Justme

Thank you again for your replies.

Both docs have agreed that the areas on the ct scan are melanoma.  They are not going to do a biopsy at this time as they do not want to collapse a lung.  The one area has grown but not to the 1cm range(I think that's the size).  They feel that the interfuron may be helping to slow down the growth. 

They are going to take another look next month and depending on the results they will stay with the treatment they have now or change to IL-2. 

Wouldn't it be best to switch over to the IL-2 or even IPI?  Don't we want the areas to shrink versus slowly growing or not growing at all?

What questions would you suggest they ask their docs?

My brother read that he has 18% chance at this point in time.  I've tried pointing them to this board hoping he will come talk to you guys and see that there is hope. And for some guidance.

I am sorry anyone has to deal with this. 

Again Thank you

Thank you again for your replies.

Both docs have agreed that the areas on the ct scan are melanoma.  They are not going to do a biopsy at this time as they do not want to collapse a lung.  The one area has grown but not to the 1cm range(I think that's the size).  They feel that the interfuron may be helping to slow down the growth. 

They are going to take another look next month and depending on the results they will stay with the treatment they have now or change to IL-2. 

Wouldn't it be best to switch over to the IL-2 or even IPI?  Don't we want the areas to shrink versus slowly growing or not growing at all?

What questions would you suggest they ask their docs?

My brother read that he has 18% chance at this point in time.  I've tried pointing them to this board hoping he will come talk to you guys and see that there is hope. And for some guidance.

I am sorry anyone has to deal with this. 

Again Thank you

Hi Jerry

Thank you for your response.  this is for my brother.

His finger nor the lymph node was checked for c-kit or Braf oncoproteins or mutaions.

He saw an oncologist at providence in portland that did the Pet scans.  Because the last scan did not light up on anything in the lungs or anywhere else he chose to go with the interferon treatments vs the interlukin.

His other doc at Kaiser just ordered the Ct scan to check the lungs and says that they have grown significantly.

If they have grown significantly from the last ct scan wouldn't they have lit up on the Pet in July?  Neither doc thought that the pelvic mass was anything to check out. 

A web site said that the Pet was better able to detect much smaller microscopic areas of cancer than the CT but from what it sounds like the opposite is true?

Thanks again

Hi Jerry

Thank you for your response.  this is for my brother.

His finger nor the lymph node was checked for c-kit or Braf oncoproteins or mutaions.

He saw an oncologist at providence in portland that did the Pet scans.  Because the last scan did not light up on anything in the lungs or anywhere else he chose to go with the interferon treatments vs the interlukin.

His other doc at Kaiser just ordered the Ct scan to check the lungs and says that they have grown significantly.

If they have grown significantly from the last ct scan wouldn't they have lit up on the Pet in July?  Neither doc thought that the pelvic mass was anything to check out. 

A web site said that the Pet was better able to detect much smaller microscopic areas of cancer than the CT but from what it sounds like the opposite is true?

Thanks again