› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › treatment update
- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by
stars.
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- August 4, 2015 at 2:31 am
Well since my last post about my reccurance this is what happened. I had the surgeon look at spots which are many along my scar. He told me he thought they could resect them however when i went in for surgery this past friday he thought there looked like to many to be surgically removed. He biopsied 3 additional spots. 2 of the spots were negative and one additional spot turned out positive. He told me he could do the surgery but it would require a skin graft. I am afraid if i do the graft that it may just come back again. If I’m 3c unresectable i have access to pd-1. If its resectable then I’m looking at probably a 4 week recovery and then trying to get back into the checkmate 238 trial. I’m meeting with Dr Luke tomorrow and then a plastic surgeon at UC. I hate the thought of leaving cancer on my body if its resectable but that may be my best option to get to a pd-1 sooner than later. I have a pet/ct scheduled for Thursday so the smartest move in my opinion to see what the scan shows…if my body is still clear then maybe go for the resection. I’m struggling big time with the stress. i just wish i had a clear path. The in transit spots keep popping up fast along almost my whole incision. They are very small but obviously a big problem and im worried they are a sign that my cancer is really aggressive. Very nervous about pet on Thursday. I need a doctor to give me a path and just say this is what we are doing and that’s it and hopefully it meshes with my opinion. Thanks for the opinions and guidance from everyone here and good luck to those of you having a tough time right now. The last 2 weeks have kicked my ass emotionally and i have to get out of this funk!Jamie
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- August 4, 2015 at 7:09 am
You are in great hands at the University of Chicago.
A friend of mine, who is in her 30's, is in remission from leukemia. Her advice to me, as I face my health challenges, is to find the best doctors, then have confidence in them, and follow their guidance.
You are doing that, so maybe knowing that you are doing everything you can, with a top notch medical team, can put your mind at ease.
I got together with friends this weekend, and it was just what I needed to take my mind off of all the medical stuff…it was great to relax and have fun.
As Stars suggests, anything that you can do to distract yourself will help.
I read someone's blog about her melanoma experience, and she made a list of things she can do, while waiting for appointments, test results, scans, etc., so that she lives life and doesn't fret it away with worry, "just waiting."
So go fishing and pursue your other interests, while you wait.
We're thinking about you and hoping for the best.
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- August 4, 2015 at 7:09 am
You are in great hands at the University of Chicago.
A friend of mine, who is in her 30's, is in remission from leukemia. Her advice to me, as I face my health challenges, is to find the best doctors, then have confidence in them, and follow their guidance.
You are doing that, so maybe knowing that you are doing everything you can, with a top notch medical team, can put your mind at ease.
I got together with friends this weekend, and it was just what I needed to take my mind off of all the medical stuff…it was great to relax and have fun.
As Stars suggests, anything that you can do to distract yourself will help.
I read someone's blog about her melanoma experience, and she made a list of things she can do, while waiting for appointments, test results, scans, etc., so that she lives life and doesn't fret it away with worry, "just waiting."
So go fishing and pursue your other interests, while you wait.
We're thinking about you and hoping for the best.
-
- August 4, 2015 at 7:09 am
You are in great hands at the University of Chicago.
A friend of mine, who is in her 30's, is in remission from leukemia. Her advice to me, as I face my health challenges, is to find the best doctors, then have confidence in them, and follow their guidance.
You are doing that, so maybe knowing that you are doing everything you can, with a top notch medical team, can put your mind at ease.
I got together with friends this weekend, and it was just what I needed to take my mind off of all the medical stuff…it was great to relax and have fun.
As Stars suggests, anything that you can do to distract yourself will help.
I read someone's blog about her melanoma experience, and she made a list of things she can do, while waiting for appointments, test results, scans, etc., so that she lives life and doesn't fret it away with worry, "just waiting."
So go fishing and pursue your other interests, while you wait.
We're thinking about you and hoping for the best.
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- August 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Just got out of the appointment at university of Chicago. Dr Luke and the plastic surgeon both agreed that my in transit spots were resectable. However Dr Luke and Dr Gotlieb both believe it would probably come right back. The plan right now is to go on braf drugs for 1 month or so. Dr Luke is hoping that they will clear up the small spots and maybe reduce the chance of interoperative spread. The whole plan may change with the pet scan Thursday…we are obviously hoping it hasn’t spread beyond the local stuff. He did say the big picture goal is immunotherapy but really didn’t want to elaborate on what yet because of many variables that could change. I’m at least happy he had a idea about these spots that keep coming up.Jamie
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- August 5, 2015 at 2:16 am
Jamie – thanks for the update, sounds like you’ve got yourself a good plan (with a built-in second opinion as both doctors agree). Hope the braf drugs do their magic and the PET scan is, as they say, unremarkable. So good that you have some direction, stay strong! -
- August 5, 2015 at 2:16 am
Jamie – thanks for the update, sounds like you’ve got yourself a good plan (with a built-in second opinion as both doctors agree). Hope the braf drugs do their magic and the PET scan is, as they say, unremarkable. So good that you have some direction, stay strong! -
- August 5, 2015 at 2:16 am
Jamie – thanks for the update, sounds like you’ve got yourself a good plan (with a built-in second opinion as both doctors agree). Hope the braf drugs do their magic and the PET scan is, as they say, unremarkable. So good that you have some direction, stay strong!
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- August 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Just got out of the appointment at university of Chicago. Dr Luke and the plastic surgeon both agreed that my in transit spots were resectable. However Dr Luke and Dr Gotlieb both believe it would probably come right back. The plan right now is to go on braf drugs for 1 month or so. Dr Luke is hoping that they will clear up the small spots and maybe reduce the chance of interoperative spread. The whole plan may change with the pet scan Thursday…we are obviously hoping it hasn’t spread beyond the local stuff. He did say the big picture goal is immunotherapy but really didn’t want to elaborate on what yet because of many variables that could change. I’m at least happy he had a idea about these spots that keep coming up.Jamie
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- August 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Just got out of the appointment at university of Chicago. Dr Luke and the plastic surgeon both agreed that my in transit spots were resectable. However Dr Luke and Dr Gotlieb both believe it would probably come right back. The plan right now is to go on braf drugs for 1 month or so. Dr Luke is hoping that they will clear up the small spots and maybe reduce the chance of interoperative spread. The whole plan may change with the pet scan Thursday…we are obviously hoping it hasn’t spread beyond the local stuff. He did say the big picture goal is immunotherapy but really didn’t want to elaborate on what yet because of many variables that could change. I’m at least happy he had a idea about these spots that keep coming up.Jamie
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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