khubes

Hi Mike!  Sorry to hear about your CT scan.  Maybe you want to check out some other drs in the area? My husband also has Kaiser insurance — we go to Dr. Rodriguez at Kaiser Sunset.  He is AWESOME!  If you can, I'd try to get an appointment with him; he's been our primary oncologist with Kaiser since day one.  Also, if you can, I'd recommend getting a second opinion with Dr. Hamid at The Angeles Clinic.  He's been spot on with all of my husband's treatments and has saved his life more than once.  🙂  I'd be happy to chat with you more about our experiences!!  Please feel free to message me any time.  

Best,

Katie 

Mat, thank you so much for the update.  So good to hear that you're doing well and that bursitis is the worst thing on your scan. 😉 I rarely post on here anymore (I read often!) because I'm afraid to jinx our good luck (silly, I know), but it really is so good to hear you are doing so well.  Your story is very similar to my husband's, so it's very encouraging to hear life is fine on your side.  🙂  Here's to continued good scans and living life!! Wishing you and your family a fantastic holiday weekend. 

My husband also has Kaiser insurance. We've had nothing but positive experiences there. His oncologist is dr. Roberto Rodriguez – he's been treating my husband for over 2 years. We also go to dr. Omid Hamid at the Angeles Clinic for periodic checkups. If possible, try to get dr. Rodriguez at Kaiser Sunset. He's wonderful and is well versed in melanoma treatment. 

best, 

Katie 

My husband was on a 30 (!!) day course of Augmentin for a nasty sinus infection while receiving his regularly scheduled Keytruda infusions.  His melanoma specialist and regular onc were not concerned about mixing the two and told us there wouldn't be any adverse reactions or that the antibiotic would/could alter the efficacy of his treatment.  

I would definitely recommend taking a probiotic to deal with any potential gut issues – antibiotics can be rough!!

Best,

Katie  

My husband was on a 30 (!!) day course of Augmentin for a nasty sinus infection while receiving his regularly scheduled Keytruda infusions.  His melanoma specialist and regular onc were not concerned about mixing the two and told us there wouldn't be any adverse reactions or that the antibiotic would/could alter the efficacy of his treatment.  

I would definitely recommend taking a probiotic to deal with any potential gut issues – antibiotics can be rough!!

Best,

Katie  

My husband was on a 30 (!!) day course of Augmentin for a nasty sinus infection while receiving his regularly scheduled Keytruda infusions.  His melanoma specialist and regular onc were not concerned about mixing the two and told us there wouldn't be any adverse reactions or that the antibiotic would/could alter the efficacy of his treatment.  

I would definitely recommend taking a probiotic to deal with any potential gut issues – antibiotics can be rough!!

Best,

Katie  

Hi Jennifer,

So sorry that you're going through this tough time.  🙁 

I thought I'd share my husband's story, as his is very similar to your father's.  

My husband was diagnosed in May 2015 with metastatic melanoma to the brain, adrenal gland, lung, and mediastinum.  Before starting systemic treatment (Keytruda), he had all nine brain tumors zapped using SRS.  One tumor in particular was very problematic and caused complete paralysis on his entire right side.  Brain surgeons refused to remove it, and his onc didn't want to start systemic treatment when he was so weak (and on dexamethasone), so we were in quite the pickle.  The problematic brain tumor began to bleed after radiation, and ended up being removed via emergency craniotomy. 

His emergency surgery ended up being an AMAZING thing for us, though, because he quickly regained movement on his right side and was able to get systemic treatment within two weeks of his surgery.  This was all in June 2015, and as of his last MRI (September 2016) there have been no new tumors and all other tumors have shrunk significantly or have disappeared.  He has 6 small brain tumors left, and only residual scar tissue in his mediastinum – everything else is gone. 

Also, as Niki mentioned, the swelling after radiation could absolutely mean that the radiation was successful!  We watched and waited one of my husband's biggest tumors in his occipital lobe for about 6 months to see if it was actually progressing or was radiation necrosis.  It kept swelling and swelling, but finally collapsed on itself.  It is very small now.  🙂 

Sorry for the novel of a message – I just wanted to give you some hope from someone who went through a similar situation!  

Wishing you and your father the absolute best.

Katie 

Hi Jennifer,

So sorry that you're going through this tough time.  🙁 

I thought I'd share my husband's story, as his is very similar to your father's.  

My husband was diagnosed in May 2015 with metastatic melanoma to the brain, adrenal gland, lung, and mediastinum.  Before starting systemic treatment (Keytruda), he had all nine brain tumors zapped using SRS.  One tumor in particular was very problematic and caused complete paralysis on his entire right side.  Brain surgeons refused to remove it, and his onc didn't want to start systemic treatment when he was so weak (and on dexamethasone), so we were in quite the pickle.  The problematic brain tumor began to bleed after radiation, and ended up being removed via emergency craniotomy. 

His emergency surgery ended up being an AMAZING thing for us, though, because he quickly regained movement on his right side and was able to get systemic treatment within two weeks of his surgery.  This was all in June 2015, and as of his last MRI (September 2016) there have been no new tumors and all other tumors have shrunk significantly or have disappeared.  He has 6 small brain tumors left, and only residual scar tissue in his mediastinum – everything else is gone. 

Also, as Niki mentioned, the swelling after radiation could absolutely mean that the radiation was successful!  We watched and waited one of my husband's biggest tumors in his occipital lobe for about 6 months to see if it was actually progressing or was radiation necrosis.  It kept swelling and swelling, but finally collapsed on itself.  It is very small now.  🙂 

Sorry for the novel of a message – I just wanted to give you some hope from someone who went through a similar situation!  

Wishing you and your father the absolute best.

Katie 

Hi Jennifer,

So sorry that you're going through this tough time.  🙁 

I thought I'd share my husband's story, as his is very similar to your father's.  

My husband was diagnosed in May 2015 with metastatic melanoma to the brain, adrenal gland, lung, and mediastinum.  Before starting systemic treatment (Keytruda), he had all nine brain tumors zapped using SRS.  One tumor in particular was very problematic and caused complete paralysis on his entire right side.  Brain surgeons refused to remove it, and his onc didn't want to start systemic treatment when he was so weak (and on dexamethasone), so we were in quite the pickle.  The problematic brain tumor began to bleed after radiation, and ended up being removed via emergency craniotomy. 

His emergency surgery ended up being an AMAZING thing for us, though, because he quickly regained movement on his right side and was able to get systemic treatment within two weeks of his surgery.  This was all in June 2015, and as of his last MRI (September 2016) there have been no new tumors and all other tumors have shrunk significantly or have disappeared.  He has 6 small brain tumors left, and only residual scar tissue in his mediastinum – everything else is gone. 

Also, as Niki mentioned, the swelling after radiation could absolutely mean that the radiation was successful!  We watched and waited one of my husband's biggest tumors in his occipital lobe for about 6 months to see if it was actually progressing or was radiation necrosis.  It kept swelling and swelling, but finally collapsed on itself.  It is very small now.  🙂 

Sorry for the novel of a message – I just wanted to give you some hope from someone who went through a similar situation!  

Wishing you and your father the absolute best.

Katie 

Holy crap, Mat!  A 4 month course?!  I thought 1 month was tough!  I hope that your sinus infection finally cleared up!  

How is everything else going?  Hopefully all is well.  

Wishing you my best,

Katie 

Holy crap, Mat!  A 4 month course?!  I thought 1 month was tough!  I hope that your sinus infection finally cleared up!  

How is everything else going?  Hopefully all is well.  

Wishing you my best,

Katie 

Holy crap, Mat!  A 4 month course?!  I thought 1 month was tough!  I hope that your sinus infection finally cleared up!  

How is everything else going?  Hopefully all is well.  

Wishing you my best,

Katie 

I wish I could "like" this comment!  Yay Jenn!  😀 

I wish I could "like" this comment!  Yay Jenn!  😀 

I wish I could "like" this comment!  Yay Jenn!  😀