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Sternum reoccurrence
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Sternum reoccurrence

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Sternum reoccurrence

  • Post
    • June 10, 2016 at 6:15 pm
    beans920
    Participant

      I've posted before but will give and update now of my treatment plan.  Been through the ippy and interferon trial and had great response other than pituitary burnout.  I also had a spot left on my sternum that looked dead with no activity.  About a year later it fired back up and was caught in my quarterly cscan.  I underwent radiation which again appeared dead on cscan  but now 6 months later its back and growing.  Been seeing an oncologist in Wisconsin but he's sending me back to Mayo which started my original plan.  Arrived at Mayo monday had Pet scan , bloodwork,and chest xray and saw my oncologist on Tuesday morning.  Looked at the petscan and He believes previous radiation missed the spot or wasn't strong enough.  He is not happy with past treatment of radiation.  I am set up for the start of Pembro on Wed. and will see the radiology department to plan another radiation assault on this thing.  Pembro went fine and radiologist is pissed off.  My heart is partially in the way of a magnum blast of radiation so I will head back to radiology on Thursday to see if deep breathing will pull my heart out of the way.  Thursday morning out of underwear but comando is fine.  Had test in radiology dept. and Dr. is very happy as I am able to move my heart out of the blast range.  Came home Thursday evening and Dr.s and radiologist are taking next week to plan it out.  Tentative schedule is 10 treatments over 10 days beginning on 6/20 and getting another dose of Pembro on 6/29.  Word of warning for radiation,  Make sure the first attempt is done with a hospital that knows what there doing.  Mayo Dr. says they used kids gloves the first time and nearly screwed this up.  I will keep in touch with how it goes.  Beans920

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    • Replies
        • June 10, 2016 at 11:03 pm
        Polymath
        Participant

          Hi Beans,

          I've had similar tumors and treatment and had very mixed results, which came as a bit of a surprise to everyone.  Two of mine were in a similar area to yours and one on my back.  They were all pretty large, at least the size of an egg, about 8CM.  Despite the radiation treatment to each being the same, the one on my back took weeks to respond, but finally began to disappear and can no longer be detected at all.  Two between my sternum and shoulder, just below the clavicle were treated simultaneously.  They both responded almost immediately and began to shrink and while one is no longer detectable, the other remains a 3cm sized tumor which has remained stable for about 5 months, and now I feel its growing again, and has been causing pain to the bone nearby.  So the message I got from all this, is that even within the same person, and all things being equal, different tumors can still respond differently.  Melanoma is such an elusive bitch. BTW, in my case the added benefit of radiation I believe was the kicker, and got me an increased response to immunotherapy.  There is proven synergy in the combo.  Best  to you in the battle.

          Gary

           

            • June 11, 2016 at 2:08 am
            beans920
            Participant

              Thanks Gary,  My Drs. feel the same way that its very important to add the radiation when its possible.  Wishing the best to you.

              Beans

              • June 11, 2016 at 2:08 am
              beans920
              Participant

                Thanks Gary,  My Drs. feel the same way that its very important to add the radiation when its possible.  Wishing the best to you.

                Beans

                • June 11, 2016 at 2:08 am
                beans920
                Participant

                  Thanks Gary,  My Drs. feel the same way that its very important to add the radiation when its possible.  Wishing the best to you.

                  Beans

                • June 10, 2016 at 11:03 pm
                Polymath
                Participant

                  Hi Beans,

                  I've had similar tumors and treatment and had very mixed results, which came as a bit of a surprise to everyone.  Two of mine were in a similar area to yours and one on my back.  They were all pretty large, at least the size of an egg, about 8CM.  Despite the radiation treatment to each being the same, the one on my back took weeks to respond, but finally began to disappear and can no longer be detected at all.  Two between my sternum and shoulder, just below the clavicle were treated simultaneously.  They both responded almost immediately and began to shrink and while one is no longer detectable, the other remains a 3cm sized tumor which has remained stable for about 5 months, and now I feel its growing again, and has been causing pain to the bone nearby.  So the message I got from all this, is that even within the same person, and all things being equal, different tumors can still respond differently.  Melanoma is such an elusive bitch. BTW, in my case the added benefit of radiation I believe was the kicker, and got me an increased response to immunotherapy.  There is proven synergy in the combo.  Best  to you in the battle.

                  Gary

                   

                  • June 10, 2016 at 11:03 pm
                  Polymath
                  Participant

                    Hi Beans,

                    I've had similar tumors and treatment and had very mixed results, which came as a bit of a surprise to everyone.  Two of mine were in a similar area to yours and one on my back.  They were all pretty large, at least the size of an egg, about 8CM.  Despite the radiation treatment to each being the same, the one on my back took weeks to respond, but finally began to disappear and can no longer be detected at all.  Two between my sternum and shoulder, just below the clavicle were treated simultaneously.  They both responded almost immediately and began to shrink and while one is no longer detectable, the other remains a 3cm sized tumor which has remained stable for about 5 months, and now I feel its growing again, and has been causing pain to the bone nearby.  So the message I got from all this, is that even within the same person, and all things being equal, different tumors can still respond differently.  Melanoma is such an elusive bitch. BTW, in my case the added benefit of radiation I believe was the kicker, and got me an increased response to immunotherapy.  There is proven synergy in the combo.  Best  to you in the battle.

                    Gary

                     

                    • June 12, 2016 at 2:46 pm
                    Bubbles
                    Participant

                      Hey Beans!

                      Bless your heart! For realz!! Oh my goodness! What you have already been through and then to have to "hold" your heart out of the way from zappage! You must have nerves of…beans! You are awesome. Hope this round of radiation and the pembro does the trick for you. You probably know this already but thought you might like some rattie affirmation of your radiation/immunotherapy combo treatment plan….here's a post with lots of links within: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2015/10/review-of-abscopal-responses-after.html

                      Couldn't help but think of a line from a storybook my kids used to love for me to read them when I read your story:

                      Breathe deep, seek peace! – Dinotopia

                      Wishing you my best, Celeste

                        • June 14, 2016 at 3:36 am
                        beans920
                        Participant

                          Celeste,  Thanks so much for your thoughts.   Your continued postings of links and positive thoughts does go a long way in helping to keep the chin up during some difficult times.  You even made me laugh a little.  Thanks much and god bless.   Beans

                          • June 14, 2016 at 3:36 am
                          beans920
                          Participant

                            Celeste,  Thanks so much for your thoughts.   Your continued postings of links and positive thoughts does go a long way in helping to keep the chin up during some difficult times.  You even made me laugh a little.  Thanks much and god bless.   Beans

                            • June 14, 2016 at 3:36 am
                            beans920
                            Participant

                              Celeste,  Thanks so much for your thoughts.   Your continued postings of links and positive thoughts does go a long way in helping to keep the chin up during some difficult times.  You even made me laugh a little.  Thanks much and god bless.   Beans

                            • June 12, 2016 at 2:46 pm
                            Bubbles
                            Participant

                              Hey Beans!

                              Bless your heart! For realz!! Oh my goodness! What you have already been through and then to have to "hold" your heart out of the way from zappage! You must have nerves of…beans! You are awesome. Hope this round of radiation and the pembro does the trick for you. You probably know this already but thought you might like some rattie affirmation of your radiation/immunotherapy combo treatment plan….here's a post with lots of links within: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2015/10/review-of-abscopal-responses-after.html

                              Couldn't help but think of a line from a storybook my kids used to love for me to read them when I read your story:

                              Breathe deep, seek peace! – Dinotopia

                              Wishing you my best, Celeste

                              • June 12, 2016 at 2:46 pm
                              Bubbles
                              Participant

                                Hey Beans!

                                Bless your heart! For realz!! Oh my goodness! What you have already been through and then to have to "hold" your heart out of the way from zappage! You must have nerves of…beans! You are awesome. Hope this round of radiation and the pembro does the trick for you. You probably know this already but thought you might like some rattie affirmation of your radiation/immunotherapy combo treatment plan….here's a post with lots of links within: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2015/10/review-of-abscopal-responses-after.html

                                Couldn't help but think of a line from a storybook my kids used to love for me to read them when I read your story:

                                Breathe deep, seek peace! – Dinotopia

                                Wishing you my best, Celeste

                            Viewing 5 reply threads
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