@mskage
Forum Replies Created
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- November 1, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Update – Doctor called Friday evening to let me know that my PET showed activity in the lump as well as multiple "spots in the chest". I'll get a copy of the report today and a needle biopsy of the lump.
What are the chances that these are not melanoma? I haven't had any kind of infection or scar tissue in my chest… PET 6 months ago was clear.
Is the needle biopsy a good place to start? If they are malignant, does this make me stage 4? Where do I even begin? I'm only 25.
Thank you all again.
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- November 1, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Update – Doctor called Friday evening to let me know that my PET showed activity in the lump as well as multiple "spots in the chest". I'll get a copy of the report today and a needle biopsy of the lump.
What are the chances that these are not melanoma? I haven't had any kind of infection or scar tissue in my chest… PET 6 months ago was clear.
Is the needle biopsy a good place to start? If they are malignant, does this make me stage 4? Where do I even begin? I'm only 25.
Thank you all again.
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- October 28, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Thank you all for the wonderful and supportive advice! From what you guys have said and what my gut tells me, I think it is important to at least get the needle biopsy. At the same time, though, I am much less freaked out knowing that it could very well be scar tissue.
I just had the PET scan… man, I forgot how long those things are! And that table is so hard after a couple hours of laying on it 🙂 Small price to pay, I know I shouldn't complain. I will update the thread when I get results. Thank you all again! I wish the best for everyone here.
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- October 28, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Thank you all for the wonderful and supportive advice! From what you guys have said and what my gut tells me, I think it is important to at least get the needle biopsy. At the same time, though, I am much less freaked out knowing that it could very well be scar tissue.
I just had the PET scan… man, I forgot how long those things are! And that table is so hard after a couple hours of laying on it 🙂 Small price to pay, I know I shouldn't complain. I will update the thread when I get results. Thank you all again! I wish the best for everyone here.
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- September 3, 2010 at 12:35 am
To Interferon or Not To Interferon – it is a huge and very personal decision. I chose to do interferon thinking that if it works, it's worth it… right? I only recently went through this and have a lot to say, so I apologize if this response gets a little wordy…
The high dose month went as well as it can. I worked full time. The low dose was OK at first, but by the end of the second month it felt very toxic and I dreaded every injection. I had pretty bad side-effects, some of which are still not going away. It got to the point where I felt like life with interferon wasn't worth living (depression or reality??). When they found lesions on my brain, presumably caused by the interferon, it was the last straw.
Apparently, the most important component of treatment is the high dose month, so I feel good about what I was able to complete. Anyone doing interferon treatments needs to keep a VERY close eye on their general health and be wary of its toxicity. Don't let your doctor poo-poo your symptoms just because interferon has a lot of side effects. It was a tough decision to quit. It felt like I was giving up on the fight. I do not believe, though, that possibly prolonging a reccurence is worth developing additional chronic problems from the treatment.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Melanoma is such a head game, and I think the psychology of doing interferon is almost as important as it's actual effect. I was in "fight-mode". Who knows what the truth is, but something like a placebo-effect at least made me think I was fighting. Even if it comes back in a year, I can tell myself that without the interferon it may have come back sooner or it may have been more aggressive. It helps me stay positive.
Interferon is dangerous, and melanoma is deadly. Stage 3 people do not have many other weapons, unfortunately. I'd be happy to answer any other questions. Good luck… It can be done, and some days will be better than others. Just keep moving foward and ask for help when you need it!! Most importantly, be good to yourself and never give up the fight.
Oh, and Ibuprofen was a blessing through this; it worked better than anything else for headaches (for me anyway). Proper rest and hydration make a huge difference too.
-Stage 3, NED 6 months and counting!!!
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- September 3, 2010 at 12:35 am
To Interferon or Not To Interferon – it is a huge and very personal decision. I chose to do interferon thinking that if it works, it's worth it… right? I only recently went through this and have a lot to say, so I apologize if this response gets a little wordy…
The high dose month went as well as it can. I worked full time. The low dose was OK at first, but by the end of the second month it felt very toxic and I dreaded every injection. I had pretty bad side-effects, some of which are still not going away. It got to the point where I felt like life with interferon wasn't worth living (depression or reality??). When they found lesions on my brain, presumably caused by the interferon, it was the last straw.
Apparently, the most important component of treatment is the high dose month, so I feel good about what I was able to complete. Anyone doing interferon treatments needs to keep a VERY close eye on their general health and be wary of its toxicity. Don't let your doctor poo-poo your symptoms just because interferon has a lot of side effects. It was a tough decision to quit. It felt like I was giving up on the fight. I do not believe, though, that possibly prolonging a reccurence is worth developing additional chronic problems from the treatment.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Melanoma is such a head game, and I think the psychology of doing interferon is almost as important as it's actual effect. I was in "fight-mode". Who knows what the truth is, but something like a placebo-effect at least made me think I was fighting. Even if it comes back in a year, I can tell myself that without the interferon it may have come back sooner or it may have been more aggressive. It helps me stay positive.
Interferon is dangerous, and melanoma is deadly. Stage 3 people do not have many other weapons, unfortunately. I'd be happy to answer any other questions. Good luck… It can be done, and some days will be better than others. Just keep moving foward and ask for help when you need it!! Most importantly, be good to yourself and never give up the fight.
Oh, and Ibuprofen was a blessing through this; it worked better than anything else for headaches (for me anyway). Proper rest and hydration make a huge difference too.
-Stage 3, NED 6 months and counting!!!
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- February 4, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Thanks Linda. I appreciate the input. I apologzie for not specifying that I had a PET/CT. The CT was not very high resolution, though. I believe that the thinking behind my doctor's order for a CT scan (w/contrast) is that it would be better for imaging the soft tissue, bone and chest area. She also wants to check if I am clotting properly due to some shortness of breath and anemia. I've been researching CT/MRI and it seems like they both have their own advantages/disadvantages depending on the situation.
Thank you for the assurance also. I am most concerned about the 4.4 spot in my hip, which was not evident two months ago. It appears to contains a lymph node, some bowel and possibly bone. I've had no infections, trama, surgery, etc. in that area. Past areas of infection and surgery lit up at about 1.3-2.1 but are gone now.
At Stage 3A, they recommended annual PET scans unless I should experience any symptoms of concern. The reason for this recent scan is because I had a scan two months ago with abnormal mediastinal activity that they wanted to "wait and watch". Unfortunately, I'm also experiencing worrysome symptoms, so it makes me even more paranoid. Trying to take deep breaths and just see what happens.
Thank you again. Best of luck.
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- February 4, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Thanks Linda. I appreciate the input. I apologzie for not specifying that I had a PET/CT. The CT was not very high resolution, though. I believe that the thinking behind my doctor's order for a CT scan (w/contrast) is that it would be better for imaging the soft tissue, bone and chest area. She also wants to check if I am clotting properly due to some shortness of breath and anemia. I've been researching CT/MRI and it seems like they both have their own advantages/disadvantages depending on the situation.
Thank you for the assurance also. I am most concerned about the 4.4 spot in my hip, which was not evident two months ago. It appears to contains a lymph node, some bowel and possibly bone. I've had no infections, trama, surgery, etc. in that area. Past areas of infection and surgery lit up at about 1.3-2.1 but are gone now.
At Stage 3A, they recommended annual PET scans unless I should experience any symptoms of concern. The reason for this recent scan is because I had a scan two months ago with abnormal mediastinal activity that they wanted to "wait and watch". Unfortunately, I'm also experiencing worrysome symptoms, so it makes me even more paranoid. Trying to take deep breaths and just see what happens.
Thank you again. Best of luck.
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