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Update on dad

Forums General Melanoma Community Update on dad

  • Post
    cwu
    Participant

      Hi everyone,

      Hi everyone,

      It has been some time since I last posted.  My dad finished his last Yervoy treatment in mid-November. After Thanksgiving, he was hospitalized for 10 days due to what his oncologist think was a severe side effect from Yervoy.  His sodium level dropped and he was weak and confused and didnt know who he was and who we were. his oncologist thinks that Yervoy caused imflammation in a part of his brain which regulates his sodium level. He was given sodium via IV and treated with steroids to reduce the imflammation in his brain.  He was on salt tablets after he was discharged from the hospital and had his salt level followed through bloodwork for a few weeks to make sure it returned to normal. Dad is ok now but it was really scary.

      We dont yet know whether Yervoy worked for him, his lesions dont appear to flatten or regress. They dont seem to have gotten bigger either so we are hoping that Yervoy is keepin them at bay.  His oncologist has told us that he can only offer us decarbazine and didnt think dad can qualify for clincial trials due to his age. We have delayed the 16 week scans and will go for the 20 week scans.  At this point, we dont really want to know the results of the scans since there are no more options available. We hope dad's melanoma is not aggressive and we will just wait and see. Dad is still itchy from the Yervoy and still has to take his itchy medication.

      Thank you everyone for your support and advice.

      Chau

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        FormerCaregiver
        Participant

          Chau, thanks for the update on your dad. I have had another look at his profile, and it mentions that he is stage 3. Since he has the c-kit mutation, I wonder what type or sub type of melanoma he actually has?

          As I might have mentioned before, PV-10 or Imiquimod (Aldara) could be more suitable options if there are no internal tumours at the moment.

          Hope this helps

          Frank from Australia

          FormerCaregiver
          Participant

            Chau, thanks for the update on your dad. I have had another look at his profile, and it mentions that he is stage 3. Since he has the c-kit mutation, I wonder what type or sub type of melanoma he actually has?

            As I might have mentioned before, PV-10 or Imiquimod (Aldara) could be more suitable options if there are no internal tumours at the moment.

            Hope this helps

            Frank from Australia

            FormerCaregiver
            Participant

              Chau, thanks for the update on your dad. I have had another look at his profile, and it mentions that he is stage 3. Since he has the c-kit mutation, I wonder what type or sub type of melanoma he actually has?

              As I might have mentioned before, PV-10 or Imiquimod (Aldara) could be more suitable options if there are no internal tumours at the moment.

              Hope this helps

              Frank from Australia

          Viewing 2 reply threads
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