tiberius7947

Thanks very much for the information you have provided me. I just have to get this more than 3 weeks of diareha investigated. I'm going to ask my doctor for a barium xray to start. My wife thinks it's nerves, but I know my body and something is wrong, so not knowing dosen't work for me.

Thanks very much for the information you have provided me. I just have to get this more than 3 weeks of diareha investigated. I'm going to ask my doctor for a barium xray to start. My wife thinks it's nerves, but I know my body and something is wrong, so not knowing dosen't work for me.

Mary-Ellen did you see an oncologist at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic? Are Pet Scans totally unreliable? Can you tell me what options are avilable with DR. Smylie?

Mary-Ellen did you see an oncologist at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic? Are Pet Scans totally unreliable? Can you tell me what options are avilable with DR. Smylie?

I very much appreciate the help and input all of you here have given me. When my melanoma came back after 22 years appearing in a lymph node, my family doctor took it out and the pathology came back positive. I then saw a melanoma oncologist at the Vancouver  Cancer clinic where he had me have a full body FDG Pet Scan which came out negative. There wasn't a sentinal node biopsy done.  Was it deemed not necessary because of the negative Pet scan? I just don't know how reliable a FDG Pet scan is for finding melanoma. My view of life is never to go quietly into the night. I truly believe with a disease like this you have to " take it to the limit" to quote the Eagles song. I read that story about DR. Rosenberg  who took stem cells from a 55 year old stage 4 patient. He grew the stem cells till they numbered in the billions. The patient had chemotheropy( 06-C-0136), followed by full body irradiationen2 treatments a day for three days).  Then he had 10 rounds of IL-2. All of these treatments were to weaken the melonoma cells to the point they could be killed in the final chapter. The final chapter was to  infuse the billions of Stem cells back into his body. His full body scan after was totally negative for 5 years. This is what I want, but I don't know anyone in Canada that does this. Since I live in Canada, to have this done in the States would probably cost me six figures. I feel there are better treatments out there, but our medical system dosen't want to spend the bucks. Again, God bless you all and keep fighting. I'm thinking of you all.

I very much appreciate the help and input all of you here have given me. When my melanoma came back after 22 years appearing in a lymph node, my family doctor took it out and the pathology came back positive. I then saw a melanoma oncologist at the Vancouver  Cancer clinic where he had me have a full body FDG Pet Scan which came out negative. There wasn't a sentinal node biopsy done.  Was it deemed not necessary because of the negative Pet scan? I just don't know how reliable a FDG Pet scan is for finding melanoma. My view of life is never to go quietly into the night. I truly believe with a disease like this you have to " take it to the limit" to quote the Eagles song. I read that story about DR. Rosenberg  who took stem cells from a 55 year old stage 4 patient. He grew the stem cells till they numbered in the billions. The patient had chemotheropy( 06-C-0136), followed by full body irradiationen2 treatments a day for three days).  Then he had 10 rounds of IL-2. All of these treatments were to weaken the melonoma cells to the point they could be killed in the final chapter. The final chapter was to  infuse the billions of Stem cells back into his body. His full body scan after was totally negative for 5 years. This is what I want, but I don't know anyone in Canada that does this. Since I live in Canada, to have this done in the States would probably cost me six figures. I feel there are better treatments out there, but our medical system dosen't want to spend the bucks. Again, God bless you all and keep fighting. I'm thinking of you all.

Well Linda, 27 years later is amazing. That's what's so frustrating about this disease. It hides  and surprises you when you think you have it beat. I hear IL-2 has better success than interferon. My Pet scan was negative, but that dosen't mean I don't have melanoma cells in the body. Apparently it can't show small numbers of cancer cells. I want to hit this hard, like a sword being plunged into the fire to make it stronger.

Well Linda, 27 years later is amazing. That's what's so frustrating about this disease. It hides  and surprises you when you think you have it beat. I hear IL-2 has better success than interferon. My Pet scan was negative, but that dosen't mean I don't have melanoma cells in the body. Apparently it can't show small numbers of cancer cells. I want to hit this hard, like a sword being plunged into the fire to make it stronger.

I went to the Vancouver Cancer Agency. I saw a Doctor Klasa who I was told was part of the Melanoma team. He is an Oncologist. Do you know if B.C.s MSP covers treatment in Canada outside of B.C.?

I went to the Vancouver Cancer Agency. I saw a Doctor Klasa who I was told was part of the Melanoma team. He is an Oncologist. Do you know if B.C.s MSP covers treatment in Canada outside of B.C.?

Thanks TracyLee, I appreciate you kind words. I've read about your struggle, and I admire your fortitude and spirit. I'll keep you in my prayers along with all the others that share this common enemy.