Onc said Eric has 2-3 months

Hi Jill and Eric,

   I am so sorry that you both are going through this. I can hardly look at the pictures of Eric's leg, I have never seen melanoma so up front and close. I wish you success with whatever path you take, and I do not know the merits over doing one first and then the other.

I can tell you a little bit about my ILP, done 14 months ago at Mass General. I had a heart transplant surgeon do the surgery (thats who specializes in melanoma and ILP's there). He believes that the ILP has an 85% cure rate although I dont know who that is for. My melanoma came back 7 or so months after my ILP. Maybe it would have re-occured sooner, who knows. The procedure went well, the recovery fine, for the first 10 days, then I developed severe neuropathy in my lower right leg and foot. I ended up in the hospital and on meds to manage the pain. My right foot is pretty numb and my lower right leg is too. Would I do it again knowing what I know about it and knowing the risk melanoma presents?? Yes I would. 85% is a high cure rate. it just didnt work for me. I dont know if there are better known parameters at this time as to who is a better surgical candidate. Eric may be someone who responds. Check it out. I know the other Jill and Eric have had a hard time. That Eric has had part of his leg/foot amputated. Sharyn also has had an ILP and her cancer came back a year later. We are individuals who experienced complications and re-occurences after having an ILP. Maybe the ones who have benefited have not written in, or even been on this board, Dont let our stories scare you away from what might be a good treatment for Eric. Talk to your doctors and ask lots of questions. Contact me if you want to know more!

Hugs and positive thoughts coming from Vermont,

Vermont_Donna

stage 3a

Jill, After the brain surgery for Buddy, Dr. Sharfman (Johns Hopkins) said no more gamma knife, etc. so Buddy could get into the IPI treatment at Philly.  The brain surgeon wanted to radiate the tumor beds.  We did the IPI – however, it did not work for Buddy.  Would the radiation have helped, I don't know.  His white blood cells were racing, the malanoma had gone to both lungs, liver, bladder so I don't think there was a cure for him at  that point.  The tumors came back to the brain, and they did 5 days of radiation to try to stop the bleeding, so he could enjoy the grandkids a while longer.  He was alert enough to make the decision of radiation, as well as all the other decisions along the way.  So he made the right decision himself.  But I know tumors that keep returning to the brain can't be good…If the ones in the brain can't be controlled, can you control the others.  In Buddy's case, the brain tumors returned and the tumors on the torso continued to increase in size, as well as new growth, so I feel God wanted to care for him….It's a tough decision to make-God Bless..

Jill, After the brain surgery for Buddy, Dr. Sharfman (Johns Hopkins) said no more gamma knife, etc. so Buddy could get into the IPI treatment at Philly.  The brain surgeon wanted to radiate the tumor beds.  We did the IPI – however, it did not work for Buddy.  Would the radiation have helped, I don't know.  His white blood cells were racing, the malanoma had gone to both lungs, liver, bladder so I don't think there was a cure for him at  that point.  The tumors came back to the brain, and they did 5 days of radiation to try to stop the bleeding, so he could enjoy the grandkids a while longer.  He was alert enough to make the decision of radiation, as well as all the other decisions along the way.  So he made the right decision himself.  But I know tumors that keep returning to the brain can't be good…If the ones in the brain can't be controlled, can you control the others.  In Buddy's case, the brain tumors returned and the tumors on the torso continued to increase in size, as well as new growth, so I feel God wanted to care for him….It's a tough decision to make-God Bless..

Hi Jill and Eric,

   I am so sorry that you both are going through this. I can hardly look at the pictures of Eric's leg, I have never seen melanoma so up front and close. I wish you success with whatever path you take, and I do not know the merits over doing one first and then the other.

I can tell you a little bit about my ILP, done 14 months ago at Mass General. I had a heart transplant surgeon do the surgery (thats who specializes in melanoma and ILP's there). He believes that the ILP has an 85% cure rate although I dont know who that is for. My melanoma came back 7 or so months after my ILP. Maybe it would have re-occured sooner, who knows. The procedure went well, the recovery fine, for the first 10 days, then I developed severe neuropathy in my lower right leg and foot. I ended up in the hospital and on meds to manage the pain. My right foot is pretty numb and my lower right leg is too. Would I do it again knowing what I know about it and knowing the risk melanoma presents?? Yes I would. 85% is a high cure rate. it just didnt work for me. I dont know if there are better known parameters at this time as to who is a better surgical candidate. Eric may be someone who responds. Check it out. I know the other Jill and Eric have had a hard time. That Eric has had part of his leg/foot amputated. Sharyn also has had an ILP and her cancer came back a year later. We are individuals who experienced complications and re-occurences after having an ILP. Maybe the ones who have benefited have not written in, or even been on this board, Dont let our stories scare you away from what might be a good treatment for Eric. Talk to your doctors and ask lots of questions. Contact me if you want to know more!

Hugs and positive thoughts coming from Vermont,

Vermont_Donna

stage 3a