Stlmag

I know the news is devastating but you have to go into action. My husband was diagnosed 10/13/15 with Amelanotic melanoma, Stage 3C. He recieved one dose Yervoy & refused more; it has recurred/removed 11-12 times. He started Lymgic injections 2 weeks ago. Read the clinical trial results of meds; read others stories; become his patient advocate. It's hard not to fall into despair- but you can do this !

The last information I researched did not give great outcomes for Yervoy or Keytruda – increasing life byt just a few months. My husband ( Stage IIIC metastatic amelanotic melanoma with lymph node involvement) opted out of all clinical trials and any more systemic treatment after 1 dose of Yervoy Dec 2015 with severe class 3 reaction. He has opted to have quality life. March 2017 marks 2 years since melanoma came into our lives. He has had 11 surgical procedures/skin graft, due to recurrance in the same spot..  The PET scan 2/3/17 was the worst result, yet. Today he recieved first injection of Imlygic into tumor….still declinig systemic meds. Researching melanoma activity seems to be that melanoma seems to go into overdrive at about 24 months. Holding hope for Imylgic injections to shrink the tumor.

If you have not already done so- get a copy of the PET/CT results and read them for your self- every time. (That is how I found out my husband's margins were NOT clear after one of his 11 surgical prcodeures last year).

Expect a bill from MD Anderson if you do/don't keep appt. -They charged us a good amt  for only  reviewing husband's path slides that  they had requested from home hospital when we made appt. Other options became availabe at the time and we ended up not going to MD.  I had to call and ask for that report to be sent to us since we were charged for it. They did send it.

The " waits" ( aka scan-anxiety) on results are hard. Be sure there is a repeat chest scan in 3 months.

My husband was diagnosed Stage III B  Oct 2015 @ upper chest. The melanoma is localized to that area  has been removed 11 times, some with skin grafts- and always returns. One dose of Yervoy and he refused anymore due to reaction. PET & CT scans every 3 months. The last surgery was Oct 2016. Yesterday's PET scan revealed it is back…near clavicle & under pectoral muscle. It is unresectable so he will have Imlygic injections directly into the tumor, every 2 weeks for 6 months…to shrink the tumor and then be removed.  Melanoma is a demon.

My husband was diagnosed Stage III B  Oct 2015 @ upper chest. The melanoma is localized to that area  has been removed 11 times, some with skin grafts- and always returns. One dose of Yervoy and he refused anymore due to reaction. PET & CT scans every 3 months. The last surgery was Oct 2016. Yesterday's PET scan revealed it is back…near clavicle & under pectoral muscle. It is unresectable so he will have Imlygic injections directly into the tumor, every 2 weeks for 6 months…to shrink the tumor and then be removed.  Melanoma is a demon.

My husband was diagnosed Stage III B  Oct 2015 @ upper chest. The melanoma is localized to that area  has been removed 11 times, some with skin grafts- and always returns. One dose of Yervoy and he refused anymore due to reaction. PET & CT scans every 3 months. The last surgery was Oct 2016. Yesterday's PET scan revealed it is back…near clavicle & under pectoral muscle. It is unresectable so he will have Imlygic injections directly into the tumor, every 2 weeks for 6 months…to shrink the tumor and then be removed.  Melanoma is a demon.

My husband had one dose Yervoy Dec. 2015 Severe itching and entire body  rash. No more meds.

If anyone has melanoma extensive enough to require a surgeon – find a surgical oncologist. 

If anyone has melanoma extensive enough to require a surgeon – find a surgical oncologist. 

Always consider a new bump near an excused melanoma  to be melanoma recurrence & contact Dr immediantly. Husband has had melanoma removed 11 times in the same location – with bumps.