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Not quite the good news we had hope for :/

Forums General Melanoma Community Not quite the good news we had hope for :/

  • Post
    Shaneswife
    Participant
    Well we got Shane’seen results today and it was very much a big old mixed bag of news.

    Lungs: almost a complete cr. 1 lesion 3mm on right lobe is all that’s left of the 15 between both lungs.

    Liver: still innumerable tumors however the biggest 3 have shrunk each by 25%.

    Brain: not great news here. Progression noted on many of the bigger tumors. Still has innumerable tumors even after wbrt and 6 weeks of braf/mek.

    New metastases found in his vertebrae at t7, t8, and l4.

    So he’s progressing in brain and variable response in the body.

    Doctor has no idea what to do next so sending us to Princess Margaret Hospital to a melanoma specialist. Hoping for an appointment next week. For now maintaining the braf/mek and dex and we go back to waiting again.

    Janis

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  • Replies
      cancersnewnormal
      Participant

      Ahhhh damn it. The roller coaster of "mixed bag". Hopefully the docs at Princess Margaret will have some additional advice and can provide more services than the current onc. I would not be at all surprised if they send Shane to a consult with a radiation oncologist as well. It sounds as though some targeted brain radiation could be next in the fight. Keep on them about getting that appointment set up with the melanoma specialist. Shrinking lesions are good news… as that tumor load comes down, the body can put up a bigger fight! 

        Shaneswife
        Participant
        Can you have SRS after WBRT? We are hopeful that it’s possible to do SRS and then the need for steroids coukd be eliminated and be eligible for a trI’ll or start immunotherapy.

        Janis

        cancersnewnormal
        Participant

        Yes, it is possible to get srs after whole brain… for any new lesions. I'm not sure what the "down time" or suggested break might be. A radiation oncologist could answer any question regarding the possibility to "retarget" any lesions already treated with the whole brain… I know they won't srs zap the same lesion twice… but since whole brain is a lower dose… I'm not sure. It's also possible that the two larger tumors appear to have grown, but are actually swelling prior to making their disappearance. Hopefully the docs can give you more options. I had 2 brain lesions surgically removed… 2 years apart. Sometimes those larger trouble makers are better off removed IF it's possible. Keep us posted on what the doc's suggest. We're cheering for the two of you! 

      maperny
      Participant

      Good luck to you and Shane, Janis.

      hope the new specialist has some proposals to help.  That's great news about the lungs and liver at least.  

      Keep up your awesome work as Shane's support.

      Maria

      Patrisa
      Participant

      Dear Janis,

      this trully is mixed results… Great that you are moving to another hospital, I really hope they will give you something else to try… Srs sounds reasonable to me… 

      Take care of both of you…

      Love, Patrisa

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