Stage 3 questions

Hi. I was diagnosed stage 3a last June. No treatment was recommended but my oncologist ordered an ultrasound of my SLN biopsy site, which I had at the end of August. Came back as one suspicious lymph node 0.8 mm. My surgeon insisted that the ultrasound was done to soon after the surgery which was end of June, and that the lymph node was just a reactive one. Had a fine needle aspiration and came back just as my surgeon thought. A reactive lymph node. This is my experience . Hope this helps.

Hello Moquet, im Mike nice to meet you, i can only give you somewhat of an accurate input on your first question about Side Effects and Drug Effectiveness, as far as Immunal therapies are concerned, the amount of, or how severe of, side effects caused by the drug (s) generally has no indication that the drug is Shrinking Tumors or even altering them at all, most side effects isnt the drug “directly” but what its doing to your bodys gland system, heart, lungs, liver etc. There are studys out there, maybe someone has a link here at MRF to a study but, there are folks who have fairly bad but tolerable side effects & scans and bloodwork show No tumor response! And theres folks like Mr. Easy Breasy Melanoma Mike (me haha) who did not have a problem for the most part (except Thyroid & pituitary isues) with Pembro, Ipi and Nivo and still have new tumors popping up left & right with very poor response to the tumors i already have.. Then theres folks who have a terrible time through it all and every gosh darn tumor shrinks and now their NED!! Then theres folks that dont have any issues during treatment and have great responses!! Or Half responses!! So, take it from there, theres a study maybe Bubbles or Ed will help us on your question with better detail, i just presented Laymens terms haha…keep us posted!!