maybe it didn't have ANY affect?).  But, we left this small tumor in my body during the first two rounds of bio-chem (I had 4 rounds – as described by Rich, above).  They re-scanned me after these two rounds and found that tumor and nearly disappeared and was no longer active.  A near complete response to the bio-chem!  My doctor was very happy and it made the last two rounds more bearable.

It was HELL – I won't lie.  But, I got through it.  I don't know how long I will stay NED (hell…we all live scan to scan, now!)…but I would do it again knowing it DID buy me some time.  It might have CURED me (yes, they used that word?!)…or it might have kicked the mel back a few notches and bought me months or years.  You can't know. 

Hope this helps…sorry its so long.  Good luck and keep asking questions.  The OTHER thing that Colorado Doctor told me when I was SEARCHING…was…"Well, eventually you'll have to pick ONE doctor you trust and just go with what they say".  – Shari

Hi Boots – I was in your exact shoes last July.  I noticed a lump under my armpit…thought it was breast cancer…and when my doctor called with the diagnosis, she said "I wish I could tell you it is breast cancer because that would be so much better" !!  Thanks doc!  It got my attention, straight away! 

I immediately had surgery to remove the primary (I KNEW which mole it was on my back and that SAME doctor – not a dermatologist – had said that morning not to worry about it … it was nothing) and my lymph nodes.  I had 22 removed.  1 with macro mets (the one I could feel) and another lymph node had micro mets. 

After I recovered from surgery, I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester – they prescribed radiation to the armpit first (because the large lymph node melanoma had extended beyond the edge of the lymph node) and a year of Leukine.  I did the radiation – 20 visits – through the month of September.  Very painless – unless you count the daily masking tape strapping – to get my dang boob out of the way of the radiation rays! (you should have seen the faces of those poor male radiation specialists when they REMOVED the tape!). 

As we've all heard countless times, there isn't much out there that has proven to be effective for long-term survival that is offered to Stage III patients.  I talked to at least 5 oncoloists and they all told me the same thing.  Most recommended 'watch and wait' – the Mayo offered Leukine because it had fewer side effects than Interferon, but they weren't seeing much more of a long term benefit.  Hmmm.  You're facing Stage III with survival rates of 30% – my primary nodular and very DEEP … and I'm supposed to 'watch and wait'?

I'd heard about this biochemotherapy in Colorado and decided to see what the doctor said (Dr. Gonzoles).  I liked the way he talked to me, I liked the way he explained things.  He didn't give me numbers (survival rates)…but, they do treat 400+ advanced melanoma patients/year and his indications were that his treatment can have an effect.  The last thing he said during my consultation visit was…"Well, if my wife had your melanoma, I'd want her to try this treatment".  So, I did it.

(sorry, this is getting long..).  Here's the thing.  I DID develop another tumor in my armpit..probably because of the extensions of the melanoma in that sentinal node.  It was small – the size of a marble and just under the surface.  But, there it was – back and actively growing after only 3 months and AFTER radiation to that exact spot!  (maybe the radiation worked to keep it small?…maybe it didn't have ANY affect?).  But, we left this small tumor in my body during the first two rounds of bio-chem (I had 4 rounds – as described by Rich, above).  They re-scanned me after these two rounds and found that tumor and nearly disappeared and was no longer active.  A near complete response to the bio-chem!  My doctor was very happy and it made the last two rounds more bearable.

It was HELL – I won't lie.  But, I got through it.  I don't know how long I will stay NED (hell…we all live scan to scan, now!)…but I would do it again knowing it DID buy me some time.  It might have CURED me (yes, they used that word?!)…or it might have kicked the mel back a few notches and bought me months or years.  You can't know. 

Hope this helps…sorry its so long.  Good luck and keep asking questions.  The OTHER thing that Colorado Doctor told me when I was SEARCHING…was…"Well, eventually you'll have to pick ONE doctor you trust and just go with what they say".  – Shari

Ah, biochemo. 

Did it January and February 2011 upon recommendation of Dr. Lewis of the University of Colorado Cancer Center.  

I was diagnosed and treated in the first months of 2010 and had my first local recurrances in October, 2010.  At the time, we expected to remove the subq tumors with surgery immediately. My onc called Dr. Lewis and asked if there were any trials for me and he said no because I would have no "measurable disease" after I did surgery. He then strongly suggested biochemo after surgery. I was told it had a 14% chance of helping me.  

Stuff happened and I did not have the surgery so we went right into biochemo in January and used my three subquaneous tumors to observe the effects of biochemo. My first week in the hospital was not a nightmare, in fact, every one involved was shocked how well I was tolerating the biochemo.  Tired, groggy, no appetite, lots of potty!, no nausea. 

After the first round, my tumors had not shrunk or disapeared, they had grown and I now had a fourth tumor in the same area.  We decided to give it another shot and do another round of biochemo.

On the first day of my second round, at the exact moment they gave me the IL2, my blood pressure (and I am told, other vitals) dropped dangerously low ( I don't know how low) and the crash cart from ICU was called to my room. Suddenly, instead of two nurses in my room, there were about 6. And I distincly heard my floor and room number called over the hallway intercom with the words "possible code". I remember this felt really strange to me because I just didn't feel that bad. But I was in a twilight stage.

I remember the ICU guy (real cute) asking me questions such as my name and who the President of the United States is. I must not have been too dead cuz I raised my fist in the air and said, " The first Black President of the United States, Barack Obama!"  Oops, let my politics show there for a minute!

After about 3 hours of work, they stabilized my vitals. The oncs wanted very badly to continue the biochemo the next day, just at a lower dose and try working up to the full dose again. I was against that and told them that as much as I didn't want to die from melanoma, I really didn't want to die from TREATMENT.  But 3 oncs convinced me I would be well taken care of and I allowed the biochemo to continue.  What a sissy I am.

The second round was completed with nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarhea, and very low blood counts. My blood pressure and other vitals never were able to tolerate the full dosage. No change in the tumors.

Anyway, this is why you are in the hospital for the biochemo.

Nicki, Stage3b, scalp

Ah, biochemo. 

Did it January and February 2011 upon recommendation of Dr. Lewis of the University of Colorado Cancer Center.  

I was diagnosed and treated in the first months of 2010 and had my first local recurrances in October, 2010.  At the time, we expected to remove the subq tumors with surgery immediately. My onc called Dr. Lewis and asked if there were any trials for me and he said no because I would have no "measurable disease" after I did surgery. He then strongly suggested biochemo after surgery. I was told it had a 14% chance of helping me.  

Stuff happened and I did not have the surgery so we went right into biochemo in January and used my three subquaneous tumors to observe the effects of biochemo. My first week in the hospital was not a nightmare, in fact, every one involved was shocked how well I was tolerating the biochemo.  Tired, groggy, no appetite, lots of potty!, no nausea. 

After the first round, my tumors had not shrunk or disapeared, they had grown and I now had a fourth tumor in the same area.  We decided to give it another shot and do another round of biochemo.

On the first day of my second round, at the exact moment they gave me the IL2, my blood pressure (and I am told, other vitals) dropped dangerously low ( I don't know how low) and the crash cart from ICU was called to my room. Suddenly, instead of two nurses in my room, there were about 6. And I distincly heard my floor and room number called over the hallway intercom with the words "possible code". I remember this felt really strange to me because I just didn't feel that bad. But I was in a twilight stage.

I remember the ICU guy (real cute) asking me questions such as my name and who the President of the United States is. I must not have been too dead cuz I raised my fist in the air and said, " The first Black President of the United States, Barack Obama!"  Oops, let my politics show there for a minute!

After about 3 hours of work, they stabilized my vitals. The oncs wanted very badly to continue the biochemo the next day, just at a lower dose and try working up to the full dose again. I was against that and told them that as much as I didn't want to die from melanoma, I really didn't want to die from TREATMENT.  But 3 oncs convinced me I would be well taken care of and I allowed the biochemo to continue.  What a sissy I am.

The second round was completed with nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarhea, and very low blood counts. My blood pressure and other vitals never were able to tolerate the full dosage. No change in the tumors.

Anyway, this is why you are in the hospital for the biochemo.

Nicki, Stage3b, scalp

Bio-chemo therapy works by improving immune system, but it is still chemotherapy. There are also other methods how to improve immune system without damaging the normal cells – biotherapy, for example. (Biotherapy has two definitions – one of them is treating with some kind of biological energies – this is nonsense. The other one is treating with natural products (viruses, for example), that improves immune system. This kind of biotherapy is medically and scientifically approved). Please consider other options also. 

Anyway, every luck to you!

Bio-chemo therapy works by improving immune system, but it is still chemotherapy. There are also other methods how to improve immune system without damaging the normal cells – biotherapy, for example. (Biotherapy has two definitions – one of them is treating with some kind of biological energies – this is nonsense. The other one is treating with natural products (viruses, for example), that improves immune system. This kind of biotherapy is medically and scientifically approved). Please consider other options also. 

Anyway, every luck to you!