Update – the sucker’s comin’ out!
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Update – the sucker’s comin’ out!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Update – the sucker’s comin’ out!

  • Post
    • June 23, 2018 at 7:49 pm
    Julie in SoCal
    Participant

    Hi there friends!

    Just wanted to give you a quick update. I saw the Rock Star again last week and we came to the conclusion that surgery to get rid of the mela met on my arm was the best way forward.  It's too small for a clinical trial (even if I would qualify) and while we could do T-VEC or another injectable, it didn't make sense without a PD1 kicker (and at this point it's not worth doing more PD1 as it nearly crippled me). Of course we could wait for it to grow a bit bigger… but small is good.

    So Monday afternoon out it comes! and I'm ok with this.

    Knee number 2 comes out the middle of July and I can't wait.  Soon I'll be walking without pain!  Ok I lied, without a lot of pain!  Eventually I hope to be back to my "gosh I enjoyed that walk, let's do it again" self.

    So friends, keep up the good fight!

    Peace!

    Julie

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • June 23, 2018 at 11:55 pm
      DZnDef
      Participant

      Hey Julie!  Congratulations on your funk-free scans!  May they remain funk-free always.  Good luck on your Monday procedure.  Best of luck on your July knee op.  Tough surgery but great long-term results from what I hear from everyone that has ever had it done.  Of course this is number two for you so you know exactly what to expect.  I will be seeing Rock Star doc soon to figure out a new plan for me.  Keytruda might as well have been saline for all I could tell.  Odd how differently people react to the same medications.  If I could dance, I'd be doing a happy dance for your funk-free scans.

      Cheers!

      Maggie

        • June 24, 2018 at 12:39 am
        Mark_DC
        Participant

        Hi Julie — I am online so just want to wish you good luck with your surgery Monday.

        Am sorry about keytruda in the past – I guess you are sure it caused the knee problems? – because I quite like the tvec plus pembro approach. You say it is split pea size so i hope the surgery is straightforward and recovery quick.

        good luck I admire your strength and energy

        Mark

        • June 24, 2018 at 2:14 am
        Julie in SoCal
        Participant

        Hey Mark,

        Thanks for the good wishes Mark!  Yes, this surgery should be a glorified WLE as the sucker is so small.

        I'm pretty sure it was the Keytruda that caused my knees, hips, back, shoulders, and wrists to go crazy inflamed. I'm sure those spots had arthritis in it before keytruda, but for everything to go to 11 at the same time after keytruda seems a bit hinky. 

        Trust you're doing well?

        Julie

        • June 24, 2018 at 2:37 am
        Julie in SoCal
        Participant

        Thanks Maggie! May you be funk free soon and well established in NED-Land and we can have a dance party (don't tell anyone by I can't dance either blush.)

        Juile

         

      • June 24, 2018 at 6:04 am
      Casitas1
      Participant
      Hey Julie, good luck on Monday. Is your surgery at St. John’s? I will see RS on wed. for scans and hoping to celebrate my two year NEDversary! Hoping all goes well with the new knee. For some reason I haven’t been able to post from my PC. wrong captcha answer? But posting from phone works fine. Best to you, Paul
        • June 25, 2018 at 4:27 pm
        Julie in SoCal
        Participant

        Oh Paul!  Once again we miss each other at St John's by a few days. Dang!

        2 years NED is worth celebrating!!  I'm so happy for you!

        Peace!

        Julie

         

      • June 24, 2018 at 2:21 pm
      Bubbles
      Participant

      Dang, girl!!  Hate for you to have to deal with ONE. MORE. THING!!!  But – once that lesion is out…it's out!!!  Sounds like a good plan.  And – we all know you are tough as nails with the best attitude on the planet!!  I know you will be up and at'em in a blink after your knee surgery in July!  August, here she comes!!!! – c

      • June 25, 2018 at 4:24 am
      jennunicorn
      Participant

      Evicting mel sounds like a great idea! Looks like we will both be knee surgery buddies in July, wishing you all the best in your recovery from that. Cheers to happy knees in our future 🙂

      • June 25, 2018 at 2:01 pm
      VinceMart
      Participant

      Hi Julie,

      Wishing you all the best with your surgery and healing!

      Vince

      • June 26, 2018 at 1:04 am
      BrianP
      Participant

      Great plan Julie.  Good luck with the surgery.  Any chance after they take it out they'll let you stomp on it?  (with your good knee of course).

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