Finem Respice

JudiAU, thanks for sharing your story. I agree that the scars are looking good (at 5 weeks post-surgery) and will continue to get better. Glad to hear that some nerve damage gets better. Right now my left ear is still completely numb and I have several other numb areas down my neck even to on my left shoulder.
Remember that for me, I was already stage 3 before this surgery, as a peach pit sized lump came up at the jawline below my left ear. I had already had my sentinel lymph nodes around my ear removed (and pronounced clear!) two years ago, when the melanoma on my head was removed.
I hope you are still doing well!

@AshyR I literally just finished How To Starve Cancer yesterday, and I am now just aware of what you have pointed out. Up until now, my reading has been more about cancer generally, but now I have to focus on my melanoma, and figure out what I need to do. I had already been doing Keto (albeit not always strictly) so it was not hard to imagine (based on the metabolic theory as developed by Dr Seyfried et al) to using Keto as a strategy to help fight my melanoma. One of my TODO items is to look at going back on a statin (I used to be on Crestor), as a possible cancer-fighting agent.
I won’t deny that this may have thrown a wrench into my plans, but I will be seeing an integrative doctor next week and we will be going over what steps I can take.
Thanks for sharing this.. the article explains it pretty well.
Mitch

I am now 2 weeks out from my neck dissection for my stage 3 melanoma. It is healing
okay, but it is a pretty big surgery. There will likely be some long-term effects, such
as numbness from my ear down through my neck, and even to my shoulder. Of course, if
the cancer has been completely removed, these will be small potatoes! But it’s very
weird to feel like your ear is made of wood.

On other fronts, I have now completed reading Miriam Kalamian’s Keto For Cancer as well as
Jane McLelland’s How to Starve Cancer. Both address diet in the context of controlling (I
never say “cure”) cancer, although McLelland’s goes much deeper into the weeds of the
chemistry/biology of cancer and how she sees various pathways to attack it. I may as
well say that the level of complexity and detail (not to mention the hedging with chemotherapy)
makes me a little skeptical of her complete program. If my cancer advances to stage 4, I may
change my mind. BUT, I do agree with the actual metabolic theory, as propounded by Dr Thomas Seyfried
and others.

So from my reading, I am basically doing
– a strict keto diet
– intermittent fasting, usually 2 meals per day between 9am and 4:30pm
– general health supplements:
Men’s 50+ vitamins
Omega-3
Vitamin C
aspirin

– supplements that have widespread evidence and support for cancer:
Curcumin,Quercetin,Berberine,Melatonin,Tagamet (cimetidine)

I will have my first post-dissection scans in early November. My path forward
will obviously depend on what they show.

I am replying to my original thread, so that everyone who replied to me can see it.

Today I had my first appointment with my oncologist to talk about what they found and what my options are. The good news is that there were no other spots visible on the scans, anywhere on my body besides my neck lymph node.
Because of this, I am 99% sure that I will be taking a very conservative treatment, namely removal of this lymph node with continued follow-up at Moffitt. We do not know how long this new surgery will take to set up, but we hope to still be able to go up to Rhode Island, even if only for a couple of months.
If it recurs in the future, I will probably take one of the immuno-therapy treatments.
Thanks to all for sharing your stories.

Mitch

@Bubbles, thanks for your thoughtful reply detailing your experiences with cancer therapy. I will be going to my first meeting with my oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa later this morning. I expect that he will do an exam, as well as go over my CT imaging. I fully expect him to give me some prognosis along with a recommended treatment plan.
I should note that according to my imaging report posted to my patient portal, there was no other evidence of metastasized tumors elsewhere in my body… only the lymph node in my neck. SO, I am hoping that I may only need an excision and some type of (?) treatment to follow up.

One confusing thing is that I asked about what particular “markers” my melanoma has, and they told me it was SOX10 and MELAN-A. NOT BRAF. So I am not really sure what difference that makes.

Thanks, I just got back from getting my two drains taken out. All looks good and I am pleased. They told me that they removed 42 lymph nodes, and only two showed the melanoma, and one of those was already known. They said it would about 6 weeks total for everything to heal up.

I have heard of them and understand that it is likely I will take that route. I have done almost nothing for the last 2 weeks (I was officially diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma on June 14) but read books and articles as well as Youtube videos to learn about metabolic treatments for cancer. I am just about finished reading Miriam Kalmanian’s Keto For Cancer, and I have Jane McLelland’s book next.
I am also very interested in Joe Tippen’s protocol group on Facebook.

I had already been doing a moderate Keto diet for weight loss (20 lbs) but have moved to a “strict” version for the last 2 weeks.

I will be having my neck lump resected next Wednesday, so will have to recover from that for a few days.

But my next focus will be looking at Care Oncology.

Thanks!
Mitchell

Chris, thanks for sharing your story. What you described sound like your colitis and adrenal issues were caused by the immuno-therapy drugs. Is that true? If so, that is exactly what I do NOT want, at least not at this stage. FWIW I will be posting the results of my consult today with the oncologist here soon.

Mitchell

@Bubbles (I love your name!)

Very good points. I will post again when I have the information from today’s visit.

Even this:

>>>>Some folks make it for many years with no recurrence after simple resection

makes me feel better!

Mitchell