snbsmith

Alan

I would not advocate waiting.  You are stage 4, and that is a very dangerous place to be.  If you don't believe me check the survival stats.  If you do believe me, don't check the survival stats.  To be a survivor you have to believe that you can be the one in however many beat this disease.  The healthier you are going in, the more options you will have to find the one treatment that will work for you. 

I was diagnoed in 2006 stage 4 without ever having a primary site.  I did IL-2, then did two clinical trials at NIH.  I came out on the winning side, and have been NED for 2 1/2 years.  I went with aggressive treatments because that is what it takes to win, and I wanted to win.  I had a brain met in between the two clinical trials and did the gamma knife.  I was out riding my bicycle the same day, since compared to other treatments, it was a walk in the park.  I almost did yervoy instead of my second clinical trial, but went with the clinical trial at the suggestion of my oncologists.  Get several  opinions from oncologists experienced in Stage 4 melanoma.  Yervoy may well be your best oprtion, and if you have side effects it is usually a good sign. I understood that most people tolerate it pretty well.   For many of the clinical trials, you need to have IL-2 as a first treatment.  I would make sure that yervoy does not limit your future treatment options.  You need an ocologist that understands clinical trials and can help you plan a strategy.  You can also look at them yourself using one of the links to clinical trials.

Treat this as a long term commitment, and make plans and back up plans.  It likely won't be an easy road ahead.

Steve in Northern Virginia

Alan

I would not advocate waiting.  You are stage 4, and that is a very dangerous place to be.  If you don't believe me check the survival stats.  If you do believe me, don't check the survival stats.  To be a survivor you have to believe that you can be the one in however many beat this disease.  The healthier you are going in, the more options you will have to find the one treatment that will work for you. 

I was diagnoed in 2006 stage 4 without ever having a primary site.  I did IL-2, then did two clinical trials at NIH.  I came out on the winning side, and have been NED for 2 1/2 years.  I went with aggressive treatments because that is what it takes to win, and I wanted to win.  I had a brain met in between the two clinical trials and did the gamma knife.  I was out riding my bicycle the same day, since compared to other treatments, it was a walk in the park.  I almost did yervoy instead of my second clinical trial, but went with the clinical trial at the suggestion of my oncologists.  Get several  opinions from oncologists experienced in Stage 4 melanoma.  Yervoy may well be your best oprtion, and if you have side effects it is usually a good sign. I understood that most people tolerate it pretty well.   For many of the clinical trials, you need to have IL-2 as a first treatment.  I would make sure that yervoy does not limit your future treatment options.  You need an ocologist that understands clinical trials and can help you plan a strategy.  You can also look at them yourself using one of the links to clinical trials.

Treat this as a long term commitment, and make plans and back up plans.  It likely won't be an easy road ahead.

Steve in Northern Virginia

I was diagnosed stage IV in February of 2006.  I did IL-2, and then 2 NIH clinical trials after that with gamma knife for brain met in between the clinical trials.  I have been NED for 2 1/2 years! 

Treatment is a very personal dicision, but your husband should know how you feel.  My wife was a great supporter of my efforts, and that realy helped me.

I was diagnosed stage IV in February of 2006.  I did IL-2, and then 2 NIH clinical trials after that with gamma knife for brain met in between the clinical trials.  I have been NED for 2 1/2 years! 

Treatment is a very personal dicision, but your husband should know how you feel.  My wife was a great supporter of my efforts, and that realy helped me.