Stage 3!!!

Stage 3c atm, and I am personally doing "wait and watch" at this point. There's only one trial near me that I qualify for and it's double-blind ipi vs. interferon. I really, really, REALLY do not want to take interferon (and my oncologist agrees that it's not the best option for me). After the SNB and the CLND, they've scanned me head to toe and found no evidence of disease anywhere, so radiation and chemo are kind of pointless for me. I go for my first round of follow-up scans on July 11. Three months after that, I'll see my dermatologist; three months after THAT, I'll go back to my oncologist, and so on and so forth.

The problem is there's no one right treatment for Stage 3 melanoma. In addition to the varying …degrees, I guess (3a, b, and c), there's the fact that everyone's situation and body are different. My oncologist has told me that I am "technically" Stage 3c, but that my prognosis is much better than that would normally indicate, given my low mitotic rate and the lack of ulceration or satellite lesions. With my being otherwise NED, this is what I, my husband, and my oncologist all thought would be the best option.

Good luck to your friend, though! 🙂

Stage 3c atm, and I am personally doing "wait and watch" at this point. There's only one trial near me that I qualify for and it's double-blind ipi vs. interferon. I really, really, REALLY do not want to take interferon (and my oncologist agrees that it's not the best option for me). After the SNB and the CLND, they've scanned me head to toe and found no evidence of disease anywhere, so radiation and chemo are kind of pointless for me. I go for my first round of follow-up scans on July 11. Three months after that, I'll see my dermatologist; three months after THAT, I'll go back to my oncologist, and so on and so forth.

The problem is there's no one right treatment for Stage 3 melanoma. In addition to the varying …degrees, I guess (3a, b, and c), there's the fact that everyone's situation and body are different. My oncologist has told me that I am "technically" Stage 3c, but that my prognosis is much better than that would normally indicate, given my low mitotic rate and the lack of ulceration or satellite lesions. With my being otherwise NED, this is what I, my husband, and my oncologist all thought would be the best option.

Good luck to your friend, though! 🙂

Stage 3c atm, and I am personally doing "wait and watch" at this point. There's only one trial near me that I qualify for and it's double-blind ipi vs. interferon. I really, really, REALLY do not want to take interferon (and my oncologist agrees that it's not the best option for me). After the SNB and the CLND, they've scanned me head to toe and found no evidence of disease anywhere, so radiation and chemo are kind of pointless for me. I go for my first round of follow-up scans on July 11. Three months after that, I'll see my dermatologist; three months after THAT, I'll go back to my oncologist, and so on and so forth.

The problem is there's no one right treatment for Stage 3 melanoma. In addition to the varying …degrees, I guess (3a, b, and c), there's the fact that everyone's situation and body are different. My oncologist has told me that I am "technically" Stage 3c, but that my prognosis is much better than that would normally indicate, given my low mitotic rate and the lack of ulceration or satellite lesions. With my being otherwise NED, this is what I, my husband, and my oncologist all thought would be the best option.

Good luck to your friend, though! 🙂

Unfortunately there aren't many FDA approved treatments for Stage III melanoma.

I'm Stage III and was offered Interferon, "Observation only", or clinical trial.

Chances are your friend will be offered something similar, unless he/she is Stage IIIc unresectable (means the melanoma tumor can't be removed by surgery). People with Stage IIIc disease in that situation would be offered treatments that are available to those at Stage IV.

Here's my take on the options:

Interferon. Has some nasty side effects; you're on it for a year. So, basically you're giving up a year feeling like you have the flu. There's maybe a 5% chance that the melanoma will not return.

Observation Only. This consists of regularly scheduled visits with your oncologist in which a PET or CT scan (or both) are performed. If anything is spotted, then action will be taken. Statistically there wasn't a heck of a lot of difference between this and interferon.

Clinical Trial. This is an opportunity to try out a newer drug that has not yet been FDA-approved. For us at Stage III these trials are randomized so that some people receive the drug while others receive the placebo. Often the doctor will not even know into which control group you were randomized. The advantage here is that you get "Observation only" plus the potential of receiving the drug.

There was a trial finishing up now where Stage III patients were given Yervoy and the results were very promising. Yervoy (aka "Ipilimumab" or "Ipi") is normally given to Stage IV patients, but in this trial it was offered to Stage III patients. I don't know when it will be officially approved for Stage III. But when it is, it'll be a huge step in the right direction for us.

Unfortunately there aren't many FDA approved treatments for Stage III melanoma.

I'm Stage III and was offered Interferon, "Observation only", or clinical trial.

Chances are your friend will be offered something similar, unless he/she is Stage IIIc unresectable (means the melanoma tumor can't be removed by surgery). People with Stage IIIc disease in that situation would be offered treatments that are available to those at Stage IV.

Here's my take on the options:

Interferon. Has some nasty side effects; you're on it for a year. So, basically you're giving up a year feeling like you have the flu. There's maybe a 5% chance that the melanoma will not return.

Observation Only. This consists of regularly scheduled visits with your oncologist in which a PET or CT scan (or both) are performed. If anything is spotted, then action will be taken. Statistically there wasn't a heck of a lot of difference between this and interferon.

Clinical Trial. This is an opportunity to try out a newer drug that has not yet been FDA-approved. For us at Stage III these trials are randomized so that some people receive the drug while others receive the placebo. Often the doctor will not even know into which control group you were randomized. The advantage here is that you get "Observation only" plus the potential of receiving the drug.

There was a trial finishing up now where Stage III patients were given Yervoy and the results were very promising. Yervoy (aka "Ipilimumab" or "Ipi") is normally given to Stage IV patients, but in this trial it was offered to Stage III patients. I don't know when it will be officially approved for Stage III. But when it is, it'll be a huge step in the right direction for us.

Unfortunately there aren't many FDA approved treatments for Stage III melanoma.

I'm Stage III and was offered Interferon, "Observation only", or clinical trial.

Chances are your friend will be offered something similar, unless he/she is Stage IIIc unresectable (means the melanoma tumor can't be removed by surgery). People with Stage IIIc disease in that situation would be offered treatments that are available to those at Stage IV.

Here's my take on the options:

Interferon. Has some nasty side effects; you're on it for a year. So, basically you're giving up a year feeling like you have the flu. There's maybe a 5% chance that the melanoma will not return.

Observation Only. This consists of regularly scheduled visits with your oncologist in which a PET or CT scan (or both) are performed. If anything is spotted, then action will be taken. Statistically there wasn't a heck of a lot of difference between this and interferon.

Clinical Trial. This is an opportunity to try out a newer drug that has not yet been FDA-approved. For us at Stage III these trials are randomized so that some people receive the drug while others receive the placebo. Often the doctor will not even know into which control group you were randomized. The advantage here is that you get "Observation only" plus the potential of receiving the drug.

There was a trial finishing up now where Stage III patients were given Yervoy and the results were very promising. Yervoy (aka "Ipilimumab" or "Ipi") is normally given to Stage IV patients, but in this trial it was offered to Stage III patients. I don't know when it will be officially approved for Stage III. But when it is, it'll be a huge step in the right direction for us.

I was basically in the4 same position with this being my second go around I chose the yervoy/interferon trial .

I received the high dose Yervoy. I could only take 2 infusions before side effects caused me to be pulled from the trial.

Would I do it again? Yes. It's a tough choice that only you can make for yourself.

I was basically in the4 same position with this being my second go around I chose the yervoy/interferon trial .

I received the high dose Yervoy. I could only take 2 infusions before side effects caused me to be pulled from the trial.

Would I do it again? Yes. It's a tough choice that only you can make for yourself.

I was basically in the4 same position with this being my second go around I chose the yervoy/interferon trial .

I received the high dose Yervoy. I could only take 2 infusions before side effects caused me to be pulled from the trial.

Would I do it again? Yes. It's a tough choice that only you can make for yourself.

I'm 19 years old and i'm stage lll, and I will be doing interferon for a year, 5 times a week for the first month and the rest of the 11 months 2-3 times a week. Just keep being supportive and strong! Sending positive thoughts to your friend!

I'm 19 years old and i'm stage lll, and I will be doing interferon for a year, 5 times a week for the first month and the rest of the 11 months 2-3 times a week. Just keep being supportive and strong! Sending positive thoughts to your friend!

I'm 19 years old and i'm stage lll, and I will be doing interferon for a year, 5 times a week for the first month and the rest of the 11 months 2-3 times a week. Just keep being supportive and strong! Sending positive thoughts to your friend!