UPDATE on recent scans
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UPDATE on recent scans

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › UPDATE on recent scans

  • Post
    • June 20, 2013 at 12:29 pm
    aldakota22
    Participant

    Had visit with Dr. Anna Pavlick yesterday and got results of Cat Scans & MRI  from 6/15/13.On the plus side Iron count is back to normal after being on the low side early this year.Just had to  take iron supplement..Also gained 4 pounds .First time in over 2 years after remaining at same weight.Appetite has always been great.All in all the results were awesome."Z" has been doing its job for the most part as there is no evidence of disease from the head down.Still have a few brain mets with the largest being  1.2 x 1.1  x  0.4  cm.

    Had visit with Dr. Anna Pavlick yesterday and got results of Cat Scans & MRI  from 6/15/13.On the plus side Iron count is back to normal after being on the low side early this year.Just had to  take iron supplement..Also gained 4 pounds .First time in over 2 years after remaining at same weight.Appetite has always been great.All in all the results were awesome."Z" has been doing its job for the most part as there is no evidence of disease from the head down.Still have a few brain mets with the largest being  1.2 x 1.1  x  0.4  cm. All others are substancially smaller and measured in mm.They all remain stable when compared to MRI of  2/20/13 and  4/13/13. No new ones from MRI of Feb. 2013.Will have MRI again in two months. As i have no problems stemming from these mets she is of the opinion that this is something I can actually live with.Feels that any  Gamma knife treatment at this point is not reccomended.Still taking "Z" for over 21 months.Plan  B if needed will be to switch to Dabrafenib expected to be available the first week of July.Known to  work as a effective a "Z" to long time users as myself.Want everyone to know out there that after what felt like a Death Sentence  in early 2011, now feels  with God  & modern medicine I now have a Life Sentence.To all my fellow warriors in our unwanted battle with melanoma do everything you can to Beat the Beast..The research is advancing toward a cure or at least a treatment as a chronic condition.Life is good.Keeping all my fellow warriors in my prayers.Looking forward when all posts here will be ones of hope and happiness.I feel my good results have been cause of God, modern medicine, my PMA and of course the love and support of my honey and family. Also know that all here are wishing me well also. Thank you.      Al

Viewing 32 reply threads
  • Replies
      • June 20, 2013 at 12:58 pm
      hbecker
      Participant

      Al, I'm so happy to hear your great news! Thanks for sharing!

      ~Hazel

      • June 20, 2013 at 12:58 pm
      hbecker
      Participant

      Al, I'm so happy to hear your great news! Thanks for sharing!

      ~Hazel

      • June 20, 2013 at 12:58 pm
      hbecker
      Participant

      Al, I'm so happy to hear your great news! Thanks for sharing!

      ~Hazel

      • June 20, 2013 at 5:13 pm
      rosa1
      Participant

      It's great to hear you're doing well, Al!  Hopefully dabrafenib will kick those small brain mets in their butt!  Keep the positve attitude and keep fighting.  As always, I wish and pray the best for you and everybody on this board fighting this battle!

      All the best/Rosa  smiley

       

      • June 20, 2013 at 5:13 pm
      rosa1
      Participant

      It's great to hear you're doing well, Al!  Hopefully dabrafenib will kick those small brain mets in their butt!  Keep the positve attitude and keep fighting.  As always, I wish and pray the best for you and everybody on this board fighting this battle!

      All the best/Rosa  smiley

       

      • June 20, 2013 at 5:13 pm
      rosa1
      Participant

      It's great to hear you're doing well, Al!  Hopefully dabrafenib will kick those small brain mets in their butt!  Keep the positve attitude and keep fighting.  As always, I wish and pray the best for you and everybody on this board fighting this battle!

      All the best/Rosa  smiley

       

      • June 20, 2013 at 7:24 pm
      Brendan
      Participant
      Great news, Al. Keep it up! Thanks for posting.

      Brendan

      • June 20, 2013 at 7:24 pm
      Brendan
      Participant
      Great news, Al. Keep it up! Thanks for posting.

      Brendan

      • June 20, 2013 at 7:24 pm
      Brendan
      Participant
      Great news, Al. Keep it up! Thanks for posting.

      Brendan

      • June 20, 2013 at 7:29 pm
      awillett1991
      Participant
      Never have I heard such a positive report on brain mets. You are one amazing individual Al!
      • June 20, 2013 at 7:29 pm
      awillett1991
      Participant
      Never have I heard such a positive report on brain mets. You are one amazing individual Al!
      • June 20, 2013 at 7:29 pm
      awillett1991
      Participant
      Never have I heard such a positive report on brain mets. You are one amazing individual Al!
      • June 20, 2013 at 8:43 pm
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Love this post.  This is why I tell people to not give up and let dispair destroy them. 
      (Easier said than done, I know!)

      • June 20, 2013 at 8:43 pm
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Love this post.  This is why I tell people to not give up and let dispair destroy them. 
      (Easier said than done, I know!)

      • June 20, 2013 at 8:43 pm
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Love this post.  This is why I tell people to not give up and let dispair destroy them. 
      (Easier said than done, I know!)

      • June 21, 2013 at 7:56 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Al,

      Talk about PMA!  Your plan sounds good and glad to hear you continue on Zelboraf.  My wife and I just got back from Barcelona Spain.  Roche asked me to come and speak about my Zelboraf experience at a global Research and Early Development conference.  Keep it up, maybe they'll be looking for other long term responders.

      • June 21, 2013 at 7:56 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Al,

      Talk about PMA!  Your plan sounds good and glad to hear you continue on Zelboraf.  My wife and I just got back from Barcelona Spain.  Roche asked me to come and speak about my Zelboraf experience at a global Research and Early Development conference.  Keep it up, maybe they'll be looking for other long term responders.

      • June 21, 2013 at 7:56 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Al,

      Talk about PMA!  Your plan sounds good and glad to hear you continue on Zelboraf.  My wife and I just got back from Barcelona Spain.  Roche asked me to come and speak about my Zelboraf experience at a global Research and Early Development conference.  Keep it up, maybe they'll be looking for other long term responders.

      • June 21, 2013 at 7:59 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Al,

      Hope you appreciate this.  Apparently I can no longer put my name at the end of the post as it will not pass the "provanity filter".

      • June 21, 2013 at 7:59 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Al,

      Hope you appreciate this.  Apparently I can no longer put my name at the end of the post as it will not pass the "provanity filter".

      • June 21, 2013 at 7:59 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant

      Al,

      Hope you appreciate this.  Apparently I can no longer put my name at the end of the post as it will not pass the "provanity filter".

      • June 22, 2013 at 8:17 am
      Owl
      Participant

      Al, good to hear that your scans went so well! Your positive attitude will help keeping and fighting the last stubborn mets in your brain.

      We got a call from the clinic yesterday, they have doublechecked the scan results of my husband with the radiologists and they had great news (the report was kind of hard to read even for the doctors). The radiologists can not see that any of the lymphnodes, no bigger than 6mm, are still suspect, means he is some kind of NED. We are more than happy as you can imagine!

      All the best,

      Jenny

      • June 22, 2013 at 8:17 am
      Owl
      Participant

      Al, good to hear that your scans went so well! Your positive attitude will help keeping and fighting the last stubborn mets in your brain.

      We got a call from the clinic yesterday, they have doublechecked the scan results of my husband with the radiologists and they had great news (the report was kind of hard to read even for the doctors). The radiologists can not see that any of the lymphnodes, no bigger than 6mm, are still suspect, means he is some kind of NED. We are more than happy as you can imagine!

      All the best,

      Jenny

      • June 22, 2013 at 8:17 am
      Owl
      Participant

      Al, good to hear that your scans went so well! Your positive attitude will help keeping and fighting the last stubborn mets in your brain.

      We got a call from the clinic yesterday, they have doublechecked the scan results of my husband with the radiologists and they had great news (the report was kind of hard to read even for the doctors). The radiologists can not see that any of the lymphnodes, no bigger than 6mm, are still suspect, means he is some kind of NED. We are more than happy as you can imagine!

      All the best,

      Jenny

      • June 23, 2013 at 10:21 pm
      randallgford
      Participant

      Love your posts. My husband also had first scans after being on Z for 7 weeks, also had WBR. His larger brain met shrunk, small one went away, remaing are very small and stable. His body scans also show significant regression of disease, and we are cautiously optimistic. He also has a very positive mental attitude, its finally starting to rub off on me. Thanks for your encouraging news, hope to join you as a long time responder to Z.

      • June 23, 2013 at 10:21 pm
      randallgford
      Participant

      Love your posts. My husband also had first scans after being on Z for 7 weeks, also had WBR. His larger brain met shrunk, small one went away, remaing are very small and stable. His body scans also show significant regression of disease, and we are cautiously optimistic. He also has a very positive mental attitude, its finally starting to rub off on me. Thanks for your encouraging news, hope to join you as a long time responder to Z.

      • June 23, 2013 at 10:21 pm
      randallgford
      Participant

      Love your posts. My husband also had first scans after being on Z for 7 weeks, also had WBR. His larger brain met shrunk, small one went away, remaing are very small and stable. His body scans also show significant regression of disease, and we are cautiously optimistic. He also has a very positive mental attitude, its finally starting to rub off on me. Thanks for your encouraging news, hope to join you as a long time responder to Z.

      • June 24, 2013 at 5:01 pm
      HelenK1
      Participant

      To Al and randallgford–

         Your good news and determination have really cheered me.  Congratulations on that wonderful news.

         I wondered if your Zelboraf course of treatment has been a daily dosage, or the purposely interrupted schedule of # of days on meds, # of days off?  Also, did you work up to the dosage or was the dosage always the same, and what was the dosage?

         Lots of questions but this information would be helpful to me.  Thanks very much.

        

      • June 24, 2013 at 5:01 pm
      HelenK1
      Participant

      To Al and randallgford–

         Your good news and determination have really cheered me.  Congratulations on that wonderful news.

         I wondered if your Zelboraf course of treatment has been a daily dosage, or the purposely interrupted schedule of # of days on meds, # of days off?  Also, did you work up to the dosage or was the dosage always the same, and what was the dosage?

         Lots of questions but this information would be helpful to me.  Thanks very much.

        

      • June 24, 2013 at 5:01 pm
      HelenK1
      Participant

      To Al and randallgford–

         Your good news and determination have really cheered me.  Congratulations on that wonderful news.

         I wondered if your Zelboraf course of treatment has been a daily dosage, or the purposely interrupted schedule of # of days on meds, # of days off?  Also, did you work up to the dosage or was the dosage always the same, and what was the dosage?

         Lots of questions but this information would be helpful to me.  Thanks very much.

        

      • June 27, 2013 at 2:00 pm
      Tina D
      Participant

      Al,

      Glad to hear the good news of things remaining stable and nothing new! I always look forward to seeing your posts, and I am so glad to hear things are going well.

      Tina

      • June 27, 2013 at 2:00 pm
      Tina D
      Participant

      Al,

      Glad to hear the good news of things remaining stable and nothing new! I always look forward to seeing your posts, and I am so glad to hear things are going well.

      Tina

      • June 27, 2013 at 2:00 pm
      Tina D
      Participant

      Al,

      Glad to hear the good news of things remaining stable and nothing new! I always look forward to seeing your posts, and I am so glad to hear things are going well.

      Tina

      • June 20, 2013 at 1:45 pm
      Snickers60
      Participant

      Good news, AL !   I forget where your medical treatment is ?  I think MDA won't have Pd-1 until perhaps July or Aug. also.  

      Here's hoping they can get something going to STOP those brain mets.   I don't like them !   Wayne keeps up with you on a regular basis.    

      KEEP ON FIGHTING THE BEAST, AL !   You are WINNING !    KEEP THE FAITH !

      • June 20, 2013 at 1:45 pm
      Snickers60
      Participant

      Good news, AL !   I forget where your medical treatment is ?  I think MDA won't have Pd-1 until perhaps July or Aug. also.  

      Here's hoping they can get something going to STOP those brain mets.   I don't like them !   Wayne keeps up with you on a regular basis.    

      KEEP ON FIGHTING THE BEAST, AL !   You are WINNING !    KEEP THE FAITH !

      • June 20, 2013 at 1:45 pm
      Snickers60
      Participant

      Good news, AL !   I forget where your medical treatment is ?  I think MDA won't have Pd-1 until perhaps July or Aug. also.  

      Here's hoping they can get something going to STOP those brain mets.   I don't like them !   Wayne keeps up with you on a regular basis.    

      KEEP ON FIGHTING THE BEAST, AL !   You are WINNING !    KEEP THE FAITH !

      • June 20, 2013 at 5:05 pm
      POW
      Participant

      That's very good news, Al! I love the conservative approach where if your brain mets are stable and not causing any symptoms, leave them alone. Very wise. I'm also intrigued by the possibility of you switching to dabrafenib when it becomes available. Who knows? That may be just the ticket to kick those stubborn brain mets out the door.

      Keep fighting the good fight. You're doing great!

      • June 20, 2013 at 5:05 pm
      POW
      Participant

      That's very good news, Al! I love the conservative approach where if your brain mets are stable and not causing any symptoms, leave them alone. Very wise. I'm also intrigued by the possibility of you switching to dabrafenib when it becomes available. Who knows? That may be just the ticket to kick those stubborn brain mets out the door.

      Keep fighting the good fight. You're doing great!

      • June 20, 2013 at 5:05 pm
      POW
      Participant

      That's very good news, Al! I love the conservative approach where if your brain mets are stable and not causing any symptoms, leave them alone. Very wise. I'm also intrigued by the possibility of you switching to dabrafenib when it becomes available. Who knows? That may be just the ticket to kick those stubborn brain mets out the door.

      Keep fighting the good fight. You're doing great!

      • June 21, 2013 at 10:22 pm
      Linny
      Participant

      I ran into the same problem, Richard! LOL

      • June 21, 2013 at 10:22 pm
      Linny
      Participant

      I ran into the same problem, Richard! LOL

      • June 21, 2013 at 10:22 pm
      Linny
      Participant

      I ran into the same problem, Richard! LOL

      • June 24, 2013 at 10:46 pm
      aldakota22
      Participant

      Helen K,  to answer your quetions. My dosage is full dose from day one.That is 4 pills (240mg ) in morning ,then 4 pills at 12 hours later.No break in  treatment for over 21 months now.Any other questions you have just ask.Beat the Beast.   Al

      • June 24, 2013 at 10:46 pm
      aldakota22
      Participant

      Helen K,  to answer your quetions. My dosage is full dose from day one.That is 4 pills (240mg ) in morning ,then 4 pills at 12 hours later.No break in  treatment for over 21 months now.Any other questions you have just ask.Beat the Beast.   Al

      • June 24, 2013 at 10:46 pm
      aldakota22
      Participant

      Helen K,  to answer your quetions. My dosage is full dose from day one.That is 4 pills (240mg ) in morning ,then 4 pills at 12 hours later.No break in  treatment for over 21 months now.Any other questions you have just ask.Beat the Beast.   Al

      • June 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm
      HelenK1
      Participant

      Thanks so much, Al, for the information.  This helps a lot.

      Helen

      • June 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm
      HelenK1
      Participant

      Thanks so much, Al, for the information.  This helps a lot.

      Helen

      • June 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm
      HelenK1
      Participant

      Thanks so much, Al, for the information.  This helps a lot.

      Helen

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