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John McCain and melanoma
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John McCain and melanoma

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › John McCain and melanoma

  • Post
    • July 20, 2017 at 12:39 pm
    momsmole
    Participant

      I just read that Senator McCain's gioblastoma newly diagnosed is related to his previous melanomas going back to 2000.  Really scary!  I hate thinking that the mole on my shoulder that was removed last year could potentially pop up as brain cancer in a decade or so.   This disease scares the snot out of me.  My first year post-cancer was full of denial.  So far this second year is more anxious and frightening for me.

       

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    • Replies
        • July 20, 2017 at 1:26 pm
        A
        Participant

          Glioblastoma cannot be related to melanoma. This is a completely different type of cancer .

          • July 20, 2017 at 2:01 pm
          jenny22
          Participant

            I too wanted to respond to htis to alleviate fears.  His cancer is not metastaic diesase from Melanoma, it is a completely new, separate and primary brain cancer, called Glioblastoma.  One has nothing to do with the other….

            Still very sad…but not metastatic disease after all his melanomas!!!!!

            • July 20, 2017 at 2:09 pm
            JC
            Participant

              Could different types of cancers be linked with regard to genes?

                • July 20, 2017 at 2:37 pm
                A
                Participant

                  For some cancers caused by specific genetic mutations, yes. This is, however, not the case.

                • July 20, 2017 at 3:01 pm
                liberty04281
                Participant
                  Glioblastoma, the brain cancer that McCain was diagnosed with is not related to melanoma. It I’d different type of cancer.
                  • July 20, 2017 at 5:02 pm
                  casagrayson
                  Participant

                    The only way I think they might be connected would be the Agent Orange exposure.  I'm thinking that might have affected his immune system and left him more vulnerable to all types of cancer.  Just speculation on my part.

                      • May 21, 2018 at 3:50 pm
                      flicklisa
                      Participant
                        The brain is something melanoma can cause brain cancer…when I was diagnosed with stage 3b I had to have a brain CT…so i believe melanoma could have been a contributing factor in his brain. Cancer diagnosis
                      • July 21, 2017 at 3:37 pm
                      cancersnewnormal
                      Participant

                        This is a scientific abstract discussing the possible link between melanoma and gliomas. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4111084/

                        The article is from 2014, so it makes me wonder what changes immunotherapies will bring about, or even what new information may have surfaced since then.

                          • July 21, 2017 at 3:57 pm
                          cancersnewnormal
                          Participant

                            Just to clarify that link above…. there is some correlation, but without a definitive cause identified. Further research is necessary.  My guess would be that there is a higher chance of melanoma metastasis to the brain, than developement of glioblastoma. On a more upbeat thought…… the survival rates for both cancers are much better than just a few years ago, and are increasing with additional research. 

                          • July 21, 2017 at 6:29 pm
                          momsmole
                          Participant

                            Thank you all for the replies and information.  The up to date knowledge here is very reassuring.

                              • July 22, 2019 at 5:19 pm
                              PAbarb
                              Participant
                                Hello. There is a gene that is related to both Melanoma and glioblastoma. It is the POT1 gene. He may have very well had this and so each day we are learning more. @askthepa. I have this gene variant so it’s one day at a time. Live life to the fullest. Hugs to us all
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