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Melanoma from ear to lung now to rib cage

Forums General Melanoma Community Melanoma from ear to lung now to rib cage

  • Post
    Wally
    Participant

      My initial post, profile and subsequent post will indicate my history and I am extremely grateful to all of the veteran's on this forum for the extremely gratious and possitive responses. I was supposed to have had a follow up in September following upon my surgery in April but have been experiencing rather sharp pains in my right rib cage so thought I would see the Oncologist Specialist Surgeon as I thought it may be that the wound was not healing properly. An X-Ray indicated a possible pseudo-tumour.

      My initial post, profile and subsequent post will indicate my history and I am extremely grateful to all of the veteran's on this forum for the extremely gratious and possitive responses. I was supposed to have had a follow up in September following upon my surgery in April but have been experiencing rather sharp pains in my right rib cage so thought I would see the Oncologist Specialist Surgeon as I thought it may be that the wound was not healing properly. An X-Ray indicated a possible pseudo-tumour. CT scan was recommended confirmed a pseudo-tumour mayor fissure right but no evidence of metastatic disease. The Oncologist was not comfortable with this diagnosis as she had requested that they focus on mt ribs as that is where the pain was. She studied a 3D image on a CD and observed what appeared to be erosion of the 8th rib. Increased tracer uptake noted a whole series of problems with empahasis on irregulare increased uptake in ribs 7 & 8 right postero-lateral, with focal intense uptake in rib 8 right lateral, and a possible photopenic area as part of thios lesion, although it is not convincing.

      The comment was:

      "1. Scintigraphic findings are in support of focal intense osteoblastic lesion involving +- ribs 7 and 8 right lateral, and very intense in rib 8 – these are very suspiscious of possible osteoblastic skeletal metastases, or local spread to skeletal from primary lesion, with possible osteolytic component.

      These lesions appear of a subacute nature."

      I need to know what this all means. I will be seeing the surgeon who removed the melanoma from my lung in April tomorrow morning at 9 to see what he suggests. The Oncologist has suggested that rib 8 be removed to avoid further spread. I will also have rib 8 biopsied tomorrow to confirm the spread.

      Has anyone else on this board had a similar experience. I was told that all was clean and no further spread was possible now it has entered my bones – will it spread even further into my other ribs / body parts?

      Please give me some good news?? My wife and I are scheduled to leave for the UK on Wednesday to witness the birth of out second grand daughter – and now this.

      I thank uo all most sicerely.

      Wally Key from South Africa.

    Viewing 1 reply thread
    • Replies
        MichaelFL
        Participant

          Hi Wally,

          I do not know who told you that it can no longer spread. That is wrong. There is always that possibility. The Oncologist (if it was the same person or not) had the right idea to investigate further though.

          I can help you with the definitions, but you may not like what you read.

          Subacute means that it has been there from several days to possibly a few months. Acute means rapid or recently, and chronic is long term or long in duration.

          A osteoblast is a cell from which bone develops. Osteoblastic skeletal metastases means that the rib(s) is/are highly suspicious of metastases or cancer which has possibly spread from elsewhere.

          Osteolytic component or osteolysis refers to an active reabsorption of bone matrix by osteoclasts as part of an ongoing disease process.

          It is good that you are having your rib(s) removed and biopsied. Surgery, if possible, is always the best option.

          I also read your profile. Have you discussed clinical trials? I searched clinical trials.gov and nothing is available there in South Africa.

          Is there any chance you can be treated in the UK? Either with IL-2 or Yervoy?

          You may wish to discuss the possibility of IL-2 and Yervoy with your doctor. I know that Yervoy is approved in Australia and Europe, but I do not think it is available in Africa. I believe IL-2 is available in South Africa though.

          Best wishes,

          Michael

            Wally
            Participant

              Thanks so much Michael. Yes, I read your reply with some trebitation. The surgeon today indicated that we should wait and see uopon my return from the UK, which seems in conflict with what the Oncologist said. I was admitted this morning and a nerve block was administered to ease the pain while I am in the UK. I see him tomorrow for a verdict on the bronscopy (not sure how to spel this one) he did in my lungs. Removal of the one or two ribs will be considered upon my return from London after a further scan to see if it has grown. Somehow he does not think this is metastatic melanoma but damage to the ribs when I had the lung surgery. Again this is in conflict with what the Oncologist said.

              Anyway, I am off to the UK tomorrow and we can tackle this problem when I get back. There are no clinical trials available in SA. Interferon has been suggested but I am told it does not really work. IL-2 is available but our Dept of Health will only allow its use if all other treatments absolutely fail. SA gets it free but it costs something like R250 000 per double cuycle (whatever that means) thus the need to try other avenues first.

              I will be back in SA on 5 September and will respond to any further responses then. In the meantime thank you for the replies so far.

              MichaelFL
              Participant

                That is kind of what I gathered too. One says rib damage, other says possible melanoma.

                The rib and lung biopsy will confirm or deny both places.

                Good luck tomorrow,

                Michael

                Wally
                Participant

                  Thanks Michael.

                  Wally
                  Participant

                    Thanks Michael.

                    MichaelFL
                    Participant

                      That is kind of what I gathered too. One says rib damage, other says possible melanoma.

                      The rib and lung biopsy will confirm or deny both places.

                      Good luck tomorrow,

                      Michael

                      Wally
                      Participant

                        Thanks so much Michael. Yes, I read your reply with some trebitation. The surgeon today indicated that we should wait and see uopon my return from the UK, which seems in conflict with what the Oncologist said. I was admitted this morning and a nerve block was administered to ease the pain while I am in the UK. I see him tomorrow for a verdict on the bronscopy (not sure how to spel this one) he did in my lungs. Removal of the one or two ribs will be considered upon my return from London after a further scan to see if it has grown. Somehow he does not think this is metastatic melanoma but damage to the ribs when I had the lung surgery. Again this is in conflict with what the Oncologist said.

                        Anyway, I am off to the UK tomorrow and we can tackle this problem when I get back. There are no clinical trials available in SA. Interferon has been suggested but I am told it does not really work. IL-2 is available but our Dept of Health will only allow its use if all other treatments absolutely fail. SA gets it free but it costs something like R250 000 per double cuycle (whatever that means) thus the need to try other avenues first.

                        I will be back in SA on 5 September and will respond to any further responses then. In the meantime thank you for the replies so far.

                      MichaelFL
                      Participant

                        Hi Wally,

                        I do not know who told you that it can no longer spread. That is wrong. There is always that possibility. The Oncologist (if it was the same person or not) had the right idea to investigate further though.

                        I can help you with the definitions, but you may not like what you read.

                        Subacute means that it has been there from several days to possibly a few months. Acute means rapid or recently, and chronic is long term or long in duration.

                        A osteoblast is a cell from which bone develops. Osteoblastic skeletal metastases means that the rib(s) is/are highly suspicious of metastases or cancer which has possibly spread from elsewhere.

                        Osteolytic component or osteolysis refers to an active reabsorption of bone matrix by osteoclasts as part of an ongoing disease process.

                        It is good that you are having your rib(s) removed and biopsied. Surgery, if possible, is always the best option.

                        I also read your profile. Have you discussed clinical trials? I searched clinical trials.gov and nothing is available there in South Africa.

                        Is there any chance you can be treated in the UK? Either with IL-2 or Yervoy?

                        You may wish to discuss the possibility of IL-2 and Yervoy with your doctor. I know that Yervoy is approved in Australia and Europe, but I do not think it is available in Africa. I believe IL-2 is available in South Africa though.

                        Best wishes,

                        Michael

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