jamfahey

Not sure, but make sure you are dealing with a Doctor that specializes in Melanoma. There are many out there depending on your location, many on this site can give you some reccomendations. I am being treated in Mass General Hospital (Dr. Lawrence) and he is terrific. Second, you should make sure your wife gets her Melanoma characterized for its genetic make-up. Some of the more succesful treatments are targeted at specific mutations in her particular Melanoma. For example, I have been using BRAF/MEK inhibitors for a couple of years and its been great. She would have to have a specific BRAF mutation for it to work (50% of the Melanoma's have this mutation). She may have already been characterized as she responded to the ZELBORAF for awhile. Another targeted treatment (trial) is using a PD-1 approach. This site has alot of info on it's use and success stories.

I know its been a tough road, but keep the hope up. All of our prayers are with your wife. In many cases, it really takes a combination of approaches together that eventually work. I went through surgery, IL-2 and now BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Others you will read about on this site went through multiple attempts before their immune system kicked in and took care of the melanoma.

take care,

Jim

Not sure, but make sure you are dealing with a Doctor that specializes in Melanoma. There are many out there depending on your location, many on this site can give you some reccomendations. I am being treated in Mass General Hospital (Dr. Lawrence) and he is terrific. Second, you should make sure your wife gets her Melanoma characterized for its genetic make-up. Some of the more succesful treatments are targeted at specific mutations in her particular Melanoma. For example, I have been using BRAF/MEK inhibitors for a couple of years and its been great. She would have to have a specific BRAF mutation for it to work (50% of the Melanoma's have this mutation). She may have already been characterized as she responded to the ZELBORAF for awhile. Another targeted treatment (trial) is using a PD-1 approach. This site has alot of info on it's use and success stories.

I know its been a tough road, but keep the hope up. All of our prayers are with your wife. In many cases, it really takes a combination of approaches together that eventually work. I went through surgery, IL-2 and now BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Others you will read about on this site went through multiple attempts before their immune system kicked in and took care of the melanoma.

take care,

Jim

Not sure, but make sure you are dealing with a Doctor that specializes in Melanoma. There are many out there depending on your location, many on this site can give you some reccomendations. I am being treated in Mass General Hospital (Dr. Lawrence) and he is terrific. Second, you should make sure your wife gets her Melanoma characterized for its genetic make-up. Some of the more succesful treatments are targeted at specific mutations in her particular Melanoma. For example, I have been using BRAF/MEK inhibitors for a couple of years and its been great. She would have to have a specific BRAF mutation for it to work (50% of the Melanoma's have this mutation). She may have already been characterized as she responded to the ZELBORAF for awhile. Another targeted treatment (trial) is using a PD-1 approach. This site has alot of info on it's use and success stories.

I know its been a tough road, but keep the hope up. All of our prayers are with your wife. In many cases, it really takes a combination of approaches together that eventually work. I went through surgery, IL-2 and now BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Others you will read about on this site went through multiple attempts before their immune system kicked in and took care of the melanoma.

take care,

Jim

Say it loud, say it proud, I am Jim Fahey and I have been Stage 4 since Jan 2011!! My Melanoma is but a small part of me, it does not define me, nor will it consume me. I have a beautiful family, two young boys (13 and 15), and a wonderful wife. I have way too much to live for and way too much to contribute. As long as we are making our world a better place to be in, I believe we deserve to continue to live!! There is only one that decides that my time is up, and I believe that my God has decided otherwise. He has given me the will to live, and I plan on making that happen. Having been a veteran of Melanoma since 2004, I owe it to others to help them through this.

Jim

Say it loud, say it proud, I am Jim Fahey and I have been Stage 4 since Jan 2011!! My Melanoma is but a small part of me, it does not define me, nor will it consume me. I have a beautiful family, two young boys (13 and 15), and a wonderful wife. I have way too much to live for and way too much to contribute. As long as we are making our world a better place to be in, I believe we deserve to continue to live!! There is only one that decides that my time is up, and I believe that my God has decided otherwise. He has given me the will to live, and I plan on making that happen. Having been a veteran of Melanoma since 2004, I owe it to others to help them through this.

Jim

Say it loud, say it proud, I am Jim Fahey and I have been Stage 4 since Jan 2011!! My Melanoma is but a small part of me, it does not define me, nor will it consume me. I have a beautiful family, two young boys (13 and 15), and a wonderful wife. I have way too much to live for and way too much to contribute. As long as we are making our world a better place to be in, I believe we deserve to continue to live!! There is only one that decides that my time is up, and I believe that my God has decided otherwise. He has given me the will to live, and I plan on making that happen. Having been a veteran of Melanoma since 2004, I owe it to others to help them through this.

Jim

Keep the faith, I know its easier said than done. I am Stage IV for over 2 years now, plan on being this way for another 30!! From my experience, you have to go way down first (emotionally and spiritually) and then you rise up. Trust me, it will happen. I've been through a couple of surgeries, lost my lymph nodes on my left side, gave IL-2 a shot, and now I hit lucky on BRAF/MEK at MGH here in Boston. You just need to keep that hope alive in you and one of the many options will work. And when it stops working, we move on to another one. After all this time, I see Melanoma as a chronic disease that I will hopefully live with for the rest of my life. I have no intent of letting it consume me nor kill me. You will meet many great folks on this web site who have been through it all, both lows and highs. Just lean on someone from this site and lets fight together.

take care,

Jim

Keep the faith, I know its easier said than done. I am Stage IV for over 2 years now, plan on being this way for another 30!! From my experience, you have to go way down first (emotionally and spiritually) and then you rise up. Trust me, it will happen. I've been through a couple of surgeries, lost my lymph nodes on my left side, gave IL-2 a shot, and now I hit lucky on BRAF/MEK at MGH here in Boston. You just need to keep that hope alive in you and one of the many options will work. And when it stops working, we move on to another one. After all this time, I see Melanoma as a chronic disease that I will hopefully live with for the rest of my life. I have no intent of letting it consume me nor kill me. You will meet many great folks on this web site who have been through it all, both lows and highs. Just lean on someone from this site and lets fight together.

take care,

Jim

Keep the faith, I know its easier said than done. I am Stage IV for over 2 years now, plan on being this way for another 30!! From my experience, you have to go way down first (emotionally and spiritually) and then you rise up. Trust me, it will happen. I've been through a couple of surgeries, lost my lymph nodes on my left side, gave IL-2 a shot, and now I hit lucky on BRAF/MEK at MGH here in Boston. You just need to keep that hope alive in you and one of the many options will work. And when it stops working, we move on to another one. After all this time, I see Melanoma as a chronic disease that I will hopefully live with for the rest of my life. I have no intent of letting it consume me nor kill me. You will meet many great folks on this web site who have been through it all, both lows and highs. Just lean on someone from this site and lets fight together.

take care,

Jim

I am a cohort with John on the GSK BRAF/MEK trial at MGH. I just celebrated my 2 yr anniversary (Feb 22) and like John, one small sliver left in my lung (79% shrunk). Only the best radialogist (with a great pair of glasses) can see anything, but no NED badge yet (but close). I m a big fan of the combo, and GSK!! This site is great. Hope is eternal,

Jim

I am a cohort with John on the GSK BRAF/MEK trial at MGH. I just celebrated my 2 yr anniversary (Feb 22) and like John, one small sliver left in my lung (79% shrunk). Only the best radialogist (with a great pair of glasses) can see anything, but no NED badge yet (but close). I m a big fan of the combo, and GSK!! This site is great. Hope is eternal,

Jim

I am a cohort with John on the GSK BRAF/MEK trial at MGH. I just celebrated my 2 yr anniversary (Feb 22) and like John, one small sliver left in my lung (79% shrunk). Only the best radialogist (with a great pair of glasses) can see anything, but no NED badge yet (but close). I m a big fan of the combo, and GSK!! This site is great. Hope is eternal,

Jim

Wow,

Jimmie B is great. Incredible source of info on his blog. It will be a late night, lots of reading to do. First time I saw this level of mechanistic description. I feel sorry for my Oncologist at my next visit!!

take care,

Jim

Wow,

Jimmie B is great. Incredible source of info on his blog. It will be a late night, lots of reading to do. First time I saw this level of mechanistic description. I feel sorry for my Oncologist at my next visit!!

take care,

Jim

Wow,

Jimmie B is great. Incredible source of info on his blog. It will be a late night, lots of reading to do. First time I saw this level of mechanistic description. I feel sorry for my Oncologist at my next visit!!

take care,

Jim