› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Mass near bowel anyone ? Looking for hope
- This topic has 27 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 6 months ago by
ed williams.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Hi everyone I am new here and it is my dad that has melanoma . Or that is what is suspected as they have found a mass near his bowel. He will have to go for ct scans and then biopsies etc. But they are suspecting melanoma as he had stage 1 a few years ago on his abdomen. It was removed successfully with nothing found in the area. He was declared NED and followed up for a few years after. All clear until now. Of course my mind just jumps to the worst that he will not survive this. But maybe some of you have been through similar situations. I am just now starting to read the posts. Please, please give me some hope. I hate that I have to be here or any of you, but just glad there is a community.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Hearing your story, I wanted to share mine.
My dad has melanoma and was stage 3 since 2007. He's also had stage 3 colon cancer. He was NED up till 3 weeks ago when his routine CT scan found a mass in his abdomen and the biopsy confirmed it was melanoma. You wouldn't know something was going on from his looks. Fast forward to this past Tuesday, they started him on immunotherapy and he got his first outpatient infusion. He's been treated at MD Anderson this whole time and I feel they wasted no time since the scan and the start of treatment.
I've been trolling this forum everyday since 2007 when my dad was first diagnosed and have learned so, so, so much from the community and followed so many people's journeys here. People are very open to sharing and are generous with their knowledge. The evolution of treatment for this disease has progressed more in the last 5 years than it has in the previous 30. Outcomes and standards of living for treatments are improving and the new frontier of immunotherapy is being revealed not just for melanoma. Imho, it's an encouraging time in cancer treatment.
A few more tips I've seen here on handling this new normal:
1. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
2. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
3. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
4. Be wary of Google searches. The internet is full of old information and statistics.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Hearing your story, I wanted to share mine.
My dad has melanoma and was stage 3 since 2007. He's also had stage 3 colon cancer. He was NED up till 3 weeks ago when his routine CT scan found a mass in his abdomen and the biopsy confirmed it was melanoma. You wouldn't know something was going on from his looks. Fast forward to this past Tuesday, they started him on immunotherapy and he got his first outpatient infusion. He's been treated at MD Anderson this whole time and I feel they wasted no time since the scan and the start of treatment.
I've been trolling this forum everyday since 2007 when my dad was first diagnosed and have learned so, so, so much from the community and followed so many people's journeys here. People are very open to sharing and are generous with their knowledge. The evolution of treatment for this disease has progressed more in the last 5 years than it has in the previous 30. Outcomes and standards of living for treatments are improving and the new frontier of immunotherapy is being revealed not just for melanoma. Imho, it's an encouraging time in cancer treatment.
A few more tips I've seen here on handling this new normal:
1. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
2. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
3. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
4. Be wary of Google searches. The internet is full of old information and statistics.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Hearing your story, I wanted to share mine.
My dad has melanoma and was stage 3 since 2007. He's also had stage 3 colon cancer. He was NED up till 3 weeks ago when his routine CT scan found a mass in his abdomen and the biopsy confirmed it was melanoma. You wouldn't know something was going on from his looks. Fast forward to this past Tuesday, they started him on immunotherapy and he got his first outpatient infusion. He's been treated at MD Anderson this whole time and I feel they wasted no time since the scan and the start of treatment.
I've been trolling this forum everyday since 2007 when my dad was first diagnosed and have learned so, so, so much from the community and followed so many people's journeys here. People are very open to sharing and are generous with their knowledge. The evolution of treatment for this disease has progressed more in the last 5 years than it has in the previous 30. Outcomes and standards of living for treatments are improving and the new frontier of immunotherapy is being revealed not just for melanoma. Imho, it's an encouraging time in cancer treatment.
A few more tips I've seen here on handling this new normal:
1. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
2. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
3. Make sure you get treated by a melanoma specialist.
4. Be wary of Google searches. The internet is full of old information and statistics.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:58 pm
Thank you so much for getting back to me ! I really appreciate it and I so hope that your dad's treatment works for him. We live in Canada and our cancer care is a bit different. I hope I can find a melanoma doctor in our city. When he had stage 1 the oncologist might not have been a melanoma specialist. Also until they ct scan and biopsy the mass we won't know what type of cancer it is. I am just terrified of all of this. My mom died of ovarian cancer a few years ago, so I know what to expect with treatments etc. Doesn't make it any easier though.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:58 pm
Thank you so much for getting back to me ! I really appreciate it and I so hope that your dad's treatment works for him. We live in Canada and our cancer care is a bit different. I hope I can find a melanoma doctor in our city. When he had stage 1 the oncologist might not have been a melanoma specialist. Also until they ct scan and biopsy the mass we won't know what type of cancer it is. I am just terrified of all of this. My mom died of ovarian cancer a few years ago, so I know what to expect with treatments etc. Doesn't make it any easier though.
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- October 7, 2016 at 8:58 pm
Thank you so much for getting back to me ! I really appreciate it and I so hope that your dad's treatment works for him. We live in Canada and our cancer care is a bit different. I hope I can find a melanoma doctor in our city. When he had stage 1 the oncologist might not have been a melanoma specialist. Also until they ct scan and biopsy the mass we won't know what type of cancer it is. I am just terrified of all of this. My mom died of ovarian cancer a few years ago, so I know what to expect with treatments etc. Doesn't make it any easier though.
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- October 7, 2016 at 11:24 pm
so sorry to hear about your Dad.I am a newbie on this board. I happen to be in a similar boat. My Dad is the one with Melanoma. He had colon cancer last year, had it resected and all was good. Fast forward to June of this year, he went in for his "check up" and had a CT scan. CT revealed 2 spots on the lung, and something in the spleen. He had surgery and had spots on lung removed only to reveal that it was Melanoma . SHOCK! He has never had melanoma (that they can find) on the skin. So then he had a pet scan from the base of the neck down to the feet. They found lots of spots in his spleen, one in the lower bowel and upper right thigh. THEY NEVER SCANNED THE BRAIN! Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Had an MRI and found 8 mets on the brain. SHOCK!! I became overwhelmed with fear reading the statistics online. Thank goodness I found this site with these Warriors to ask questions and receive support.
Dad is moving forward with treatment and we are optomistic for his future. Its going to be a long road, but thats ok if we get to keep him around for many years to come.
Hang in there, the first few days are the hardest. Everyone here reassured me that once we had a plan, I would feel better. And guess what? THEY WERE RIGHT!
Best to you and your Dad, from Me and my Dad!
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- October 8, 2016 at 1:56 am
Thank you Jennifer ! I am sorry any of us are in the same boat, and It is so hard right now, not knowing what is going on. My dad is so ill. He is home, not in the hospital and we are taking care of him. What sort of treatment is your dad going to have ? I was reading another of your posts and it sounded like how I think of my dad. He has always been my rock, and there for me. I am so heartbroken.
Best to you and your dad too from my dad and I !
Patti
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- October 8, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Hi Patti. My Dad had Gamma Knife done on his brain on Thursday. They got 15 mets, we only thought he had 8. He is now in a "cooling off" period for about 10 days and then he will start on immunotherapy, not sure what drugs yet, we are waiting to hear.
I have been so heartbroken, I am very close to him and I hate that he has to go through this. But, I remain very hopeful that we can get treatment and extend his life for many years. Thank goodness we both found this site! Hang in there 🙂
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- October 8, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Hi Patti. My Dad had Gamma Knife done on his brain on Thursday. They got 15 mets, we only thought he had 8. He is now in a "cooling off" period for about 10 days and then he will start on immunotherapy, not sure what drugs yet, we are waiting to hear.
I have been so heartbroken, I am very close to him and I hate that he has to go through this. But, I remain very hopeful that we can get treatment and extend his life for many years. Thank goodness we both found this site! Hang in there 🙂
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- October 8, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Hi Patti. My Dad had Gamma Knife done on his brain on Thursday. They got 15 mets, we only thought he had 8. He is now in a "cooling off" period for about 10 days and then he will start on immunotherapy, not sure what drugs yet, we are waiting to hear.
I have been so heartbroken, I am very close to him and I hate that he has to go through this. But, I remain very hopeful that we can get treatment and extend his life for many years. Thank goodness we both found this site! Hang in there 🙂
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- October 8, 2016 at 1:56 am
Thank you Jennifer ! I am sorry any of us are in the same boat, and It is so hard right now, not knowing what is going on. My dad is so ill. He is home, not in the hospital and we are taking care of him. What sort of treatment is your dad going to have ? I was reading another of your posts and it sounded like how I think of my dad. He has always been my rock, and there for me. I am so heartbroken.
Best to you and your dad too from my dad and I !
Patti
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- October 8, 2016 at 1:56 am
Thank you Jennifer ! I am sorry any of us are in the same boat, and It is so hard right now, not knowing what is going on. My dad is so ill. He is home, not in the hospital and we are taking care of him. What sort of treatment is your dad going to have ? I was reading another of your posts and it sounded like how I think of my dad. He has always been my rock, and there for me. I am so heartbroken.
Best to you and your dad too from my dad and I !
Patti
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- October 7, 2016 at 11:24 pm
so sorry to hear about your Dad.I am a newbie on this board. I happen to be in a similar boat. My Dad is the one with Melanoma. He had colon cancer last year, had it resected and all was good. Fast forward to June of this year, he went in for his "check up" and had a CT scan. CT revealed 2 spots on the lung, and something in the spleen. He had surgery and had spots on lung removed only to reveal that it was Melanoma . SHOCK! He has never had melanoma (that they can find) on the skin. So then he had a pet scan from the base of the neck down to the feet. They found lots of spots in his spleen, one in the lower bowel and upper right thigh. THEY NEVER SCANNED THE BRAIN! Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Had an MRI and found 8 mets on the brain. SHOCK!! I became overwhelmed with fear reading the statistics online. Thank goodness I found this site with these Warriors to ask questions and receive support.
Dad is moving forward with treatment and we are optomistic for his future. Its going to be a long road, but thats ok if we get to keep him around for many years to come.
Hang in there, the first few days are the hardest. Everyone here reassured me that once we had a plan, I would feel better. And guess what? THEY WERE RIGHT!
Best to you and your Dad, from Me and my Dad!
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- October 7, 2016 at 11:24 pm
so sorry to hear about your Dad.I am a newbie on this board. I happen to be in a similar boat. My Dad is the one with Melanoma. He had colon cancer last year, had it resected and all was good. Fast forward to June of this year, he went in for his "check up" and had a CT scan. CT revealed 2 spots on the lung, and something in the spleen. He had surgery and had spots on lung removed only to reveal that it was Melanoma . SHOCK! He has never had melanoma (that they can find) on the skin. So then he had a pet scan from the base of the neck down to the feet. They found lots of spots in his spleen, one in the lower bowel and upper right thigh. THEY NEVER SCANNED THE BRAIN! Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Had an MRI and found 8 mets on the brain. SHOCK!! I became overwhelmed with fear reading the statistics online. Thank goodness I found this site with these Warriors to ask questions and receive support.
Dad is moving forward with treatment and we are optomistic for his future. Its going to be a long road, but thats ok if we get to keep him around for many years to come.
Hang in there, the first few days are the hardest. Everyone here reassured me that once we had a plan, I would feel better. And guess what? THEY WERE RIGHT!
Best to you and your Dad, from Me and my Dad!
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- October 8, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Dear Jango,
i also have a father with melanoma and was in the same boat as you a year ago… after beeing ned for 3 years, his mel progressed and my only thought was he was going to die…
This forum really helped put things in perspective, we are not dreading the worst these days… especially since keytruda for 10 months now and almost all his cancer gone… :-)))
Your father can be helped, so do not panic!
Love,
Patrisa
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- October 8, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Dear Jango,
i also have a father with melanoma and was in the same boat as you a year ago… after beeing ned for 3 years, his mel progressed and my only thought was he was going to die…
This forum really helped put things in perspective, we are not dreading the worst these days… especially since keytruda for 10 months now and almost all his cancer gone… :-)))
Your father can be helped, so do not panic!
Love,
Patrisa
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- October 8, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Dear Jango,
i also have a father with melanoma and was in the same boat as you a year ago… after beeing ned for 3 years, his mel progressed and my only thought was he was going to die…
This forum really helped put things in perspective, we are not dreading the worst these days… especially since keytruda for 10 months now and almost all his cancer gone… :-)))
Your father can be helped, so do not panic!
Love,
Patrisa
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- October 8, 2016 at 11:09 pm
Thank you everyone who has responded, this gives me some hope, as I am truly terrified. Until he gets the ct scan we don't even know how widespread it is. It may be in more than his abdomen. Are any of you from Canada ? Just wondering if keystruda is available here yet. I am having a hard time getting that info on the Internet.
Love to all
Patti
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- October 8, 2016 at 11:09 pm
Thank you everyone who has responded, this gives me some hope, as I am truly terrified. Until he gets the ct scan we don't even know how widespread it is. It may be in more than his abdomen. Are any of you from Canada ? Just wondering if keystruda is available here yet. I am having a hard time getting that info on the Internet.
Love to all
Patti
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- October 8, 2016 at 11:19 pm
Went to Merck's Canadian site and it does say that Keytruda is approved in Canada. Merck is the pharmacutical company. http://www.merck.ca is their site.
Take care,
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- October 8, 2016 at 11:19 pm
Went to Merck's Canadian site and it does say that Keytruda is approved in Canada. Merck is the pharmacutical company. http://www.merck.ca is their site.
Take care,
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- October 8, 2016 at 11:19 pm
Went to Merck's Canadian site and it does say that Keytruda is approved in Canada. Merck is the pharmacutical company. http://www.merck.ca is their site.
Take care,
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- October 9, 2016 at 5:26 am
Hi Patti, I can only speak for the situation in Ontario where Pembro (Keytruda) is approved for stage 4 patients. Best wishes!!!!Ed
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- October 9, 2016 at 5:26 am
Hi Patti, I can only speak for the situation in Ontario where Pembro (Keytruda) is approved for stage 4 patients. Best wishes!!!!Ed
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- October 9, 2016 at 5:26 am
Hi Patti, I can only speak for the situation in Ontario where Pembro (Keytruda) is approved for stage 4 patients. Best wishes!!!!Ed
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- October 8, 2016 at 11:09 pm
Thank you everyone who has responded, this gives me some hope, as I am truly terrified. Until he gets the ct scan we don't even know how widespread it is. It may be in more than his abdomen. Are any of you from Canada ? Just wondering if keystruda is available here yet. I am having a hard time getting that info on the Internet.
Love to all
Patti
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