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Treatment update and scans
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Treatment update and scans

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Treatment update and scans

  • Post
    • March 10, 2017 at 6:07 pm
    Julie in SoCal
    Participant

      Greetings Melahomies!

      Start the happy dance music!  My very small lung met came back stable.  It hasn't grown or changed!  Woohoo! Also my brain is normal, which is always a relief to know! Sometimes my friends wonder…

      So, the plan is to remove the very small lung met and find out what it is.  It hasn't been biopsied so it could be primary lung cancer or mel or some other kind of funk. I'll talk with the Rock Star on Monday about the timing of this, but we're in no great hurry!

      I also have immune related inflammatory arthritis in my knees, back and shoulders and thumbs. This has been very painful and debilitating (my knees and shoulders don't bend like they should). So, with mel being stable and not clamoring for attention, I'll see a rheumatologist and we'll move on to addressing my joint issues.  Yea!

      So, this is where it's at with me. 

      Thanks for all of your encouragement and wisdom!

      Shalom!

      Julie

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    • Replies
        • March 10, 2017 at 6:20 pm
        Bubbles
        Participant

          Sorry you are looking at a lung biopsy and dealing with arthralgias!!!  BUT….in melanoma world we get used to being happy about strange things, don't we???  Got the music playing loud and kicking back the rug for you!!  Hope you find relief for your arthralgias soon!!  Congrats!!  celeste

          • March 10, 2017 at 9:30 pm
          Mat
          Participant

            Julie, glad to hear.  I've also recently joined the immunotherapy-induced arthritis club.  Kenalog (steroid) shots have made all the difference (like between walking and barely walking).  I'm also on 15mg/day prednisone with the goal of tapering.  I may start MTX (an arthritis drug).  Hate to add meds, but if it can help with the taper, I may try it.  Apparently takes a few months to kick-in.

              • March 12, 2017 at 12:52 am
              Julie in SoCal
              Participant

                Hey Mat!

                Thanks for this bit of encouragement!  While I wouldn't wish this pain and debilitation on anyone, it's good to hear that there's light at the end of the tunnel.  Maybe I too can go from barely walking to walking!

                Thanks again!

              • March 11, 2017 at 1:27 am
              BrianP
              Participant

                Great news Julie.  You got to get that arthritis under control so you can really cut loose on your happy dance.  Good luck with the upcoming surgery.  Hopefully it's just funk in there.

                Brian

                • March 11, 2017 at 2:56 am
                Casitas1
                Participant
                  Hey Julie, great news! Rock Star sent me to Dr. Troum and he’s a really brilliant and thorough Dr. and part of St. John’s. I also have immune arthritis from Pembro. Knees, ankles elbows. You name it it aches and swells. So far two doses Remicade, cortisone shots and 10 mg. Prednisone has put me right. What a relief! Glad your doing well and always watching for you at appts. Best, Paul
                    • March 11, 2017 at 9:58 pm
                    Julie in SoCal
                    Participant

                      Hey Paul,

                      I look for you, too. Maybe one day we'll meet at JWCI. 

                      The Rock Star has referred me to Traum, also.  But I'm having a hard time getting in through the front door.  I've called, left a message on their machine and also called and talked to a real person who said she couldn't make an appointment but would call me back.  What the heck!?! I'm not sure why it's hard to make an appointment.  Somehow I just don't have the pull, or something.   I'll talk with RS on Monday afternoon (will you be there, too?) and will see if he can work some behind the scenes magic.

                      It's encouraging to hear that you're doing well.  Give me hope!  Thank you!!

                      See you on Monday?

                      Julie

                      • March 11, 2017 at 10:33 pm
                      Casitas1
                      Participant

                        Hi Julie, Dr. Traum was out of town for three weeks. I saw him last Mon. RS got me my original appt but was on waiting list for a few weeks. Well worth the wait though and once your in your in… They are very accommodating. I am almost always at John Wayne on Wednesdays bout noon(next appt. march 22) I drive from Ventura so try to bundle my appts. on the same days.

                        You are very welcome!

                        Best, Paul

                        • March 11, 2017 at 10:51 pm
                        Julie in SoCal
                        Participant

                          Thanks Paul!  This is good to know.  I've just recently had an experience with a liver doctor whose front office couldn't find a telephone to return a call or a computer to send an email.  It was amazingly frustrating. I think I'm now primed to doubt (and loathe) all front offices (except RS's of course). 

                          Don't know if I'll be there on the 22nd.  Quite possibly.  I come from Huntington Beach, so like you, I cluster everything together.  RS is totally worth the drive.

                          Julie

                        • March 11, 2017 at 3:06 am
                        Maria C
                        Participant

                          Hi Julie – so glad for your good news, and so good to hear from you!

                          • March 11, 2017 at 1:34 pm
                          jenny22
                          Participant

                            Hi Julie- congrats on some good news….hiping that lung "thing" turns not be a "thing"….

                            And of course hoping you can find soem relief from the arthritis pains….

                            For now, though stable is good, and cograts again.

                            jenny

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