› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Husband stage 4 12 years after stage 2b negative node biopsy
- This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 2 months ago by
Gene_S.
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- February 18, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Hi all, so sorry to be back. My husbands first diagnosis in 2001 brought me to the board and I
was on often, but over the years I really felt it was OK. He had a chest xray with us thinking
he had bronchitis/pneumonia (coughing, hoarse) and they found a 3.8 x 3.4 lung mass and
several nodules. Also scattered masses over abdomen. They did a biopsy of the lung mass and
found it positive for melanoma. We have an oncologist appt Wednesday. I am terrified. He is 58
Hi all, so sorry to be back. My husbands first diagnosis in 2001 brought me to the board and I
was on often, but over the years I really felt it was OK. He had a chest xray with us thinking
he had bronchitis/pneumonia (coughing, hoarse) and they found a 3.8 x 3.4 lung mass and
several nodules. Also scattered masses over abdomen. They did a biopsy of the lung mass and
found it positive for melanoma. We have an oncologist appt Wednesday. I am terrified. He is 58
we have one daughter age 20, we went to her college yesterday and told her, but downplayed it
so as to not worry her. I am so scared because he seems so sick and because of the stomach.
I have a call in to Sylvester Center in Miami as well where he went the first time – he did a year of
interferon then. But the oncologist has a good reputation as well so I guess we will start there. I
imagine they will do a brain ct to check for brain mets? Primary says they will probably remove
lung mass via surgery. I have a list of questions – what about liver, is he braf positive, ive read
about yervoy and ipi which sound promising. I just want to stop crying. I know I need to be strong.
Thanks for any advice. He is 58 fit and healthy otherwise..
Vicki his loving wife
- Replies
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- February 20, 2013 at 2:53 am
Hi, my heart goes out to you, I was just dx with stage 4, my wife is in much the same boat as yourself. BernieB
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- February 20, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Hello Vicki
This is a good place to come with your questions and many will provide you with answers or at least questions for you to ask.
I just wanted to say Ippi and Yervoy are the same drug. Ippi was the name before the FDA approved it they then changed it to Yervoy.
My husband became Stage IV in Oct. 2010 and had lesions in the liver, lungs and one pushing on the spine at the C1, C2 level (cervical neck area). The one pushing on the spine as unresectable because of the location as it would probably cripple him. He started Ippi on March 3, 2011 and as of right now is NED ( no evidence of disease). They did not operate on any of these and the drug shrunk them all. He also had 4 surface lesions that we literally watched disappear in a rather short amount of time. If you would like to read more about his journey check out his profile.
He was 58 at the time of becoming Stage IV and also in good health. Find yourself a good melanoma specialist in your vicinity or as close as possible. With all the new things out there I feel this to be one of the most important things as these people deal with melanoma and know the side effects of the drugs to watch out for as well. In the last 2 years some new drugs have been approved and more are due to be approved this year so keep up the faith.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)
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- February 20, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Hello Vicki
This is a good place to come with your questions and many will provide you with answers or at least questions for you to ask.
I just wanted to say Ippi and Yervoy are the same drug. Ippi was the name before the FDA approved it they then changed it to Yervoy.
My husband became Stage IV in Oct. 2010 and had lesions in the liver, lungs and one pushing on the spine at the C1, C2 level (cervical neck area). The one pushing on the spine as unresectable because of the location as it would probably cripple him. He started Ippi on March 3, 2011 and as of right now is NED ( no evidence of disease). They did not operate on any of these and the drug shrunk them all. He also had 4 surface lesions that we literally watched disappear in a rather short amount of time. If you would like to read more about his journey check out his profile.
He was 58 at the time of becoming Stage IV and also in good health. Find yourself a good melanoma specialist in your vicinity or as close as possible. With all the new things out there I feel this to be one of the most important things as these people deal with melanoma and know the side effects of the drugs to watch out for as well. In the last 2 years some new drugs have been approved and more are due to be approved this year so keep up the faith.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)
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- February 20, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Hello Vicki
This is a good place to come with your questions and many will provide you with answers or at least questions for you to ask.
I just wanted to say Ippi and Yervoy are the same drug. Ippi was the name before the FDA approved it they then changed it to Yervoy.
My husband became Stage IV in Oct. 2010 and had lesions in the liver, lungs and one pushing on the spine at the C1, C2 level (cervical neck area). The one pushing on the spine as unresectable because of the location as it would probably cripple him. He started Ippi on March 3, 2011 and as of right now is NED ( no evidence of disease). They did not operate on any of these and the drug shrunk them all. He also had 4 surface lesions that we literally watched disappear in a rather short amount of time. If you would like to read more about his journey check out his profile.
He was 58 at the time of becoming Stage IV and also in good health. Find yourself a good melanoma specialist in your vicinity or as close as possible. With all the new things out there I feel this to be one of the most important things as these people deal with melanoma and know the side effects of the drugs to watch out for as well. In the last 2 years some new drugs have been approved and more are due to be approved this year so keep up the faith.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)
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