Zan

Hi Kelly,

If I were in your position I would insist on a second opinion from a melanoma specialist (different than a dermatologist who has seen some melanoma – you actually want someone who specializes in mel and has seen lots of melanoma and also spizoid melanoma). You don't want to underestimate it – or overestimate it.

While there are many who do not have additional problems from spizoid melanoma, my family member did, and so I think it is important to get as much information as you can from those who know about it the most. That way you can make the best, informed decision possible and not be in unnecessary fear.

Congratulations on your baby – my hope is that you can start the process of getting an opinion from another specialist and in the meantime concentrate on this wonderful time of life with your baby. Hang in there!

Hi Kelly,

If I were in your position I would insist on a second opinion from a melanoma specialist (different than a dermatologist who has seen some melanoma – you actually want someone who specializes in mel and has seen lots of melanoma and also spizoid melanoma). You don't want to underestimate it – or overestimate it.

While there are many who do not have additional problems from spizoid melanoma, my family member did, and so I think it is important to get as much information as you can from those who know about it the most. That way you can make the best, informed decision possible and not be in unnecessary fear.

Congratulations on your baby – my hope is that you can start the process of getting an opinion from another specialist and in the meantime concentrate on this wonderful time of life with your baby. Hang in there!

Hi Kelly,

If I were in your position I would insist on a second opinion from a melanoma specialist (different than a dermatologist who has seen some melanoma – you actually want someone who specializes in mel and has seen lots of melanoma and also spizoid melanoma). You don't want to underestimate it – or overestimate it.

While there are many who do not have additional problems from spizoid melanoma, my family member did, and so I think it is important to get as much information as you can from those who know about it the most. That way you can make the best, informed decision possible and not be in unnecessary fear.

Congratulations on your baby – my hope is that you can start the process of getting an opinion from another specialist and in the meantime concentrate on this wonderful time of life with your baby. Hang in there!

Since it appears you are in the Sacramento area, and working with Sutter, you may want to consider getting a consult at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. They have melanoma specialists:

http://www.cpmc.org/services/cancer/melanoma/

Since it appears you are in the Sacramento area, and working with Sutter, you may want to consider getting a consult at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. They have melanoma specialists:

http://www.cpmc.org/services/cancer/melanoma/

Since it appears you are in the Sacramento area, and working with Sutter, you may want to consider getting a consult at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. They have melanoma specialists:

http://www.cpmc.org/services/cancer/melanoma/

Hi Nancy,

This from Media Lab:

"The following results represent a patient sample which is used to calculate the values above:

WBC count= 2.5 cells/uL (2500 cells/L), % Lymphs= 30%

Using the following calculation: Absolute (Abs) lymphs= WBC count x 1000 x percent lymphs (expressed as a decimal) we can determine the absolute lymphocyte count per liter.

2.5 x1000 x 0.30 = 750 lymphs/L"

Hope that is helpful. Just check the units on your lab results and make sure everything lines up before you multiply.

Zan

Hi Nancy,

This from Media Lab:

"The following results represent a patient sample which is used to calculate the values above:

WBC count= 2.5 cells/uL (2500 cells/L), % Lymphs= 30%

Using the following calculation: Absolute (Abs) lymphs= WBC count x 1000 x percent lymphs (expressed as a decimal) we can determine the absolute lymphocyte count per liter.

2.5 x1000 x 0.30 = 750 lymphs/L"

Hope that is helpful. Just check the units on your lab results and make sure everything lines up before you multiply.

Zan

Hi Nancy,

This from Media Lab:

"The following results represent a patient sample which is used to calculate the values above:

WBC count= 2.5 cells/uL (2500 cells/L), % Lymphs= 30%

Using the following calculation: Absolute (Abs) lymphs= WBC count x 1000 x percent lymphs (expressed as a decimal) we can determine the absolute lymphocyte count per liter.

2.5 x1000 x 0.30 = 750 lymphs/L"

Hope that is helpful. Just check the units on your lab results and make sure everything lines up before you multiply.

Zan

I know you are asking about the reintroduction of ipi combined with radiation. One thing you may want to consider at some point is TIL therapy for ocular melanoma at NIH. They currently have a clinical trial for ocular mel. I don't know if you live near Bethesda, Marylland, but treatment and transportation to NIH is covered by the trial once you are accepted. We are in California and go there for my niece's TIL therapy (hers is regular stage 4 mel, not ocular). Just wanted to share this in case it could be of any help to you. Here is the link to the trial:

http://bethesdatrials.cancer.gov/clinical-research/search_detail.aspx?ProtocolID=NCI-13-C-0093

I know you are asking about the reintroduction of ipi combined with radiation. One thing you may want to consider at some point is TIL therapy for ocular melanoma at NIH. They currently have a clinical trial for ocular mel. I don't know if you live near Bethesda, Marylland, but treatment and transportation to NIH is covered by the trial once you are accepted. We are in California and go there for my niece's TIL therapy (hers is regular stage 4 mel, not ocular). Just wanted to share this in case it could be of any help to you. Here is the link to the trial:

http://bethesdatrials.cancer.gov/clinical-research/search_detail.aspx?ProtocolID=NCI-13-C-0093

I know you are asking about the reintroduction of ipi combined with radiation. One thing you may want to consider at some point is TIL therapy for ocular melanoma at NIH. They currently have a clinical trial for ocular mel. I don't know if you live near Bethesda, Marylland, but treatment and transportation to NIH is covered by the trial once you are accepted. We are in California and go there for my niece's TIL therapy (hers is regular stage 4 mel, not ocular). Just wanted to share this in case it could be of any help to you. Here is the link to the trial:

http://bethesdatrials.cancer.gov/clinical-research/search_detail.aspx?ProtocolID=NCI-13-C-0093

We are at N Cal Kaiser and went to Kaiser Riverside for Biochemo and the care there was excellent. And Kaiser NorCal also referred us for treatment at UCSF two different times (clinial trials) and also for TIL therapy at NIH in Maryland. Kaiser worked very well with outside referrals. Might have been just Northern CA Kaiser, but we felt we had access to every treatment and that Kaiser worked with the folks they referred us to in order to cover and share costs. Kaiser helped pay for transportation too.

We are at N Cal Kaiser and went to Kaiser Riverside for Biochemo and the care there was excellent. And Kaiser NorCal also referred us for treatment at UCSF two different times (clinial trials) and also for TIL therapy at NIH in Maryland. Kaiser worked very well with outside referrals. Might have been just Northern CA Kaiser, but we felt we had access to every treatment and that Kaiser worked with the folks they referred us to in order to cover and share costs. Kaiser helped pay for transportation too.

We are at N Cal Kaiser and went to Kaiser Riverside for Biochemo and the care there was excellent. And Kaiser NorCal also referred us for treatment at UCSF two different times (clinial trials) and also for TIL therapy at NIH in Maryland. Kaiser worked very well with outside referrals. Might have been just Northern CA Kaiser, but we felt we had access to every treatment and that Kaiser worked with the folks they referred us to in order to cover and share costs. Kaiser helped pay for transportation too.