› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Opinions on more surgery
- This topic has 24 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 10 months ago by
Scooby123.
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- January 11, 2016 at 3:41 am
A brief history: I am stage 4A with current tumors in my left breast and near my sternum. I started Opdivo alone (insurange dragged its feet on the Yervoy combo and my doc didn't want to wait. That's a whole other story.) in November and will have my 5th dose tomorrow.
Scans last weeks showed "significant decrease in size in breast tumor." My surgeon wants to take it out anyway. (The ultrasound tech told me it was "half the size" – even though she's not supposed to tell patients anythins. Not sure about the other tumor; will find out the CAT scan results at my appt. tomorrow). I just recovered from several procedures – removal of two primary tumors, one on my leg so deep I needed a wound vac and skin graft, full axial lymph node removal, biopsies of the breast and sternum tumors, and a port implant. I just don't want more surgery right now if I don't have to.
I know everyone's experience is different and what works for one may not work or be best for another, but I am just curious about others' opinions on surgery if tumors are clearly shrinking with chemo.
Thank you!
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- January 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Wow all that surgery just sucks. I have had my primary removed, SLNB, CLNB, Liver Biopsy, Port, and Drain too. I am IIIB on a IPI/NIVO trial. I am Cancer free.
Your choice to remove the tumors is a hard one. I would ask your DR the chance of spreading the cancer with the surgery. For me since you show signs of both tumors getting smaller, I would do 5 more treatments of NIVO do see if the tumor disappears before considering the surgery. You should consult another doctor being a Surgical Oncologist about the surgery.
Have you considered juicing green vegetables to oxygenate your blood or drinking Alkaline water?
https://www.facebook.com/atirepa/videos/1514216878874936/?__mref=message_bubble
Tom
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- January 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Wow all that surgery just sucks. I have had my primary removed, SLNB, CLNB, Liver Biopsy, Port, and Drain too. I am IIIB on a IPI/NIVO trial. I am Cancer free.
Your choice to remove the tumors is a hard one. I would ask your DR the chance of spreading the cancer with the surgery. For me since you show signs of both tumors getting smaller, I would do 5 more treatments of NIVO do see if the tumor disappears before considering the surgery. You should consult another doctor being a Surgical Oncologist about the surgery.
Have you considered juicing green vegetables to oxygenate your blood or drinking Alkaline water?
https://www.facebook.com/atirepa/videos/1514216878874936/?__mref=message_bubble
Tom
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- January 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Wow all that surgery just sucks. I have had my primary removed, SLNB, CLNB, Liver Biopsy, Port, and Drain too. I am IIIB on a IPI/NIVO trial. I am Cancer free.
Your choice to remove the tumors is a hard one. I would ask your DR the chance of spreading the cancer with the surgery. For me since you show signs of both tumors getting smaller, I would do 5 more treatments of NIVO do see if the tumor disappears before considering the surgery. You should consult another doctor being a Surgical Oncologist about the surgery.
Have you considered juicing green vegetables to oxygenate your blood or drinking Alkaline water?
https://www.facebook.com/atirepa/videos/1514216878874936/?__mref=message_bubble
Tom
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- January 11, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Surgeon's always want to cut. I might get another opinion because it seems like if the lesion is still shrinking, let it continue to shrink. If it stops getting smaller, it seems like that is a better time to consider the surgery. And…. the lesion would be smaller so maybe less invasive surgery would be needed.
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- January 11, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Surgeon's always want to cut. I might get another opinion because it seems like if the lesion is still shrinking, let it continue to shrink. If it stops getting smaller, it seems like that is a better time to consider the surgery. And…. the lesion would be smaller so maybe less invasive surgery would be needed.
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- January 11, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Surgeon's always want to cut. I might get another opinion because it seems like if the lesion is still shrinking, let it continue to shrink. If it stops getting smaller, it seems like that is a better time to consider the surgery. And…. the lesion would be smaller so maybe less invasive surgery would be needed.
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- January 11, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Christine,
Are you getting chemo with the Opdivo or just Opdivo now?
Congrats on the 50% reduction! That is fantastic.
I achieved about 50% reduction as well. I consulted about a half dozen oncologist and it was 50/50 whether I should surgically remove my remaining tumors. Mine are in a little bit of a tricky location so that may have influenced the opinions of some.
I agree with the others. I don't think I'd be quick to operate now. Maybe down the road but you got it on the run so I'd see how far Opdivo can take it. Maybe it does become stable and you decide to take it out later but right now I don't think you have to rush into that decision. I've been stable for 2 years now and the last 6 months have been with no treatment.
Goodluck with the CAT scan results.
Brian
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- January 11, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Christine,
Are you getting chemo with the Opdivo or just Opdivo now?
Congrats on the 50% reduction! That is fantastic.
I achieved about 50% reduction as well. I consulted about a half dozen oncologist and it was 50/50 whether I should surgically remove my remaining tumors. Mine are in a little bit of a tricky location so that may have influenced the opinions of some.
I agree with the others. I don't think I'd be quick to operate now. Maybe down the road but you got it on the run so I'd see how far Opdivo can take it. Maybe it does become stable and you decide to take it out later but right now I don't think you have to rush into that decision. I've been stable for 2 years now and the last 6 months have been with no treatment.
Goodluck with the CAT scan results.
Brian
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- February 7, 2016 at 7:51 am
Hi Brian,
May I ask regarding when you was on treatment how long was you on it till. Then did you decide to come off it.
i had ippi 4 doses not had maintance does but had 50% reduction tumours not shrunk any more had 2 follow up scans since stable pray The Lord. I feel maintance dose would benifit me due to having a decent response. Been told PD1 next.
Scooby123
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- February 7, 2016 at 7:51 am
Hi Brian,
May I ask regarding when you was on treatment how long was you on it till. Then did you decide to come off it.
i had ippi 4 doses not had maintance does but had 50% reduction tumours not shrunk any more had 2 follow up scans since stable pray The Lord. I feel maintance dose would benifit me due to having a decent response. Been told PD1 next.
Scooby123
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- February 7, 2016 at 7:51 am
Hi Brian,
May I ask regarding when you was on treatment how long was you on it till. Then did you decide to come off it.
i had ippi 4 doses not had maintance does but had 50% reduction tumours not shrunk any more had 2 follow up scans since stable pray The Lord. I feel maintance dose would benifit me due to having a decent response. Been told PD1 next.
Scooby123
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- January 11, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Christine,
Are you getting chemo with the Opdivo or just Opdivo now?
Congrats on the 50% reduction! That is fantastic.
I achieved about 50% reduction as well. I consulted about a half dozen oncologist and it was 50/50 whether I should surgically remove my remaining tumors. Mine are in a little bit of a tricky location so that may have influenced the opinions of some.
I agree with the others. I don't think I'd be quick to operate now. Maybe down the road but you got it on the run so I'd see how far Opdivo can take it. Maybe it does become stable and you decide to take it out later but right now I don't think you have to rush into that decision. I've been stable for 2 years now and the last 6 months have been with no treatment.
Goodluck with the CAT scan results.
Brian
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- January 11, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Hi Christine,
I'm in a similar position. All but one of my tumors completely disappeared on Pembro. The one that didn't disappear, shrank down 50%. My dr and I talked about removing it surgically as it is in an easily accessible area, so surgery is an option. But as it's not grown or shrunk or done anything for 3 months now, my dr and I think that what is remaining is scar tissue. So we're not doing surgery to remove it. Why mess with a good thing?
Is your tumor big enough to be seen on a PET scan? Is it still active? I would use this as a deciding factor. Also, immunotheraphies are known for being slow (and having pseudo progressions). You're 5 treatments in. Is holding the course and waiting an option? I think I got to 8 or so treatments before really seeing something happening. Just my experience.
Whatever you do, I wish you peace!
Julie
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- January 11, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Hi Christine,
I'm in a similar position. All but one of my tumors completely disappeared on Pembro. The one that didn't disappear, shrank down 50%. My dr and I talked about removing it surgically as it is in an easily accessible area, so surgery is an option. But as it's not grown or shrunk or done anything for 3 months now, my dr and I think that what is remaining is scar tissue. So we're not doing surgery to remove it. Why mess with a good thing?
Is your tumor big enough to be seen on a PET scan? Is it still active? I would use this as a deciding factor. Also, immunotheraphies are known for being slow (and having pseudo progressions). You're 5 treatments in. Is holding the course and waiting an option? I think I got to 8 or so treatments before really seeing something happening. Just my experience.
Whatever you do, I wish you peace!
Julie
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- January 11, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Hi Christine,
I'm in a similar position. All but one of my tumors completely disappeared on Pembro. The one that didn't disappear, shrank down 50%. My dr and I talked about removing it surgically as it is in an easily accessible area, so surgery is an option. But as it's not grown or shrunk or done anything for 3 months now, my dr and I think that what is remaining is scar tissue. So we're not doing surgery to remove it. Why mess with a good thing?
Is your tumor big enough to be seen on a PET scan? Is it still active? I would use this as a deciding factor. Also, immunotheraphies are known for being slow (and having pseudo progressions). You're 5 treatments in. Is holding the course and waiting an option? I think I got to 8 or so treatments before really seeing something happening. Just my experience.
Whatever you do, I wish you peace!
Julie
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- January 16, 2016 at 2:11 am
Christine, may I ask a dumb question? I have seen others post about stage 4a but I don't know what it means. Do you know what is the difference from just plain stage 4?
Thanks – Paul
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