Jacki (aka jax2007gxp) -thinking about you!

Hi Mary,

Thanks for thinking about me!  Appointments went alright.  I've decided to go ahead with the high dose interferon. At stage IIIc resected, my only other option (other than do nothing) was an attempt at a trial where I would have a chance at Yervoy but no guarantees.  I weighed this pretty heavily and decided I'd rather avoid the side effects of Yervoy considering there may be no additional benefit at this time.  Plus, taking Yervoy now would limit some of my options later if I ever needed to consider "all the options".

Both the medical onc and the surgical onc do not think the new lump in my left groin (recent mel was on the right) is melanoma.  Surgeon thinks it is a cyst but wants me to pay attention to it and make sure it doesn't seem to be growing.  So, I'm still a little nervous about not knowing for sure, but do feel better about two doctors coming to the same conclusion.  Both said that if the mel is showing up on the left side, we have a big situation in front of us.

The second drain was removed and so far no lymphedema symptoms.  Yippee!  It is freeing to not have the drains, but it did take a couple of days now to feel comfortable that I wasn't going to have instant lymphedema  for having the drains removed.  Numbness in the thigh is still about the same, but the pain is significantly better this week.

I hope you are doing well. And thank you again for checking in on me. 🙂

Jacki

Hi Mary,

Thanks for thinking about me!  Appointments went alright.  I've decided to go ahead with the high dose interferon. At stage IIIc resected, my only other option (other than do nothing) was an attempt at a trial where I would have a chance at Yervoy but no guarantees.  I weighed this pretty heavily and decided I'd rather avoid the side effects of Yervoy considering there may be no additional benefit at this time.  Plus, taking Yervoy now would limit some of my options later if I ever needed to consider "all the options".

Both the medical onc and the surgical onc do not think the new lump in my left groin (recent mel was on the right) is melanoma.  Surgeon thinks it is a cyst but wants me to pay attention to it and make sure it doesn't seem to be growing.  So, I'm still a little nervous about not knowing for sure, but do feel better about two doctors coming to the same conclusion.  Both said that if the mel is showing up on the left side, we have a big situation in front of us.

The second drain was removed and so far no lymphedema symptoms.  Yippee!  It is freeing to not have the drains, but it did take a couple of days now to feel comfortable that I wasn't going to have instant lymphedema  for having the drains removed.  Numbness in the thigh is still about the same, but the pain is significantly better this week.

I hope you are doing well. And thank you again for checking in on me. 🙂

Jacki

Hi Mary,

Thanks for thinking about me!  Appointments went alright.  I've decided to go ahead with the high dose interferon. At stage IIIc resected, my only other option (other than do nothing) was an attempt at a trial where I would have a chance at Yervoy but no guarantees.  I weighed this pretty heavily and decided I'd rather avoid the side effects of Yervoy considering there may be no additional benefit at this time.  Plus, taking Yervoy now would limit some of my options later if I ever needed to consider "all the options".

Both the medical onc and the surgical onc do not think the new lump in my left groin (recent mel was on the right) is melanoma.  Surgeon thinks it is a cyst but wants me to pay attention to it and make sure it doesn't seem to be growing.  So, I'm still a little nervous about not knowing for sure, but do feel better about two doctors coming to the same conclusion.  Both said that if the mel is showing up on the left side, we have a big situation in front of us.

The second drain was removed and so far no lymphedema symptoms.  Yippee!  It is freeing to not have the drains, but it did take a couple of days now to feel comfortable that I wasn't going to have instant lymphedema  for having the drains removed.  Numbness in the thigh is still about the same, but the pain is significantly better this week.

I hope you are doing well. And thank you again for checking in on me. 🙂

Jacki