Stage IV NED since May 2001
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Stage IV NED since May 2001

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage IV NED since May 2001

  • Post
    • May 29, 2014 at 7:18 am
    Dana R.
    Participant

    We recently celebrated my husband's "NED anniversary". 13 years ago, I was on the MPIP almost daily as my husband endured bio chemotherapy. This site was a life-line.  We are so thankful to all of the people from this site who helped us figure out how to deal with side effects and gave us moral support. May God bless you all as you battle this disease.

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • May 29, 2014 at 10:18 am
      JoshF
      Participant

      Dana-

      So happy for you!!! Being Stage 4 myself it gives hope.

      Curious as to what treatment your husband did…assuming IL-2?

       

      Josh

      • May 29, 2014 at 10:18 am
      JoshF
      Participant

      Dana-

      So happy for you!!! Being Stage 4 myself it gives hope.

      Curious as to what treatment your husband did…assuming IL-2?

       

      Josh

        • May 29, 2014 at 2:49 pm
        Dana R.
        Participant

        In 2001, Dr Sewa Legha was doing trials at MDA on a bio chemo protocol: cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, high dose IL-2, and interferon. It was brutal. We elected to do this off-study, because our youngest was 2 years old at the time, and we wanted as much time together as a family as possible. At that time, we were told that 5 year survival was about 3-5%. After 4 cycles, Steve's lungs were clear. Our onc then recommended an immunotherapy protocol that was in trials at JWCI. It was specifically for bio chemo follow-up. More IL-2, GM-CSF, more interferon…monthly cycles, 12 months worth. Quality of life was pretty good after the initial blast of high dose IL-2. We even traveled some during that year. Did a cross-country "see America" trip with our 4 kids with a cooler of IL-2 and interferon for daily injections. 

        Praying that melanoma finds you to be a disagreeable host and LEAVES!

         

        • May 29, 2014 at 2:49 pm
        Dana R.
        Participant

        In 2001, Dr Sewa Legha was doing trials at MDA on a bio chemo protocol: cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, high dose IL-2, and interferon. It was brutal. We elected to do this off-study, because our youngest was 2 years old at the time, and we wanted as much time together as a family as possible. At that time, we were told that 5 year survival was about 3-5%. After 4 cycles, Steve's lungs were clear. Our onc then recommended an immunotherapy protocol that was in trials at JWCI. It was specifically for bio chemo follow-up. More IL-2, GM-CSF, more interferon…monthly cycles, 12 months worth. Quality of life was pretty good after the initial blast of high dose IL-2. We even traveled some during that year. Did a cross-country "see America" trip with our 4 kids with a cooler of IL-2 and interferon for daily injections. 

        Praying that melanoma finds you to be a disagreeable host and LEAVES!

         

        • May 29, 2014 at 2:49 pm
        Dana R.
        Participant

        In 2001, Dr Sewa Legha was doing trials at MDA on a bio chemo protocol: cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, high dose IL-2, and interferon. It was brutal. We elected to do this off-study, because our youngest was 2 years old at the time, and we wanted as much time together as a family as possible. At that time, we were told that 5 year survival was about 3-5%. After 4 cycles, Steve's lungs were clear. Our onc then recommended an immunotherapy protocol that was in trials at JWCI. It was specifically for bio chemo follow-up. More IL-2, GM-CSF, more interferon…monthly cycles, 12 months worth. Quality of life was pretty good after the initial blast of high dose IL-2. We even traveled some during that year. Did a cross-country "see America" trip with our 4 kids with a cooler of IL-2 and interferon for daily injections. 

        Praying that melanoma finds you to be a disagreeable host and LEAVES!

         

      • May 29, 2014 at 10:18 am
      JoshF
      Participant

      Dana-

      So happy for you!!! Being Stage 4 myself it gives hope.

      Curious as to what treatment your husband did…assuming IL-2?

       

      Josh

      • May 29, 2014 at 1:22 pm
      shanemcdonald99
      Participant

      Thats fantastic !

       

      thanks for the update !

       

      peace

      Shane

      • May 29, 2014 at 1:22 pm
      shanemcdonald99
      Participant

      Thats fantastic !

       

      thanks for the update !

       

      peace

      Shane

      • May 29, 2014 at 1:22 pm
      shanemcdonald99
      Participant

      Thats fantastic !

       

      thanks for the update !

       

      peace

      Shane

      • May 29, 2014 at 1:57 pm
      cpeters2498
      Participant

      So happy for you.

      I was diagnosed stage IV in January we need to hear these types of success stories!

      I plan on being one of them.

      Charlie

      • May 29, 2014 at 1:57 pm
      cpeters2498
      Participant

      So happy for you.

      I was diagnosed stage IV in January we need to hear these types of success stories!

      I plan on being one of them.

      Charlie

      • May 29, 2014 at 1:57 pm
      cpeters2498
      Participant

      So happy for you.

      I was diagnosed stage IV in January we need to hear these types of success stories!

      I plan on being one of them.

      Charlie

      • June 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm
      Jahendry12
      Participant

      AWESOME! Thanks for coming back and sharing. 

      • June 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm
      Jahendry12
      Participant

      AWESOME! Thanks for coming back and sharing. 

      • June 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm
      Jahendry12
      Participant

      AWESOME! Thanks for coming back and sharing. 

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