› Forums › General Melanoma Community › SEARCHING FOR AN ANSWER!!!!! T-Vec
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searching2.
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:11 am
My husband was first diagnosed in 2010 with melanoma in his right leg under a mole on his calf. Now, going on his 7th year battleing this disease, he is at a stage IV. Over the past he has gone through 5 or 6 surgeries, 3 brain radiations, chemo, numerous immunotherapy and most recently Opdivo immunotherapy. The immunotherapy has been the best treatment thus far, and his recent PET and MRI scans have come back clear with the exception of a very large ( the size of two soft-balls) tumor in his upper leg/ groin area which has continued to grow. His oncologist and the surgeon have said that it is inoperable due to its placement on top of the main artery in his leg. . Desparate to find something that would shrink the tumor that continues to grow, we asked to be approved for T-Vec.
About two months ago he was approved to try T-Vec, which is 4 vaccinations directly into the tumor per session. After the 5th session of T-Vec, the skin broke open on the tumor and the necrotic tissue is litterally pushing out of his leg and leaking fluid out of the wound. Not knowing this would happen with a trial medication, we need to change his bandage 3 to 4 times a day which has made the situation much worse. We immediately stopped the T-Vec after his wound got an infection and he spent 6 days in the hospital.
MY QUESTION: Is there anyone out there who has had oncology surgery near a main artery? I have a hard time believing that a team of surgeons including vascular surgeons could not remove this tumor. Any advice out there? HELP!
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:00 am
Oh my god that's horrible but it sounds like the T-VEC is working. The viruses go directly into the tumor and burst it and the immune system then attacks the whole mess. So that would explain the inflammation. But it sounds horrible in the meantime.
I hope you can find someone to help him in the meantime.
– Paul
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:00 am
Oh my god that's horrible but it sounds like the T-VEC is working. The viruses go directly into the tumor and burst it and the immune system then attacks the whole mess. So that would explain the inflammation. But it sounds horrible in the meantime.
I hope you can find someone to help him in the meantime.
– Paul
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- January 28, 2017 at 11:04 pm
Paul, thanks for your reply about the T-Vec. Yes, it is working like it is supposed to but, as with all trial proceedures, we did not know what the outcome would be, which was the tumor breaking its way through the skin and making a huge open wound that leeks and will not heal. I believe now, that it works better on smaller tumors vs large, as the leg fluid has no where to go due to so many lymph nodes having been removed in his stomach area in previous surgeries. Praying our trip to Rochester Mayo will give us more options. Kathy
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- January 28, 2017 at 11:04 pm
Paul, thanks for your reply about the T-Vec. Yes, it is working like it is supposed to but, as with all trial proceedures, we did not know what the outcome would be, which was the tumor breaking its way through the skin and making a huge open wound that leeks and will not heal. I believe now, that it works better on smaller tumors vs large, as the leg fluid has no where to go due to so many lymph nodes having been removed in his stomach area in previous surgeries. Praying our trip to Rochester Mayo will give us more options. Kathy
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- January 28, 2017 at 11:04 pm
Paul, thanks for your reply about the T-Vec. Yes, it is working like it is supposed to but, as with all trial proceedures, we did not know what the outcome would be, which was the tumor breaking its way through the skin and making a huge open wound that leeks and will not heal. I believe now, that it works better on smaller tumors vs large, as the leg fluid has no where to go due to so many lymph nodes having been removed in his stomach area in previous surgeries. Praying our trip to Rochester Mayo will give us more options. Kathy
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:00 am
Oh my god that's horrible but it sounds like the T-VEC is working. The viruses go directly into the tumor and burst it and the immune system then attacks the whole mess. So that would explain the inflammation. But it sounds horrible in the meantime.
I hope you can find someone to help him in the meantime.
– Paul
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- January 27, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Can you pls tell us what was his stage at dx in 2010? Good luck with new treatment and pls keep us updated
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- January 27, 2017 at 9:41 pm
His stage was a I, but our GP family doctor didn't refer us to an Oncologist, had his friend, a woman surgeon do the first surgery. THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE!!!
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- January 27, 2017 at 9:41 pm
His stage was a I, but our GP family doctor didn't refer us to an Oncologist, had his friend, a woman surgeon do the first surgery. THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE!!!
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- January 27, 2017 at 9:41 pm
His stage was a I, but our GP family doctor didn't refer us to an Oncologist, had his friend, a woman surgeon do the first surgery. THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE!!!
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- January 27, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Can you pls tell us what was his stage at dx in 2010? Good luck with new treatment and pls keep us updated
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- January 27, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Can you pls tell us what was his stage at dx in 2010? Good luck with new treatment and pls keep us updated
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Wow. It does sound as if the T-Vec has been effective, but I can understand after spending time in the hospital, how you would be searching for a way to surgically remove it. I couldn't find anything specifically regarding melanoma, but do recall the my uncle had bypass surgery done on both main leg arteries. With that in mind, and your mention of a vascular surgical team… it does seem possible, but perhaps not something his surgeon or oncologist are comfortable with. It sounds like it would be a complicated surgery (not that any suregery is ever "easy"), and would likely require a special team. There are so many questions beyond "is it possible?". Is it in the patient's best interest? Who and where is there a surgical staff capable of handling it? Are they willing to handle it on a stage IV cancer patient? What are the risks? Will insurance cover the costs? I'm sure you have though through all of this. I don't know where your husband is being treated, and if they are a research institution or not, but if the two of you are determined to get a more solid answer, that is where I would begin searching for a second (and maybe even a third) opinion.
I did find this article online……. It's not melanoma, but is about a cancerous lesion found attached to the leg artery in a 65 year old male. It was removed, along with a section of the artery. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0741521408011750
I hope for the both of you, that this nasty lesion will shrink quickly from the T-Vec, and things don't need to proceed to additional aggressive measures. **e-hugs to you both**
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- January 28, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Niki, thanks for your reply and the link to the sciencedirect article, this gives us hope that there is a way to get this done if we keep searching. I will share the article with Dr Markovic at Mayo Clinic Rochester when we meet with him February 10th. So grateful to find this forum with such wonderful caring people. e-hugs right back at you!!! Kathy
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- January 28, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Niki, thanks for your reply and the link to the sciencedirect article, this gives us hope that there is a way to get this done if we keep searching. I will share the article with Dr Markovic at Mayo Clinic Rochester when we meet with him February 10th. So grateful to find this forum with such wonderful caring people. e-hugs right back at you!!! Kathy
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- January 28, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Niki, thanks for your reply and the link to the sciencedirect article, this gives us hope that there is a way to get this done if we keep searching. I will share the article with Dr Markovic at Mayo Clinic Rochester when we meet with him February 10th. So grateful to find this forum with such wonderful caring people. e-hugs right back at you!!! Kathy
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Wow. It does sound as if the T-Vec has been effective, but I can understand after spending time in the hospital, how you would be searching for a way to surgically remove it. I couldn't find anything specifically regarding melanoma, but do recall the my uncle had bypass surgery done on both main leg arteries. With that in mind, and your mention of a vascular surgical team… it does seem possible, but perhaps not something his surgeon or oncologist are comfortable with. It sounds like it would be a complicated surgery (not that any suregery is ever "easy"), and would likely require a special team. There are so many questions beyond "is it possible?". Is it in the patient's best interest? Who and where is there a surgical staff capable of handling it? Are they willing to handle it on a stage IV cancer patient? What are the risks? Will insurance cover the costs? I'm sure you have though through all of this. I don't know where your husband is being treated, and if they are a research institution or not, but if the two of you are determined to get a more solid answer, that is where I would begin searching for a second (and maybe even a third) opinion.
I did find this article online……. It's not melanoma, but is about a cancerous lesion found attached to the leg artery in a 65 year old male. It was removed, along with a section of the artery. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0741521408011750
I hope for the both of you, that this nasty lesion will shrink quickly from the T-Vec, and things don't need to proceed to additional aggressive measures. **e-hugs to you both**
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Wow. It does sound as if the T-Vec has been effective, but I can understand after spending time in the hospital, how you would be searching for a way to surgically remove it. I couldn't find anything specifically regarding melanoma, but do recall the my uncle had bypass surgery done on both main leg arteries. With that in mind, and your mention of a vascular surgical team… it does seem possible, but perhaps not something his surgeon or oncologist are comfortable with. It sounds like it would be a complicated surgery (not that any suregery is ever "easy"), and would likely require a special team. There are so many questions beyond "is it possible?". Is it in the patient's best interest? Who and where is there a surgical staff capable of handling it? Are they willing to handle it on a stage IV cancer patient? What are the risks? Will insurance cover the costs? I'm sure you have though through all of this. I don't know where your husband is being treated, and if they are a research institution or not, but if the two of you are determined to get a more solid answer, that is where I would begin searching for a second (and maybe even a third) opinion.
I did find this article online……. It's not melanoma, but is about a cancerous lesion found attached to the leg artery in a 65 year old male. It was removed, along with a section of the artery. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0741521408011750
I hope for the both of you, that this nasty lesion will shrink quickly from the T-Vec, and things don't need to proceed to additional aggressive measures. **e-hugs to you both**
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- January 28, 2017 at 12:58 pm
This may not be possible at all. But my husband has had some embolizations done on tumours that cannot be removed. they can either cut off the blood supply which ultimately shrinks the tumour, they can freeze it or burn it. they can also do it along with chemo directly into the tumour. Now I do not know if any of this is suitable for this particular tumour and location but it may be worth asking. You may need to go to a pretty specialist medical establishment to get it done.
Maria
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- January 28, 2017 at 12:58 pm
This may not be possible at all. But my husband has had some embolizations done on tumours that cannot be removed. they can either cut off the blood supply which ultimately shrinks the tumour, they can freeze it or burn it. they can also do it along with chemo directly into the tumour. Now I do not know if any of this is suitable for this particular tumour and location but it may be worth asking. You may need to go to a pretty specialist medical establishment to get it done.
Maria
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- January 28, 2017 at 12:58 pm
This may not be possible at all. But my husband has had some embolizations done on tumours that cannot be removed. they can either cut off the blood supply which ultimately shrinks the tumour, they can freeze it or burn it. they can also do it along with chemo directly into the tumour. Now I do not know if any of this is suitable for this particular tumour and location but it may be worth asking. You may need to go to a pretty specialist medical establishment to get it done.
Maria
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- January 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm
thanks Maria for your input, we have an upcoming appointment at the Mayo which should give us more options. -Blessings
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- January 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm
thanks Maria for your input, we have an upcoming appointment at the Mayo which should give us more options. -Blessings
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- January 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm
thanks Maria for your input, we have an upcoming appointment at the Mayo which should give us more options. -Blessings
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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