Finished 1 month high dose interferon, check up found new melanoma in situ (Warning a short novel follows)
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Finished 1 month high dose interferon, check up found new melanoma in situ (Warning a short novel follows)

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Finished 1 month high dose interferon, check up found new melanoma in situ (Warning a short novel follows)

  • Post
    • May 28, 2011 at 2:28 am
    gabsound
    Participant

      Hi,

      Hi,

      I updated my profile just 2 days ago and haven't gotten around to posting. I found the high dose phase to be not as bad as I was told it might be. Some nights w fever, chills and body aches, some nausea but for the most part felt just fine during the day. Some fatigue near the end which felt like I had lead weights on both my legs. I was quite worried about being able to work so arranged my schedule so I worked only 1/2 days. Knowing I only had to be there for 4 hours, no matter how I felt ,was psychologically good for me. My labs did change quite a bit with WBC and platelets dropping and liver enzymes up to > 6 x normal. Probably the most annoying symptom for me was the dry mouth. This was even worse if I had to take Compazine for nausea. I would wake up at night and could barely move my tongue. Needles to say, I was drinking lots of fluids.

      My first subcut injection was a whole different story! I felt just awful within 4 hours of giving it and didn't recover for a full 24 hours-had to call in sick which is so hard on everyone when a full day of patients is already booked (I'm a sonographer, I do pregnancy ultrasounds). Another compounding factor was the Friday before I started my Interferon treatments 1/2 of the staff at Nevada Cancer Institue was terminated due to financial difficulties! That included my Melanoma Dr and his experienced nurse 🙁 I went into this thinking I had an experienced team and had to deal with who was left. Luckily Dr. Samlowski and his nurse relocated to another Las Vegas Cancer Center. What a relief it was to find them!! But, that took 5 weeks. I didn't know what to do about self injections. Based on my symptoms Dr. Samlowski didn't think there was a lot to be gained for making myself miserable for the next 11 months. So I stopped. Hopefully that month will protect me!

      So, not being on the medicine now for about 2-3 weeks I feel great. Went back to working full schedule. Got 2 biopsies done 1 week ago. Got a voice message from my PA to call her (the only other time she did that was to tell me about melanoma). One area was just fibrosis, but the second had a melanoma in situ. Good news, is the in situ part. She will do a wider excision in the next 2 weeks.

      Now I'm wondering If I have that familial mole syndrome. I have lots of moles, freckles and of course sun damage from numerous sunburns growing up in sunny Las Vegas. I've probably had a dozen atypical moles removed before the melanoma as well as a basal cell cancer on upper back. Now I'm going to worry about my daughter who is 15. I scheduled an appointment for her and my husband for a skin check last time I went to Dermatology office,

      The area that was the melanoma in situ was on the same leg as my melanoma and I showed that to numerous people-2 oncologists, the PA dermatologist, and the surgeon before I had my surgery in February. Again, no one was really impressed. The scary thing is I could point out many more moles that don't look that dissimilar to the one with the in situ! What to do about that? I did have my husband take pictures a couple months ago. I saw on Janner's page a link to some software to help you compare. Has anybody used it?

      I have been following everyone's posts. Hang in there to those with current struggles and YEAH!!! to some good news!! I just love you all! Thanks for the words of encouragement, sharing your stories, the prayers and the knowledge! Just knowing you are all here is a real comfort!

       

      Julie in Las Vegas

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    • Replies
        • May 28, 2011 at 3:03 am
        Janner
        Participant

          Watch for CHANGE!  Things that change are the things that worry me most. 

          As for the familial link, ask if you have dysplastic nevi syndrome.  100+ atypical moles.  If so, you are at higher risk for more primaries.  If you had a genetic link for melanoma, you'd likely have 3+ family members with melanoma in multiple generations.  That type of defect only affects a small portion of the melanoma population (about 5%). 

          Anyone who has a family member with melanoma automatically has a higher risk for melanoma.  Just teach your family about sun safety, schedule regular derm appointments and watch everyone's skin!

          Best wishes,

          Janner

          • May 28, 2011 at 3:03 am
          Janner
          Participant

            Watch for CHANGE!  Things that change are the things that worry me most. 

            As for the familial link, ask if you have dysplastic nevi syndrome.  100+ atypical moles.  If so, you are at higher risk for more primaries.  If you had a genetic link for melanoma, you'd likely have 3+ family members with melanoma in multiple generations.  That type of defect only affects a small portion of the melanoma population (about 5%). 

            Anyone who has a family member with melanoma automatically has a higher risk for melanoma.  Just teach your family about sun safety, schedule regular derm appointments and watch everyone's skin!

            Best wishes,

            Janner

              • May 31, 2011 at 7:59 pm
              gabsound
              Participant

                Thanks Janner,

                It is a little overwhelming with the number of moles that I have. Thanks for posting your resource page. It has been very helpful to me.

                Julie

                • May 31, 2011 at 7:59 pm
                gabsound
                Participant

                  Thanks Janner,

                  It is a little overwhelming with the number of moles that I have. Thanks for posting your resource page. It has been very helpful to me.

                  Julie

                • May 28, 2011 at 4:00 am
                MariaH
                Participant

                  Just wanted to share, that my both my husband and I also have alot of moles.  Our derm recommended having our oldest child, who is 12, start coming in for yearly visits at 13.  He also has alot of moles, and quite a few on his face. 

                    • May 31, 2011 at 8:00 pm
                    gabsound
                    Participant

                      Maria,

                      Have they had to remove anything from your child? My daughter has something in her armit area she has had since she was a baby. That's the 1st thing I want checked.

                       

                      Julie

                      • June 30, 2011 at 11:08 am
                      MariaH
                      Participant

                        Julie, I'm sorry – I didn't read this until just today.  They have not yet, but he will begin going this summer and I am sure that they will remove a few (one he has requested, because it is on his face near his lip).  I'll keep you posted –

                        • June 30, 2011 at 11:08 am
                        MariaH
                        Participant

                          Julie, I'm sorry – I didn't read this until just today.  They have not yet, but he will begin going this summer and I am sure that they will remove a few (one he has requested, because it is on his face near his lip).  I'll keep you posted –

                          • June 30, 2011 at 11:11 am
                          MariaH
                          Participant

                            I'm sorry Julie, I just revisited this post today – I would have replied earlier had I known.  He will go this summer for his first appointment.  We will probably have him go right to Roswell to see their derm.  He has not had any removed, and none look suspicious.  I will keep you posted though!

                            Best wishes,

                            Maria

                            • June 30, 2011 at 11:11 am
                            MariaH
                            Participant

                              I'm sorry Julie, I just revisited this post today – I would have replied earlier had I known.  He will go this summer for his first appointment.  We will probably have him go right to Roswell to see their derm.  He has not had any removed, and none look suspicious.  I will keep you posted though!

                              Best wishes,

                              Maria

                              • May 31, 2011 at 8:00 pm
                              gabsound
                              Participant

                                Maria,

                                Have they had to remove anything from your child? My daughter has something in her armit area she has had since she was a baby. That's the 1st thing I want checked.

                                 

                                Julie

                              • May 28, 2011 at 4:00 am
                              MariaH
                              Participant

                                Just wanted to share, that my both my husband and I also have alot of moles.  Our derm recommended having our oldest child, who is 12, start coming in for yearly visits at 13.  He also has alot of moles, and quite a few on his face. 

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