Need Some Advice Fellow Mellow-Noma Family

Alana, I’m sorry you are going through such a stressful time, it certainly sounds like you have been through the mill recently and now you have this to deal with, I hope you are able to get some good support.

In answer to your questions about treatment I must say my first reaction when I was told I had melanoma and I needed “treatment” was to ask my doctor whether that meant chemo. The quick answer was no, and in general chemo is not very effective for melanoma although you will find people here talking about some use of chemotherapeutic agents.

The current sorts of treatment that have been in trials and which in some cases are now FDA approved are the treatments of choice. The key thing for your doctors to find out, which I assume they will be checking, is whether your melanoma has any of the major genetic mutations, such as BRAF. If you are BRAF positive then that opens up the possibility of treatment with BRAF inhibitors (Vemurafenib/Zelboraf or Dabrafenib, recently FDA approved under another name that now escapes me!), and possibly in combination with a MEK inhibitor. Then there are the immunotherapies, ipilimumab (Yervoy) and anti-PD1 agents (these are still in trials only).

Personally I have been on BRAF and MEK inhibitors, first BRAF alone and since March, the combination. You can see from my profile how this has played out for me, I have not had any real side effects apart from changes in my hair, which has gone from smooth and straight to somewhat wiry and quite curly after I shed much of it at one point.

I think getting your affairs in order is a good idea, when you get onto the treatment rollercoaster you just want to be able to focus on your treatment and not be worrying about those other things.

Sending you very best wishes
Ally

Alana, I’m sorry you are going through such a stressful time, it certainly sounds like you have been through the mill recently and now you have this to deal with, I hope you are able to get some good support.

In answer to your questions about treatment I must say my first reaction when I was told I had melanoma and I needed “treatment” was to ask my doctor whether that meant chemo. The quick answer was no, and in general chemo is not very effective for melanoma although you will find people here talking about some use of chemotherapeutic agents.

The current sorts of treatment that have been in trials and which in some cases are now FDA approved are the treatments of choice. The key thing for your doctors to find out, which I assume they will be checking, is whether your melanoma has any of the major genetic mutations, such as BRAF. If you are BRAF positive then that opens up the possibility of treatment with BRAF inhibitors (Vemurafenib/Zelboraf or Dabrafenib, recently FDA approved under another name that now escapes me!), and possibly in combination with a MEK inhibitor. Then there are the immunotherapies, ipilimumab (Yervoy) and anti-PD1 agents (these are still in trials only).

Personally I have been on BRAF and MEK inhibitors, first BRAF alone and since March, the combination. You can see from my profile how this has played out for me, I have not had any real side effects apart from changes in my hair, which has gone from smooth and straight to somewhat wiry and quite curly after I shed much of it at one point.

I think getting your affairs in order is a good idea, when you get onto the treatment rollercoaster you just want to be able to focus on your treatment and not be worrying about those other things.

Sending you very best wishes
Ally

Alana, I’m sorry you are going through such a stressful time, it certainly sounds like you have been through the mill recently and now you have this to deal with, I hope you are able to get some good support.

In answer to your questions about treatment I must say my first reaction when I was told I had melanoma and I needed “treatment” was to ask my doctor whether that meant chemo. The quick answer was no, and in general chemo is not very effective for melanoma although you will find people here talking about some use of chemotherapeutic agents.

The current sorts of treatment that have been in trials and which in some cases are now FDA approved are the treatments of choice. The key thing for your doctors to find out, which I assume they will be checking, is whether your melanoma has any of the major genetic mutations, such as BRAF. If you are BRAF positive then that opens up the possibility of treatment with BRAF inhibitors (Vemurafenib/Zelboraf or Dabrafenib, recently FDA approved under another name that now escapes me!), and possibly in combination with a MEK inhibitor. Then there are the immunotherapies, ipilimumab (Yervoy) and anti-PD1 agents (these are still in trials only).

Personally I have been on BRAF and MEK inhibitors, first BRAF alone and since March, the combination. You can see from my profile how this has played out for me, I have not had any real side effects apart from changes in my hair, which has gone from smooth and straight to somewhat wiry and quite curly after I shed much of it at one point.

I think getting your affairs in order is a good idea, when you get onto the treatment rollercoaster you just want to be able to focus on your treatment and not be worrying about those other things.

Sending you very best wishes
Ally

Hi, Alana. My name is Becky from Jackson,Ms. I know that you are scared to death right now, but just take a breath and try to start thinking calmly. First piece of advice is don't read too much on the internet, you wll just get more scared and confused.I was first diagnosed in 2011. I was stage 3a then. Then last October they found alarge brain tumor and several small mets. I did 3 months radiation. My equipment was called BrainLab. If you do radiation, ask about it. It is supposed to be the best. I had a craniotomy which went fine. Then I did 3 months of Temodar, whisch is a chemo. The only side effects from radiation was losing my hairand some fatigue. Just a little stomach upset from the Temodar. Back in March I started having bad abdominal pains. Had a pet scan done and they found 2 tumors in the small bowel. Had a bowel resection, surgery was successful.Then we decided to go to MD Anderson where thay have aspecialist. go to a melanoma specialist if possible. they know so much more. I now am waitng for word on a Pd-1 protocol. I am working full time now and feeling pretty good. Try to be optimistic. I you read these boards you will  see a lot of people that have been living with melanoma for years.I know I got long, but I knew you wanted as much info as possible.

Hi, Alana. My name is Becky from Jackson,Ms. I know that you are scared to death right now, but just take a breath and try to start thinking calmly. First piece of advice is don't read too much on the internet, you wll just get more scared and confused.I was first diagnosed in 2011. I was stage 3a then. Then last October they found alarge brain tumor and several small mets. I did 3 months radiation. My equipment was called BrainLab. If you do radiation, ask about it. It is supposed to be the best. I had a craniotomy which went fine. Then I did 3 months of Temodar, whisch is a chemo. The only side effects from radiation was losing my hairand some fatigue. Just a little stomach upset from the Temodar. Back in March I started having bad abdominal pains. Had a pet scan done and they found 2 tumors in the small bowel. Had a bowel resection, surgery was successful.Then we decided to go to MD Anderson where thay have aspecialist. go to a melanoma specialist if possible. they know so much more. I now am waitng for word on a Pd-1 protocol. I am working full time now and feeling pretty good. Try to be optimistic. I you read these boards you will  see a lot of people that have been living with melanoma for years.I know I got long, but I knew you wanted as much info as possible.

Hi, Alana. My name is Becky from Jackson,Ms. I know that you are scared to death right now, but just take a breath and try to start thinking calmly. First piece of advice is don't read too much on the internet, you wll just get more scared and confused.I was first diagnosed in 2011. I was stage 3a then. Then last October they found alarge brain tumor and several small mets. I did 3 months radiation. My equipment was called BrainLab. If you do radiation, ask about it. It is supposed to be the best. I had a craniotomy which went fine. Then I did 3 months of Temodar, whisch is a chemo. The only side effects from radiation was losing my hairand some fatigue. Just a little stomach upset from the Temodar. Back in March I started having bad abdominal pains. Had a pet scan done and they found 2 tumors in the small bowel. Had a bowel resection, surgery was successful.Then we decided to go to MD Anderson where thay have aspecialist. go to a melanoma specialist if possible. they know so much more. I now am waitng for word on a Pd-1 protocol. I am working full time now and feeling pretty good. Try to be optimistic. I you read these boards you will  see a lot of people that have been living with melanoma for years.I know I got long, but I knew you wanted as much info as possible.

Basically, the doctor is following standard protocol for staging.  The SNB is done to check for evidence in the lymph nodes, then at the same time, they remove the remaining margins at the primary site.  (2cm, not 2mm btw and most likely will require a skin graft).  To date, surgery is still the best option for removing melanoma and removing the source of any remaining cells is important.  If the melanoma were to be found in your lymph nodes, then most likely they will do scans and offer removal of the remaining lymph nodes — again trying to surgically remove as much disease as possible.  If the scans show no other disease and you surgically had all evidence of disease removed, you would be stage III and NED (no evidence of disease).  Treatments for stage III (lymph node involvement) vs stage IV (organ involvement) differ and each case is quite individual depending on amount/location of disease and other factors such as health history.  There is no way to discuss treatment options at this point in time until you've been properly staged.  This is not just "protocol", but staging determines what type of treatment options you may have including clinical trials.  I understand that you want this done yesterday – we all have had to deal with the waiting game and know it well.

Many drugs for melanoma are "immunotherapy" drugs — immune system boosters.  Melanoma doesn't respond that well to most chemotherapies.  Immunotherapy drugs can be as hard on you as chemo, but they work in totally different ways. 

I'd definitely be pushing to have the surgery sooner rather than later given the obvious growth.  And if you can push for the scans first, maybe that works.  But you probably are still going to want to have the surgery at the primary site.  Many doctors/institutions/insurance companies have protocols that they have to follow.  Right now, you are being treated according to standard protocol.  So you might have to fight harder if you want to do something different from how every other melanoma patient is treated.

Best wishes,

Janner

p.s. Please make sure you are being seen by a melanoma specialist.  Can't remember where or if you are… but that is important in understanding future treatment options – you want someone who knows his stuff and the latest melanoma treatments.

Basically, the doctor is following standard protocol for staging.  The SNB is done to check for evidence in the lymph nodes, then at the same time, they remove the remaining margins at the primary site.  (2cm, not 2mm btw and most likely will require a skin graft).  To date, surgery is still the best option for removing melanoma and removing the source of any remaining cells is important.  If the melanoma were to be found in your lymph nodes, then most likely they will do scans and offer removal of the remaining lymph nodes — again trying to surgically remove as much disease as possible.  If the scans show no other disease and you surgically had all evidence of disease removed, you would be stage III and NED (no evidence of disease).  Treatments for stage III (lymph node involvement) vs stage IV (organ involvement) differ and each case is quite individual depending on amount/location of disease and other factors such as health history.  There is no way to discuss treatment options at this point in time until you've been properly staged.  This is not just "protocol", but staging determines what type of treatment options you may have including clinical trials.  I understand that you want this done yesterday – we all have had to deal with the waiting game and know it well.

Many drugs for melanoma are "immunotherapy" drugs — immune system boosters.  Melanoma doesn't respond that well to most chemotherapies.  Immunotherapy drugs can be as hard on you as chemo, but they work in totally different ways. 

I'd definitely be pushing to have the surgery sooner rather than later given the obvious growth.  And if you can push for the scans first, maybe that works.  But you probably are still going to want to have the surgery at the primary site.  Many doctors/institutions/insurance companies have protocols that they have to follow.  Right now, you are being treated according to standard protocol.  So you might have to fight harder if you want to do something different from how every other melanoma patient is treated.

Best wishes,

Janner

p.s. Please make sure you are being seen by a melanoma specialist.  Can't remember where or if you are… but that is important in understanding future treatment options – you want someone who knows his stuff and the latest melanoma treatments.

Basically, the doctor is following standard protocol for staging.  The SNB is done to check for evidence in the lymph nodes, then at the same time, they remove the remaining margins at the primary site.  (2cm, not 2mm btw and most likely will require a skin graft).  To date, surgery is still the best option for removing melanoma and removing the source of any remaining cells is important.  If the melanoma were to be found in your lymph nodes, then most likely they will do scans and offer removal of the remaining lymph nodes — again trying to surgically remove as much disease as possible.  If the scans show no other disease and you surgically had all evidence of disease removed, you would be stage III and NED (no evidence of disease).  Treatments for stage III (lymph node involvement) vs stage IV (organ involvement) differ and each case is quite individual depending on amount/location of disease and other factors such as health history.  There is no way to discuss treatment options at this point in time until you've been properly staged.  This is not just "protocol", but staging determines what type of treatment options you may have including clinical trials.  I understand that you want this done yesterday – we all have had to deal with the waiting game and know it well.

Many drugs for melanoma are "immunotherapy" drugs — immune system boosters.  Melanoma doesn't respond that well to most chemotherapies.  Immunotherapy drugs can be as hard on you as chemo, but they work in totally different ways. 

I'd definitely be pushing to have the surgery sooner rather than later given the obvious growth.  And if you can push for the scans first, maybe that works.  But you probably are still going to want to have the surgery at the primary site.  Many doctors/institutions/insurance companies have protocols that they have to follow.  Right now, you are being treated according to standard protocol.  So you might have to fight harder if you want to do something different from how every other melanoma patient is treated.

Best wishes,

Janner

p.s. Please make sure you are being seen by a melanoma specialist.  Can't remember where or if you are… but that is important in understanding future treatment options – you want someone who knows his stuff and the latest melanoma treatments.

hi,
I completely understand how you feel. If you are put on yervoy or pd1 the side effects are minimal skin rash and some fatigue if they choose chemo you will probably lose tour hair I did not take very good care of my hair but given a second chance I will do a better job. I also felt I had to get everything in order for my 2 girls and gave all divided all my jewelry up. I am stii around after 19 months and my girl friends want me to get my stuff back but it gives me joy to see them weraring it. Also the chemo they give you anti nausea medicine and steroids so the side effects are not so bad. Good luck and wishing you the best. Please ask any questions everyone on this site completely understands how you feel
Mona

hi,
I completely understand how you feel. If you are put on yervoy or pd1 the side effects are minimal skin rash and some fatigue if they choose chemo you will probably lose tour hair I did not take very good care of my hair but given a second chance I will do a better job. I also felt I had to get everything in order for my 2 girls and gave all divided all my jewelry up. I am stii around after 19 months and my girl friends want me to get my stuff back but it gives me joy to see them weraring it. Also the chemo they give you anti nausea medicine and steroids so the side effects are not so bad. Good luck and wishing you the best. Please ask any questions everyone on this site completely understands how you feel
Mona

hi,
I completely understand how you feel. If you are put on yervoy or pd1 the side effects are minimal skin rash and some fatigue if they choose chemo you will probably lose tour hair I did not take very good care of my hair but given a second chance I will do a better job. I also felt I had to get everything in order for my 2 girls and gave all divided all my jewelry up. I am stii around after 19 months and my girl friends want me to get my stuff back but it gives me joy to see them weraring it. Also the chemo they give you anti nausea medicine and steroids so the side effects are not so bad. Good luck and wishing you the best. Please ask any questions everyone on this site completely understands how you feel
Mona

Hi Alana,

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it.

But you need to take a few deep breaths and remember that you're being seen at one of the top melanoma centers in the country: Johns Hopkins. These folks know what they're doing. That was my mantra when I was referred there.

As to what treatment you'll get depends on how they'll stage you. They can't stage you properly until they get the entire tumor out and biopsy it.

For Stage III melanoma there are not a whole not of treatment options that are FDA approved. All you have is Interferon, which not a lot of doctors are using anymore because of the severity of side effects and it does not improve your outcome. If you're Stage IIIc you might be able to get on Yervoy. Some folks have negligible side effects on Yervoy while others have had to stop treamtment due to the side effects. There's no way to predict how the drug will affect you.

If you end up being Stage IV, then you have Yervoy, Zelboraf, and the two new drugs that were just FDA approved as options.But for the latter 3 your melanoma cells have to have a BRAF mutation in them. For both Stage III and IV there are clinical trials available. But you need to meet the criteria for them.

There are many Stage III and Stage IV folks who have been around for years. Gene, Charlie_S, and LynnLuc are Stage IV and doing great. And they're not the only ones. I'm Stage III and am still kicking butt after almost 2.5 years. Don't get me wrong, melanoma is not to be taken lightly. But with all the medical advances that have been happening, the survivor list is growing.

The waiting is awful.I often equate it to: "how long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on." But once you're surgery's been scheduled you'll be surprised at how fast things move for you.

Hi Alana,

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it.

But you need to take a few deep breaths and remember that you're being seen at one of the top melanoma centers in the country: Johns Hopkins. These folks know what they're doing. That was my mantra when I was referred there.

As to what treatment you'll get depends on how they'll stage you. They can't stage you properly until they get the entire tumor out and biopsy it.

For Stage III melanoma there are not a whole not of treatment options that are FDA approved. All you have is Interferon, which not a lot of doctors are using anymore because of the severity of side effects and it does not improve your outcome. If you're Stage IIIc you might be able to get on Yervoy. Some folks have negligible side effects on Yervoy while others have had to stop treamtment due to the side effects. There's no way to predict how the drug will affect you.

If you end up being Stage IV, then you have Yervoy, Zelboraf, and the two new drugs that were just FDA approved as options.But for the latter 3 your melanoma cells have to have a BRAF mutation in them. For both Stage III and IV there are clinical trials available. But you need to meet the criteria for them.

There are many Stage III and Stage IV folks who have been around for years. Gene, Charlie_S, and LynnLuc are Stage IV and doing great. And they're not the only ones. I'm Stage III and am still kicking butt after almost 2.5 years. Don't get me wrong, melanoma is not to be taken lightly. But with all the medical advances that have been happening, the survivor list is growing.

The waiting is awful.I often equate it to: "how long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on." But once you're surgery's been scheduled you'll be surprised at how fast things move for you.

Hi Alana,

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it.

But you need to take a few deep breaths and remember that you're being seen at one of the top melanoma centers in the country: Johns Hopkins. These folks know what they're doing. That was my mantra when I was referred there.

As to what treatment you'll get depends on how they'll stage you. They can't stage you properly until they get the entire tumor out and biopsy it.

For Stage III melanoma there are not a whole not of treatment options that are FDA approved. All you have is Interferon, which not a lot of doctors are using anymore because of the severity of side effects and it does not improve your outcome. If you're Stage IIIc you might be able to get on Yervoy. Some folks have negligible side effects on Yervoy while others have had to stop treamtment due to the side effects. There's no way to predict how the drug will affect you.

If you end up being Stage IV, then you have Yervoy, Zelboraf, and the two new drugs that were just FDA approved as options.But for the latter 3 your melanoma cells have to have a BRAF mutation in them. For both Stage III and IV there are clinical trials available. But you need to meet the criteria for them.

There are many Stage III and Stage IV folks who have been around for years. Gene, Charlie_S, and LynnLuc are Stage IV and doing great. And they're not the only ones. I'm Stage III and am still kicking butt after almost 2.5 years. Don't get me wrong, melanoma is not to be taken lightly. But with all the medical advances that have been happening, the survivor list is growing.

The waiting is awful.I often equate it to: "how long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on." But once you're surgery's been scheduled you'll be surprised at how fast things move for you.

So sorry to hear all you are facing right now. It sounds like everyone has already answered your questions and some of the best folks this board can offer responded to you, especially Janner. I just wanted to offer support and hope. You can read my profile but long story short, I am about to celebrate 8 years of being NED and am stage 3b. Know that I will keep you in thought & prayer as you move thru this unplanned, unwanted journey. Keep us posted when you can.

So sorry to hear all you are facing right now. It sounds like everyone has already answered your questions and some of the best folks this board can offer responded to you, especially Janner. I just wanted to offer support and hope. You can read my profile but long story short, I am about to celebrate 8 years of being NED and am stage 3b. Know that I will keep you in thought & prayer as you move thru this unplanned, unwanted journey. Keep us posted when you can.

So sorry to hear all you are facing right now. It sounds like everyone has already answered your questions and some of the best folks this board can offer responded to you, especially Janner. I just wanted to offer support and hope. You can read my profile but long story short, I am about to celebrate 8 years of being NED and am stage 3b. Know that I will keep you in thought & prayer as you move thru this unplanned, unwanted journey. Keep us posted when you can.

So sorry to hear all you are facing right now. It sounds like everyone has already answered your questions and some of the best folks this board can offer responded to you, especially Janner. I just wanted to offer support and hope. You can read my profile but long story short, I am about to celebrate 8 years of being NED and am stage 3b. Know that I will keep you in thought & prayer as you move thru this unplanned, unwanted journey. Keep us posted when you can.

So sorry to hear all you are facing right now. It sounds like everyone has already answered your questions and some of the best folks this board can offer responded to you, especially Janner. I just wanted to offer support and hope. You can read my profile but long story short, I am about to celebrate 8 years of being NED and am stage 3b. Know that I will keep you in thought & prayer as you move thru this unplanned, unwanted journey. Keep us posted when you can.

So sorry to hear all you are facing right now. It sounds like everyone has already answered your questions and some of the best folks this board can offer responded to you, especially Janner. I just wanted to offer support and hope. You can read my profile but long story short, I am about to celebrate 8 years of being NED and am stage 3b. Know that I will keep you in thought & prayer as you move thru this unplanned, unwanted journey. Keep us posted when you can.

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Hi Alana,
I’m also sorry that you have to be a member of the “club”. I know Johns Hopkins is a great institution. In my humble opinion, I think with the potential complications, it might be of some benefit to check out the options at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (where I am currently being treated), and NCI. If the original diagnosis is confirmed, I would also look very closely t clinical trials. There was an article last week n the Business Day section of the NY Times sent to me by a close friend regarding some promising treatments involving immunology-therapy. Frankly, i found it VERY encouraging.Lastly, my wife is a surgical nurse with a focus on dermatology. Many of the patients in their melanoma clinic with Stage III and IV disease have been treated over long periods of time. This is scary stuff, but as many have suggested, in response to your posts, take a deep breath, get the facts in front of you and once you do, decide with your family the best options for your treatment.

All the Best,

SA

Sorry Lana and all for the multiple response……computer was quirky last night and gave me the impression my post didnt go through.

All the best,
SA

Sorry Lana and all for the multiple response……computer was quirky last night and gave me the impression my post didnt go through.

All the best,
SA

Sorry Lana and all for the multiple response……computer was quirky last night and gave me the impression my post didnt go through.

All the best,
SA