Info on Scans- Thank you

I just saw your post and since i dont think many will respond right away because of the holiday, and because you seem concerned, i thought i should try to write something and try my best to help. Although I dont consider myself an expert – I would defer to the opinions of people like Ed and Bubbles who have great advice and I am grateful to them for the time they spend for us.

I know you have had some bad news, but I would encourage you to take it slow and not rush. And maybe things are not so bad after all.

First, I would encourage you to fill in your profile with the basic details chronologically of your husband’s case. That way the board experts can give you the best advice / explanations (of course you should follow your doctor’s advice)

Second, my understanding is that all melanoma has been removed, right? So we are talking about adjuvant therapy. I would still be thinking three monthly scans but as Ed’s post made clear, maybe you could stretch it a little.

Third and most important, the focus now has to be on the rash. Most of us on immunotherapy have light rashes and this is not really a problem. But your other post suggests its a more serious rash (sorry). Its a mixed blessing. For some, the side effects are a good sign that the medicine is working. Its doing something to the skin, which is a good sign. Many of us “wish” for vitiligo as this seems to be correlated with response. Still you have to cure that now, particularly if its heading for a grade 3 AE. So its right to focus on that now. It may mean you need to pause or stop treatment. BUt if you read bubbles blog, that can be OK, you can still have a complete response in this case. And if your husband does not have any tumour then the doctors probably would want to stop treatment. But this need not be worrying, the meds may have worked. I would want to avoid a serious AE both because side effects are bad and for the reason you mention, so that you can go into more trials in the future. But your focus now should be on addressing the AE and containing it. I have had a close to grade 3 AE and had to be taken off treatment. In the US i was allowed back on after a few months and the AE never recurred. No idea why not.

Fourth on scans, i dont think there is any link between these and rash or anything. Deal with the AE / rash first and then talk about scans with the docs, who seem to be treating your husband well.

Hope this advice helps. If your husband does not have active melanoma then once he gets over the AE then all might be OK.
I know you are worried but things could be OK. But please do fill out your profile so that others (and esp the experts) will find your case easier to understand and they can give you better advice than I can.

Good luck with the appointments and dealing with the rash
Mark