What next? Advice after WLE and SLNB

With such a low stage it is very possible the nodes come back negative. In that case, you would have follow up appointments and scans for a while and that's it.

If the nodes are positive, you would then be in the stage 3 boat and have access to some options. The first being Yervoy (Ipi) which is the best FDA approved option for adjuvant treatment currently. The other great immunotherapy drugs are not yet approved for stage 3. There are also clinical trials, which those other drugs are being tested in the adjuvant setting. And, there is watch and wait: getting scans and follow up appointments for a while, making sure nothing comes up. 

If you were to go on Ipi for an adjuvant treatment, I can tell you from my experience, yes you are able to work though it and live your life close to normal. Interferon, which was the only option for stage 3 before Ipi was approved last October, is different in that it makes most people feel as though they've got a bad flu for a year, making it hard to work and live life normally, and it has proven to do close to nothing to stop reccurence. These new immunotherapy drugs are nothing like traditional chemo. There is a list of toxic side effects, but they are not a given. Everyone reacts differently and not everyone gets all of the side effects. I can give you more info about side effects and my experience if you end up needing it.

Complete lymph node dissection is slowly fading away I believe. Compared to those who did not have a complete dissection there is close to no difference in reccurrence and overal survival. Some doctors still recommend it, others don't. Mine did not and so I did not have one, I would not have opted for one even if it was offered. Too many risks as far as life long lymphedema and long healing times. 

Keeping positive thoughts for you that you get good news on Thursday.

All the best,

With such a low stage it is very possible the nodes come back negative. In that case, you would have follow up appointments and scans for a while and that's it.

If the nodes are positive, you would then be in the stage 3 boat and have access to some options. The first being Yervoy (Ipi) which is the best FDA approved option for adjuvant treatment currently. The other great immunotherapy drugs are not yet approved for stage 3. There are also clinical trials, which those other drugs are being tested in the adjuvant setting. And, there is watch and wait: getting scans and follow up appointments for a while, making sure nothing comes up. 

If you were to go on Ipi for an adjuvant treatment, I can tell you from my experience, yes you are able to work though it and live your life close to normal. Interferon, which was the only option for stage 3 before Ipi was approved last October, is different in that it makes most people feel as though they've got a bad flu for a year, making it hard to work and live life normally, and it has proven to do close to nothing to stop reccurence. These new immunotherapy drugs are nothing like traditional chemo. There is a list of toxic side effects, but they are not a given. Everyone reacts differently and not everyone gets all of the side effects. I can give you more info about side effects and my experience if you end up needing it.

Complete lymph node dissection is slowly fading away I believe. Compared to those who did not have a complete dissection there is close to no difference in reccurrence and overal survival. Some doctors still recommend it, others don't. Mine did not and so I did not have one, I would not have opted for one even if it was offered. Too many risks as far as life long lymphedema and long healing times. 

Keeping positive thoughts for you that you get good news on Thursday.

All the best,

With such a low stage it is very possible the nodes come back negative. In that case, you would have follow up appointments and scans for a while and that's it.

If the nodes are positive, you would then be in the stage 3 boat and have access to some options. The first being Yervoy (Ipi) which is the best FDA approved option for adjuvant treatment currently. The other great immunotherapy drugs are not yet approved for stage 3. There are also clinical trials, which those other drugs are being tested in the adjuvant setting. And, there is watch and wait: getting scans and follow up appointments for a while, making sure nothing comes up. 

If you were to go on Ipi for an adjuvant treatment, I can tell you from my experience, yes you are able to work though it and live your life close to normal. Interferon, which was the only option for stage 3 before Ipi was approved last October, is different in that it makes most people feel as though they've got a bad flu for a year, making it hard to work and live life normally, and it has proven to do close to nothing to stop reccurence. These new immunotherapy drugs are nothing like traditional chemo. There is a list of toxic side effects, but they are not a given. Everyone reacts differently and not everyone gets all of the side effects. I can give you more info about side effects and my experience if you end up needing it.

Complete lymph node dissection is slowly fading away I believe. Compared to those who did not have a complete dissection there is close to no difference in reccurrence and overal survival. Some doctors still recommend it, others don't. Mine did not and so I did not have one, I would not have opted for one even if it was offered. Too many risks as far as life long lymphedema and long healing times. 

Keeping positive thoughts for you that you get good news on Thursday.

All the best,

Hi Kimberly, it is always good to be prepared for Oncology visits. If you want to prepare a little you can take a look at the following link. http://melanomainternational.org/webinar/2016/01/decision-making-for-melanoma-stage-iii-beyond/?done=1#.V13b4s6cHIV    The video is current and if you pay attention to the MSLT-11 data at the 9:00min mark and the Decog-Slt study out of Germany it should help you with the questions about Nodes. Some thing to think about and prepare question for your Oncologist is clinical trials, which can be super confusing at the beginning. Best Wishes!!!Ed

Hi Kimberly, it is always good to be prepared for Oncology visits. If you want to prepare a little you can take a look at the following link. http://melanomainternational.org/webinar/2016/01/decision-making-for-melanoma-stage-iii-beyond/?done=1#.V13b4s6cHIV    The video is current and if you pay attention to the MSLT-11 data at the 9:00min mark and the Decog-Slt study out of Germany it should help you with the questions about Nodes. Some thing to think about and prepare question for your Oncologist is clinical trials, which can be super confusing at the beginning. Best Wishes!!!Ed

Hi Kimberly, it is always good to be prepared for Oncology visits. If you want to prepare a little you can take a look at the following link. http://melanomainternational.org/webinar/2016/01/decision-making-for-melanoma-stage-iii-beyond/?done=1#.V13b4s6cHIV    The video is current and if you pay attention to the MSLT-11 data at the 9:00min mark and the Decog-Slt study out of Germany it should help you with the questions about Nodes. Some thing to think about and prepare question for your Oncologist is clinical trials, which can be super confusing at the beginning. Best Wishes!!!Ed