need info on stage 4 metastisis

Sorry, Shane, but you're about 3 years too late. Up until about 3 years ago, the prognosis for Stage IV was very bleak because melanoma was notoriously resistant to all types of chemo and radiation.

Happily, the picture has changed markedly since then. There are several new treatments available now– some recently FDA approved (Zelboraf, Yervoy, Taflinar and Mekinist) and several more in the clinical trials pipeline. In addition, the availability of these new treatments has breathed new life into some of the older treatments like interferon, IL-2 and radiation because sometimes a combination of a new and an old drug works quite well for some people. 

So any statistics or prognoses your read on the internet about melanoma are likely to be out of date and misleading– don't read them. Come here instead. 

The way oncologists and patients are handling melanoma now is to try the most promising treatment (either a prescription or a clinical trial) and see how it goes. If it works, stick with it as long as you can. If it doesn't work or it stops working, try another treatment or another clinical trial. Many, many Stage IV patients are now living longer and longer and some of those who were involved in the early clinical trials of these new drugs are 5 or 10 years post diagnosis. So you have good reason to be optimistic.

Now that you are Stage IV, the most important thing is to get yourself to an NCI designated melanoma specialty center. If there is one near you, make them your primary melanoma center. If there isn't one near you, at least go to one for a consult. Things are changing so fast in the field of melanoma and new treatments are being introduced so often that most general oncolgists simply can't keep up with it all. 

It would be best if you complete a profile here telling us about your original diagnosis and path report (Breslow depth, mitotic index, ulceration, etc) and where you live. Then we can refer to that in the future to give you the best advice we can. 

Keep up a positive mental attitude and never take "No" for an answer! 

Sorry, Shane, but you're about 3 years too late. Up until about 3 years ago, the prognosis for Stage IV was very bleak because melanoma was notoriously resistant to all types of chemo and radiation.

Happily, the picture has changed markedly since then. There are several new treatments available now– some recently FDA approved (Zelboraf, Yervoy, Taflinar and Mekinist) and several more in the clinical trials pipeline. In addition, the availability of these new treatments has breathed new life into some of the older treatments like interferon, IL-2 and radiation because sometimes a combination of a new and an old drug works quite well for some people. 

So any statistics or prognoses your read on the internet about melanoma are likely to be out of date and misleading– don't read them. Come here instead. 

The way oncologists and patients are handling melanoma now is to try the most promising treatment (either a prescription or a clinical trial) and see how it goes. If it works, stick with it as long as you can. If it doesn't work or it stops working, try another treatment or another clinical trial. Many, many Stage IV patients are now living longer and longer and some of those who were involved in the early clinical trials of these new drugs are 5 or 10 years post diagnosis. So you have good reason to be optimistic.

Now that you are Stage IV, the most important thing is to get yourself to an NCI designated melanoma specialty center. If there is one near you, make them your primary melanoma center. If there isn't one near you, at least go to one for a consult. Things are changing so fast in the field of melanoma and new treatments are being introduced so often that most general oncolgists simply can't keep up with it all. 

It would be best if you complete a profile here telling us about your original diagnosis and path report (Breslow depth, mitotic index, ulceration, etc) and where you live. Then we can refer to that in the future to give you the best advice we can. 

Keep up a positive mental attitude and never take "No" for an answer! 

Sorry, Shane, but you're about 3 years too late. Up until about 3 years ago, the prognosis for Stage IV was very bleak because melanoma was notoriously resistant to all types of chemo and radiation.

Happily, the picture has changed markedly since then. There are several new treatments available now– some recently FDA approved (Zelboraf, Yervoy, Taflinar and Mekinist) and several more in the clinical trials pipeline. In addition, the availability of these new treatments has breathed new life into some of the older treatments like interferon, IL-2 and radiation because sometimes a combination of a new and an old drug works quite well for some people. 

So any statistics or prognoses your read on the internet about melanoma are likely to be out of date and misleading– don't read them. Come here instead. 

The way oncologists and patients are handling melanoma now is to try the most promising treatment (either a prescription or a clinical trial) and see how it goes. If it works, stick with it as long as you can. If it doesn't work or it stops working, try another treatment or another clinical trial. Many, many Stage IV patients are now living longer and longer and some of those who were involved in the early clinical trials of these new drugs are 5 or 10 years post diagnosis. So you have good reason to be optimistic.

Now that you are Stage IV, the most important thing is to get yourself to an NCI designated melanoma specialty center. If there is one near you, make them your primary melanoma center. If there isn't one near you, at least go to one for a consult. Things are changing so fast in the field of melanoma and new treatments are being introduced so often that most general oncolgists simply can't keep up with it all. 

It would be best if you complete a profile here telling us about your original diagnosis and path report (Breslow depth, mitotic index, ulceration, etc) and where you live. Then we can refer to that in the future to give you the best advice we can. 

Keep up a positive mental attitude and never take "No" for an answer! 

Shane, I do not think the statistics have caught up with the recent advances in treatments available. Hopefully you are seeing a melanoma specialist who can be sure to tell you the best next step. I have been stage IV since 2005, and marvel to see the changes in treatments available and the real possibilities for lasting responses now. "back in the day" there was just not much available that had hope for most people. You are in for a battle, no doubt.. but, one with hope!

Tina

Shane, I do not think the statistics have caught up with the recent advances in treatments available. Hopefully you are seeing a melanoma specialist who can be sure to tell you the best next step. I have been stage IV since 2005, and marvel to see the changes in treatments available and the real possibilities for lasting responses now. "back in the day" there was just not much available that had hope for most people. You are in for a battle, no doubt.. but, one with hope!

Tina

Shane, I do not think the statistics have caught up with the recent advances in treatments available. Hopefully you are seeing a melanoma specialist who can be sure to tell you the best next step. I have been stage IV since 2005, and marvel to see the changes in treatments available and the real possibilities for lasting responses now. "back in the day" there was just not much available that had hope for most people. You are in for a battle, no doubt.. but, one with hope!

Tina

When I went to Stage IV in Feb 2007 the statistics said I had between 30 and 180 days. Last data I saw used 1 year as the medium life expectancy for one upon going to stage IV.  My advice has always been, to learn all one can and while learning, at stage IV, teach ones significant other what they will need to know to live without us.  THEN fight like mad to keep them from having to use what you taught them. 

    I have not been NED (No Evidence of Disease – on scans) since reaching Stage IV.  I'm still here either way.  As you were told above, there are quite a few things now that stand a chance of lengthing ones life that were not available when I reached stage IV.  For some, they will live long enough to die from old age.

    Do you know what your DNA mutation and LDH are?  This can make a big difference in which treatment is likely to have a positive effect.

   What are you in for?  A lot of uncertainity, a feeling of comradship with many people that you may never see.  possibly pain, certainly some fatigue and a lot of running and waiting for tests and results. For wondering if every bump and ache has anything to do with melanoma.  One learns to live with this and to enjoy the good things inlife that we used to overlook. 

Jeff Tomczek: The Things I Wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html

Good luck sorry to need to welcome you, but glad to help.

When I went to Stage IV in Feb 2007 the statistics said I had between 30 and 180 days. Last data I saw used 1 year as the medium life expectancy for one upon going to stage IV.  My advice has always been, to learn all one can and while learning, at stage IV, teach ones significant other what they will need to know to live without us.  THEN fight like mad to keep them from having to use what you taught them. 

    I have not been NED (No Evidence of Disease – on scans) since reaching Stage IV.  I'm still here either way.  As you were told above, there are quite a few things now that stand a chance of lengthing ones life that were not available when I reached stage IV.  For some, they will live long enough to die from old age.

    Do you know what your DNA mutation and LDH are?  This can make a big difference in which treatment is likely to have a positive effect.

   What are you in for?  A lot of uncertainity, a feeling of comradship with many people that you may never see.  possibly pain, certainly some fatigue and a lot of running and waiting for tests and results. For wondering if every bump and ache has anything to do with melanoma.  One learns to live with this and to enjoy the good things inlife that we used to overlook. 

Jeff Tomczek: The Things I Wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html

Good luck sorry to need to welcome you, but glad to help.

When I went to Stage IV in Feb 2007 the statistics said I had between 30 and 180 days. Last data I saw used 1 year as the medium life expectancy for one upon going to stage IV.  My advice has always been, to learn all one can and while learning, at stage IV, teach ones significant other what they will need to know to live without us.  THEN fight like mad to keep them from having to use what you taught them. 

    I have not been NED (No Evidence of Disease – on scans) since reaching Stage IV.  I'm still here either way.  As you were told above, there are quite a few things now that stand a chance of lengthing ones life that were not available when I reached stage IV.  For some, they will live long enough to die from old age.

    Do you know what your DNA mutation and LDH are?  This can make a big difference in which treatment is likely to have a positive effect.

   What are you in for?  A lot of uncertainity, a feeling of comradship with many people that you may never see.  possibly pain, certainly some fatigue and a lot of running and waiting for tests and results. For wondering if every bump and ache has anything to do with melanoma.  One learns to live with this and to enjoy the good things inlife that we used to overlook. 

Jeff Tomczek: The Things I Wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-tomczek/cancer-advice_b_1628266.html

Good luck sorry to need to welcome you, but glad to help.

hi Shane — I don't have anything extra to add — but welcome to stage IV (?!) — I am also there, and feel quite hopeful that I will be there for many more years! I've already outlived my life expectancy. The others are right: the stats are grim, and they don't have much to do with you. 

hi Shane — I don't have anything extra to add — but welcome to stage IV (?!) — I am also there, and feel quite hopeful that I will be there for many more years! I've already outlived my life expectancy. The others are right: the stats are grim, and they don't have much to do with you. 

hi Shane — I don't have anything extra to add — but welcome to stage IV (?!) — I am also there, and feel quite hopeful that I will be there for many more years! I've already outlived my life expectancy. The others are right: the stats are grim, and they don't have much to do with you.