Chemotherapy Treatment for Advanced Melanoma

Thanks for posting this!  I start dacarbazine on Friday. I've had no first line treatment yet, so this is where I must begin.  I refuse to go into my first chemo session with the attitude that this will fail, so I hope to post later on my success story.  Apparently it works best with low tumor burden which is what I have. IPI would be next, but I hope I don't have to use it for awhile.

Lisa – Stage 4 lung mets

Lisa, I like your positive attitude! I think that having an optimistic frame of mind is
essential when one is undergoing any type of treatment.

Wishing you the best of luck on Friday.

Frank from Australia

Hi Frank,

My 19 month old daughter is giving me that optimism 🙂   I'm happy to be starting something so soon and thankful that melanoma is making remarkable progress in research and medicine.

Thanks for the luck – much appreciated.

Lisa

Hi Frank,

My 19 month old daughter is giving me that optimism 🙂   I'm happy to be starting something so soon and thankful that melanoma is making remarkable progress in research and medicine.

Thanks for the luck – much appreciated.

Lisa

Lisa, I like your positive attitude! I think that having an optimistic frame of mind is
essential when one is undergoing any type of treatment.

Wishing you the best of luck on Friday.

Frank from Australia

Lisa,

I hope you are coping OK with the DTIC treatment!  Lots of strength the coming months.

Did you test BRAF negative?

Peter, Stage 4

Lisa,

I hope you are coping OK with the DTIC treatment!  Lots of strength the coming months.

Did you test BRAF negative?

Peter, Stage 4

Lisa,

My husband's first treatment was also chemo. His mel is extremely aggressive and even though he was BRAF positive, his liver functions weren't high enough to get him into the trial. The chemo was a hopeful stopgap to get the situation under control so he might get into a compassionate use trial.

He had his first treatment on May 28th, a combo of carboplatin and paclitaxel. 

When he went back for his 2 week follow up, his doctor was shocked and amazed at his response: the tumor under his arm shrank from softball sized to 2 marbles. His LDH levels dropped 75%. He had such a stunning response that his doctor is keeping him on the chemo instead of enrolling him in a trial (the BRAF drugs will still be there, but he wants to stick with what's working).

It could happen to you, too, Lisa! I will pray that it does. : )

Michelle, wife of Don

I've been on DTIC since Friday and up until yesterday, was feeling okay. Now I have alot of flu like symptoms – sweating, chills, aches and general fatigue. No nausea or vomiting and I can still do some simple stuff around the house. 

My melanoma is growing slowly and I have low tumour burden in my lungs – all under 1cm.  My onc. said that DTIC often shows more activity when there is low tumour burden, so here's hoping. I'll have another session on July 12 and then scans a week later. Luckily I'll only have to wait  6 weeks in total to see if this is working.  My LDH is normal, so I hope it continues that way.

I tested negative for BRAF but my tumour is being tested against other mutations. If my current treatment doesn't work, then I'll go onto ipi.  

Lisa

i do combo chemo of CVD…and it is kicking my ass…bad…the mel i have is very aggressive and onc thought immunotherapy would take too long…trying to set me up for clinical trial or immuno…hope this hell is worth it.

boots

diagnosed april 2011 stage 3

stage4 june 2011..liver, lung and other mets

i can't poop, and lots of fatigue…nausia so bad i had to get hospitalized and get fluids…

i can't poop, and lots of fatigue…nausia so bad i had to get hospitalized and get fluids…

Boots, I am sorry to read that you are having a tough time with the combo chemo. Perhaps a
single drug such as DTIC would be better, as it is a bit less toxic with similar efficacy.

Take care.

Frank from Australia

Boots, I am sorry to read that you are having a tough time with the combo chemo. Perhaps a
single drug such as DTIC would be better, as it is a bit less toxic with similar efficacy.

Take care.

Frank from Australia

i do combo chemo of CVD…and it is kicking my ass…bad…the mel i have is very aggressive and onc thought immunotherapy would take too long…trying to set me up for clinical trial or immuno…hope this hell is worth it.

boots

diagnosed april 2011 stage 3

stage4 june 2011..liver, lung and other mets

I've been on DTIC since Friday and up until yesterday, was feeling okay. Now I have alot of flu like symptoms – sweating, chills, aches and general fatigue. No nausea or vomiting and I can still do some simple stuff around the house. 

My melanoma is growing slowly and I have low tumour burden in my lungs – all under 1cm.  My onc. said that DTIC often shows more activity when there is low tumour burden, so here's hoping. I'll have another session on July 12 and then scans a week later. Luckily I'll only have to wait  6 weeks in total to see if this is working.  My LDH is normal, so I hope it continues that way.

I tested negative for BRAF but my tumour is being tested against other mutations. If my current treatment doesn't work, then I'll go onto ipi.  

Lisa

Lisa,

My husband's first treatment was also chemo. His mel is extremely aggressive and even though he was BRAF positive, his liver functions weren't high enough to get him into the trial. The chemo was a hopeful stopgap to get the situation under control so he might get into a compassionate use trial.

He had his first treatment on May 28th, a combo of carboplatin and paclitaxel. 

When he went back for his 2 week follow up, his doctor was shocked and amazed at his response: the tumor under his arm shrank from softball sized to 2 marbles. His LDH levels dropped 75%. He had such a stunning response that his doctor is keeping him on the chemo instead of enrolling him in a trial (the BRAF drugs will still be there, but he wants to stick with what's working).

It could happen to you, too, Lisa! I will pray that it does. : )

Michelle, wife of Don

Thanks for posting this!  I start dacarbazine on Friday. I've had no first line treatment yet, so this is where I must begin.  I refuse to go into my first chemo session with the attitude that this will fail, so I hope to post later on my success story.  Apparently it works best with low tumor burden which is what I have. IPI would be next, but I hope I don't have to use it for awhile.

Lisa – Stage 4 lung mets