Mitotic Rate of 15 and Staged 2b
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Mitotic Rate of 15 and Staged 2b

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Mitotic Rate of 15 and Staged 2b

  • Post
    • September 9, 2014 at 5:32 pm
    missourimom2008
    Participant

    My husband was diagnosed a few short months ago with Malignant Melanoma, right before his 25th birthday. He has undergone 1 surgery and his pet scan just came back negative for which we are feeling very blessed. We have however been referred to a specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis due to the fact that he has a mitotic rate of 15….I know his Oncologist said ideally it should be 0, does anyone have any answers, advice, experience or information about having such a high mitotic rate? I have done some research but just am not finding much. Thank you!!

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  • Replies
      • September 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm
      missourimom2008
      Participant

      Also, my husband's original tumor was 2.6 mm thick with ulceration. His father has nodular melanoma and has undergone 7 surgeries so far in addition to interferon. My husband has not started any treatment as of now and we will be discussing Clinical Trials while at his dr appt at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,

      • September 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm
      missourimom2008
      Participant

      Also, my husband's original tumor was 2.6 mm thick with ulceration. His father has nodular melanoma and has undergone 7 surgeries so far in addition to interferon. My husband has not started any treatment as of now and we will be discussing Clinical Trials while at his dr appt at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,

        • September 9, 2014 at 11:17 pm
        malika
        Participant

        My son was 8 when diagnosed – his mitosis rate was 13, the tumor was nodular and ulcerated, and melanoma was found in the lymph nodes –> Stage 3B.  There are even fewer treatments available for kids than for adults and interferon was the only treatment available for kiddos under 10.  We chose to do interferon and went to five hospitals until we found St Jude’s where my son could be treated.  Another thing to keep in mind is that microscopic melanoma doesn’t appear on scans.  My son had clear PET/CT scans the week before additional melanoma was found in his lymph nodes.  While not everyone agrees with CLND and interferon, we wanted to be aggressive and interferon felt better than "watch and wait" for us; at 10 years old, my son is still NED.  

        • September 9, 2014 at 11:17 pm
        malika
        Participant

        My son was 8 when diagnosed – his mitosis rate was 13, the tumor was nodular and ulcerated, and melanoma was found in the lymph nodes –> Stage 3B.  There are even fewer treatments available for kids than for adults and interferon was the only treatment available for kiddos under 10.  We chose to do interferon and went to five hospitals until we found St Jude’s where my son could be treated.  Another thing to keep in mind is that microscopic melanoma doesn’t appear on scans.  My son had clear PET/CT scans the week before additional melanoma was found in his lymph nodes.  While not everyone agrees with CLND and interferon, we wanted to be aggressive and interferon felt better than "watch and wait" for us; at 10 years old, my son is still NED.  

        • September 9, 2014 at 11:17 pm
        malika
        Participant

        My son was 8 when diagnosed – his mitosis rate was 13, the tumor was nodular and ulcerated, and melanoma was found in the lymph nodes –> Stage 3B.  There are even fewer treatments available for kids than for adults and interferon was the only treatment available for kiddos under 10.  We chose to do interferon and went to five hospitals until we found St Jude’s where my son could be treated.  Another thing to keep in mind is that microscopic melanoma doesn’t appear on scans.  My son had clear PET/CT scans the week before additional melanoma was found in his lymph nodes.  While not everyone agrees with CLND and interferon, we wanted to be aggressive and interferon felt better than "watch and wait" for us; at 10 years old, my son is still NED.  

        • September 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

        That is wonderful news that your son is doing well! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

        • September 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

        That is wonderful news that your son is doing well! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

        • September 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

        That is wonderful news that your son is doing well! Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

      • September 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm
      missourimom2008
      Participant

      Also, my husband's original tumor was 2.6 mm thick with ulceration. His father has nodular melanoma and has undergone 7 surgeries so far in addition to interferon. My husband has not started any treatment as of now and we will be discussing Clinical Trials while at his dr appt at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,

      • September 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      As you know, this is a high mitotic rate, and being ulcerated is more challenging as well.  Since he has no trace of cancer right now, the standard of care is observation. Given the high mitotic rate and ulceration looking at a cilinical trial makes a lot of sense. You have probably heard the word "adjuvant", which is used for patients in your husband's situation–having been diagnosed with cancer but now cancer free. The only drug approved for adjuvant treatment is interferon, and the data on that drug are mixed. Some companies with drugs being used for patients with metastatic melanoma are currently conducting trials in the adjuvant setting. This has only been the case in the past couple of years, so some things in trials are available now that would not have been available a short while ago.

      Will be interested to see what options the treatment team offers. But in the interim you may want to do some research on adjuvant studies in melanoma.

      Tim–MRF

      • September 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      As you know, this is a high mitotic rate, and being ulcerated is more challenging as well.  Since he has no trace of cancer right now, the standard of care is observation. Given the high mitotic rate and ulceration looking at a cilinical trial makes a lot of sense. You have probably heard the word "adjuvant", which is used for patients in your husband's situation–having been diagnosed with cancer but now cancer free. The only drug approved for adjuvant treatment is interferon, and the data on that drug are mixed. Some companies with drugs being used for patients with metastatic melanoma are currently conducting trials in the adjuvant setting. This has only been the case in the past couple of years, so some things in trials are available now that would not have been available a short while ago.

      Will be interested to see what options the treatment team offers. But in the interim you may want to do some research on adjuvant studies in melanoma.

      Tim–MRF

        • September 9, 2014 at 7:36 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

        Thank you for replying Tim 🙂 Yes I've done a lot of research on adjuvent therapies and Interferon seems to be the norm for his case, but his Oncologist doesn't have a very high opinion of it and doesn't think it will help in his case I suppose. As of right now it's just waiting for it to come back, which his Onc. thinks will happen……

        • September 9, 2014 at 7:36 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

        Thank you for replying Tim 🙂 Yes I've done a lot of research on adjuvent therapies and Interferon seems to be the norm for his case, but his Oncologist doesn't have a very high opinion of it and doesn't think it will help in his case I suppose. As of right now it's just waiting for it to come back, which his Onc. thinks will happen……

        • September 9, 2014 at 7:36 pm
        missourimom2008
        Participant

        Thank you for replying Tim 🙂 Yes I've done a lot of research on adjuvent therapies and Interferon seems to be the norm for his case, but his Oncologist doesn't have a very high opinion of it and doesn't think it will help in his case I suppose. As of right now it's just waiting for it to come back, which his Onc. thinks will happen……

        • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
        liberty04281
        Participant

        I think your husband should go for CT scans every 3 months, because there is a very high possibility it will come back. I do not think there is a clinical trial for stage 2b.

        I do not mean to scare you, but that how things look like.

        Good Luck!

        • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
        liberty04281
        Participant

        I think your husband should go for CT scans every 3 months, because there is a very high possibility it will come back. I do not think there is a clinical trial for stage 2b.

        I do not mean to scare you, but that how things look like.

        Good Luck!

        • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
        liberty04281
        Participant

        I think your husband should go for CT scans every 3 months, because there is a very high possibility it will come back. I do not think there is a clinical trial for stage 2b.

        I do not mean to scare you, but that how things look like.

        Good Luck!

        • September 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
        oldblue
        Participant

        I'm 3b and am due to start on a trial – COMBI-AD (google it)

        Cheers,

        Nigel.

        • September 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
        oldblue
        Participant

        I'm 3b and am due to start on a trial – COMBI-AD (google it)

        Cheers,

        Nigel.

        • September 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
        oldblue
        Participant

        I'm 3b and am due to start on a trial – COMBI-AD (google it)

        Cheers,

        Nigel.

      • September 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
      Tim–MRF
      Guest

      As you know, this is a high mitotic rate, and being ulcerated is more challenging as well.  Since he has no trace of cancer right now, the standard of care is observation. Given the high mitotic rate and ulceration looking at a cilinical trial makes a lot of sense. You have probably heard the word "adjuvant", which is used for patients in your husband's situation–having been diagnosed with cancer but now cancer free. The only drug approved for adjuvant treatment is interferon, and the data on that drug are mixed. Some companies with drugs being used for patients with metastatic melanoma are currently conducting trials in the adjuvant setting. This has only been the case in the past couple of years, so some things in trials are available now that would not have been available a short while ago.

      Will be interested to see what options the treatment team offers. But in the interim you may want to do some research on adjuvant studies in melanoma.

      Tim–MRF

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