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Sternum reoccurrence
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Sternum reoccurrence

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Sternum reoccurrence

  • Post
    • September 23, 2016 at 6:20 pm
    beans920
    Participant

      Hello to everyone,  I have been a poster in the past  but have not had much to say as I awaited my quarterly scans.

      Finally had my Pet scan, MRI and blood work on Wed.  I have had 2 wks. of radiation  and was started on Pembro now receiving my 6th dose.  Blood work was all in normal range. Full  Pet scan only showed the tumor on my sternum which has shrunk by 60%.  I figured it was down as I couldn't feel it anymore.  I did have a speck  show on the MRI on my left front brain area.  Dr. not sure if its new as I have not had MRI before always full body Pet scan.  Pet scan showed nothing active in brain area.  Will repeat MRI in six weeks during my 8th dose of Pembro.  No side effects yet, feeling good.  Prayers and Best wishes to everyone out there.   Beans

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 24, 2016 at 5:59 pm
        Fen
        Participant

          As always, it's the good (sternum) with the potentially bad (brain).  Hoping that the brain speck is a fluke or something that has always been there.  Post when you get more news and try to stay positive in the meantime.

          Fen

          • September 24, 2016 at 5:59 pm
          Fen
          Participant

            As always, it's the good (sternum) with the potentially bad (brain).  Hoping that the brain speck is a fluke or something that has always been there.  Post when you get more news and try to stay positive in the meantime.

            Fen

            • September 24, 2016 at 5:59 pm
            Fen
            Participant

              As always, it's the good (sternum) with the potentially bad (brain).  Hoping that the brain speck is a fluke or something that has always been there.  Post when you get more news and try to stay positive in the meantime.

              Fen

              • September 24, 2016 at 6:22 pm
              Polymath
              Participant

                Hi Beans,

                Sounds like a positive update since small specks and false-positives in PET/CT scans often are a source of anxiety that ends up unwarranted.  Curious if the radiation was to the sternum?  If so, it would be expected, to see the shrinkage there and since I've had radiation in the same approximate area you can expect it to take a while to see complete destruction of the tumor, or possibly a necrotic lump left behind.  The combo of radiation and pembro is a really effective one-two punch.  Best to you in seeing more good results and any issue with brain turns up negative.

                Gary

                  • September 29, 2016 at 12:47 am
                  beans920
                  Participant

                    Hi Gary,  Yes the radiation was to the sternum area.  First time I had the radiation the Dr. gave me a dose you would see after surgery to clean up free cells.  Fast forward  7 months later and my new Dr. says he gave me enogh to kill a horse.  Had to remind him I'm not a horse.  So far so good.  Thanks for your thoughts.  Beans

                    • September 29, 2016 at 12:47 am
                    beans920
                    Participant

                      Hi Gary,  Yes the radiation was to the sternum area.  First time I had the radiation the Dr. gave me a dose you would see after surgery to clean up free cells.  Fast forward  7 months later and my new Dr. says he gave me enogh to kill a horse.  Had to remind him I'm not a horse.  So far so good.  Thanks for your thoughts.  Beans

                      • September 29, 2016 at 12:47 am
                      beans920
                      Participant

                        Hi Gary,  Yes the radiation was to the sternum area.  First time I had the radiation the Dr. gave me a dose you would see after surgery to clean up free cells.  Fast forward  7 months later and my new Dr. says he gave me enogh to kill a horse.  Had to remind him I'm not a horse.  So far so good.  Thanks for your thoughts.  Beans

                      • September 24, 2016 at 6:22 pm
                      Polymath
                      Participant

                        Hi Beans,

                        Sounds like a positive update since small specks and false-positives in PET/CT scans often are a source of anxiety that ends up unwarranted.  Curious if the radiation was to the sternum?  If so, it would be expected, to see the shrinkage there and since I've had radiation in the same approximate area you can expect it to take a while to see complete destruction of the tumor, or possibly a necrotic lump left behind.  The combo of radiation and pembro is a really effective one-two punch.  Best to you in seeing more good results and any issue with brain turns up negative.

                        Gary

                        • September 24, 2016 at 6:22 pm
                        Polymath
                        Participant

                          Hi Beans,

                          Sounds like a positive update since small specks and false-positives in PET/CT scans often are a source of anxiety that ends up unwarranted.  Curious if the radiation was to the sternum?  If so, it would be expected, to see the shrinkage there and since I've had radiation in the same approximate area you can expect it to take a while to see complete destruction of the tumor, or possibly a necrotic lump left behind.  The combo of radiation and pembro is a really effective one-two punch.  Best to you in seeing more good results and any issue with brain turns up negative.

                          Gary

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