Stage 3 for now. So scared

Hi there Suzana65, if you go to the 40:30min mark of the following link Dr. Mario Sznol a melanoma experts talks about treating melanoma patients with immunotherapy drugs with previous history of autoimmune issues. The link is from Research to Practice and might ask you to join, don’t worry they don’t spam you afterwards. Best Wishes!!! Ed http://www.researchtopractice.com/DOU119/Video/1?playlistIndex=2#t=43m58s

Suzana65, im Mike, i had to write just to say BREATH! try and slow your anxiety in a way you know how, iv been there we ALL have been there gettin the frightful news, if this can be helpful and not scare you more, i was stage 3b for 10 years! Surgerys alone kept me there! I mean, our situations are different but bottom line one can be stage 3 for 5, 10, 15, 25 years or MORE! I cant be of any help with your autoimmune disease, im sure theres a way around that, and thru immunal therapy, maybe that alone can be addressed! ( kill 2 birds with one stone!) Always know that 2019 is a great year to have Melanoma, so many weapons at our disposal!!! Take it easy sis, and keep us posted!
Im sure someone will chime in with your similiar situation…breath! Breath!

So sorry to hear you had to join this little club. Two positive things to remember are that you had only one node affected and that there are a LOT of Stage III survivors out there. I am one and am nearing the 10 year mark.

Not sure who your doctor is, but what’s very important when you are diagnosed with Stage III melanoma is that you are seeing an oncologist with experience in melanoma at a medical facility with a department devoted to melanoma. And yes, there are places like that: Johns Hopkins, Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, University of PA, MD Anderson, etc. In your case, it would be crucial since you also are dealing with autoimmune issues at the same time. The emphasis on a melanoma specialist is because these folks will be the most up to speed on available treatments because they deal with this disease on a daily basis. We are light years ahead of where we were as little as 10 years ago when I was diagnosed. And, the only ones who will be able to keep up with that rapid of a pace are these specialists.

Sorry you are dealing with all this Suzana. However, Chapman has a great rep in melanoma world. Weber and Pavlick are amazing as well. You can’t go wrong with either of those three and they are all excellently equipped to help you deal with melanoma as well as your pre-existing autoimmune disease.

Yes at Stage III are likely to be eligible for the FDA adjuvant treatments of either anti-PD-1 product (Opdivo or Keytruda) or a BRAF/MEK combo if your tumor is BRAF positive. It will need to be tested for that. There are some current trials ongoing with the ipi/nivo combo for Stage III peeps, but we know that ipi is the bad boy of side effects in the immunotherapy realm, so that may not be your best choice given Sojgren’s and psoriasis.

Here is a primer regarding standard melanoma care that I put together that might help you understand various treatments better and be more prepared for a talk with your onc about your options. If you are interested: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2017/08/melanoma-intel-primer-for-current.html

I shared the link Sue referenced – folks with immune related diseases will need careful monitoring, but they can tolerate and have responses to immunotherapy! Here is a link to articles, with more links within: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2017/09/immunotherapy-for-melanoma-with-pre.html

So – as I always say…no matter who you are….no matter the stage…..melanoma sucks great big hairy stinky green wizard balls! But – there is hope. I am still here after being diagnosed with Stage IIIb melanoma in 2003 (no legit treatments then, unlike the world we have today!!!!) with progression to stage IV with lung and brain mets in 2010 – treated by Dr. Weber in a nivo only trial from Dec 2010 to June of 2013. I remain NED for melanoma today. AND – I had the pre-existing diagnosis of asthma. Yes, immunotherapy can cause pneumonitis – in anyone – and it did in me. But, I wheezed my way through it and am still here today. It won’t be easy, but you can do this, too!!! I wish you my best. celeste