first post_PET Scan results
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

first post_PET Scan results

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › first post_PET Scan results

  • Post
    • March 20, 2012 at 7:03 pm
    cody64
    Participant

      I've been reading posts on this site for several years now, and wanted to let everyone know what an AMAZING group of people I think you all are. I see the term "Melanoma Warrior" used quite a bit and I have to say that that is an incredibly accurate description. I know this because of your stories, attitudes, kindness to each other and your incredible resolve! And it has just dawned on me this past week that my wife is one of you!!

      I've been reading posts on this site for several years now, and wanted to let everyone know what an AMAZING group of people I think you all are. I see the term "Melanoma Warrior" used quite a bit and I have to say that that is an incredibly accurate description. I know this because of your stories, attitudes, kindness to each other and your incredible resolve! And it has just dawned on me this past week that my wife is one of you!!

      She was diagnosed with Stage 2B melanoma in June of 2007. She had an ulcerated nodule removed from the back of her left calf and two seperate Oncologists decided that treatment wasnt necessary at the time. Close monitoring was the answer. Since then shes had three seperate operations to remove metastatic melanoma in her right arm and left leg. It has obviously travelled through her body to get to these other locations, so we have been told she is now Stage IV and her Doctors in Boston have told her they expect it to come back. It's really a matter of when and where. She went through interferon treatment last year, but it was too tough on her liver and they stopped the treatment a little over halfway through. A PET scan a couple weeks later revealed a small tumor in her calf, so it obviously wasnt working anyway. We were in Boston just last week for the results of a March 7th PET Scan and Brain MRI. To say we were nervous and scared is an understatement, but I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone that here on this board. The scan came back clear so we have another couple of months before the fear starts setting in again. With that in mind, I just wanted to say I wish everyone the best and not a day goes by I don't think about the battle everyone is going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.  

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 20, 2012 at 8:29 pm
        sharmon
        Participant

          Please consider researching Leukine,  My husband used it and I researched it and found it very interesting.  It is easy to use and could be better than doing nothing.

            • March 21, 2012 at 1:43 am
            cody64
            Participant

              Is Leukine the same thing as IL-2? I thought they were two different things, but my wifes doctors talk like its the same thing and don't want to give it to her unless she has an unresectable tumor or it shows up in multiple places at once. I was pushing them to treat her with what I thought was Leukine but then they got me pretty confused. I will look into it again. Thanks for your advice. It's tough sitting around waiting for it to come back. 

              • March 21, 2012 at 1:43 am
              cody64
              Participant

                Is Leukine the same thing as IL-2? I thought they were two different things, but my wifes doctors talk like its the same thing and don't want to give it to her unless she has an unresectable tumor or it shows up in multiple places at once. I was pushing them to treat her with what I thought was Leukine but then they got me pretty confused. I will look into it again. Thanks for your advice. It's tough sitting around waiting for it to come back. 

                • March 21, 2012 at 1:43 am
                cody64
                Participant

                  Is Leukine the same thing as IL-2? I thought they were two different things, but my wifes doctors talk like its the same thing and don't want to give it to her unless she has an unresectable tumor or it shows up in multiple places at once. I was pushing them to treat her with what I thought was Leukine but then they got me pretty confused. I will look into it again. Thanks for your advice. It's tough sitting around waiting for it to come back. 

                • March 20, 2012 at 8:29 pm
                sharmon
                Participant

                  Please consider researching Leukine,  My husband used it and I researched it and found it very interesting.  It is easy to use and could be better than doing nothing.

                  • March 20, 2012 at 8:29 pm
                  sharmon
                  Participant

                    Please consider researching Leukine,  My husband used it and I researched it and found it very interesting.  It is easy to use and could be better than doing nothing.

                    • March 20, 2012 at 11:58 pm
                    aldakota22
                    Participant

                      Know it is tough and scary.Do everything you can to be active to beat this beast.My prayers go out to you.    Al

                        • March 21, 2012 at 1:44 am
                        cody64
                        Participant

                          Thank You! That means alot to me!!

                          • March 21, 2012 at 1:44 am
                          cody64
                          Participant

                            Thank You! That means alot to me!!

                            • March 21, 2012 at 1:44 am
                            cody64
                            Participant

                              Thank You! That means alot to me!!

                            • March 20, 2012 at 11:58 pm
                            aldakota22
                            Participant

                              Know it is tough and scary.Do everything you can to be active to beat this beast.My prayers go out to you.    Al

                              • March 20, 2012 at 11:58 pm
                              aldakota22
                              Participant

                                Know it is tough and scary.Do everything you can to be active to beat this beast.My prayers go out to you.    Al

                                • March 21, 2012 at 3:12 am
                                UrsulaZ
                                Participant

                                  Your wife is clearly lucky to have you! I'm just starting out on this melanoma journey, but I can tell that living with uncertainty is going to be so difficult. I'm so glad that your most recent scans were clear & hope that the two of you are able to live in the moment these days! 

                                  • March 21, 2012 at 3:12 am
                                  UrsulaZ
                                  Participant

                                    Your wife is clearly lucky to have you! I'm just starting out on this melanoma journey, but I can tell that living with uncertainty is going to be so difficult. I'm so glad that your most recent scans were clear & hope that the two of you are able to live in the moment these days! 

                                    • March 21, 2012 at 3:12 am
                                    UrsulaZ
                                    Participant

                                      Your wife is clearly lucky to have you! I'm just starting out on this melanoma journey, but I can tell that living with uncertainty is going to be so difficult. I'm so glad that your most recent scans were clear & hope that the two of you are able to live in the moment these days! 

                                      • March 23, 2012 at 4:18 am
                                      JerryfromFauq
                                      Participant

                                        Cody, talk with the Oncologist about whether or not the right arm could have been a new primary.  Were any melignant lymph nodes found?  While nothing is absolute with melanoma, it tends to first follow the lymph system.  From a primary on the left calf it would most likely go up through the lymph nodes in either the left knee and/or left groin inquinal/iliac lymph nodes and on up toward where the lymph system joins the blood system over the heart.  Of course if it gets into the blood system it can appear anywhere  in the body. 

                                           Where on the left leg was the next left leg tumor?  Was it considered to be an in-transit tumor?

                                          • March 23, 2012 at 5:23 am
                                          JerryfromFauq
                                          Participant

                                            Do you have the pathology reports for each of the rmoved tumors?

                                            • March 23, 2012 at 5:23 am
                                            JerryfromFauq
                                            Participant

                                              Do you have the pathology reports for each of the rmoved tumors?

                                              • March 23, 2012 at 5:23 am
                                              JerryfromFauq
                                              Participant

                                                Do you have the pathology reports for each of the rmoved tumors?

                                              • March 23, 2012 at 4:18 am
                                              JerryfromFauq
                                              Participant

                                                Cody, talk with the Oncologist about whether or not the right arm could have been a new primary.  Were any melignant lymph nodes found?  While nothing is absolute with melanoma, it tends to first follow the lymph system.  From a primary on the left calf it would most likely go up through the lymph nodes in either the left knee and/or left groin inquinal/iliac lymph nodes and on up toward where the lymph system joins the blood system over the heart.  Of course if it gets into the blood system it can appear anywhere  in the body. 

                                                   Where on the left leg was the next left leg tumor?  Was it considered to be an in-transit tumor?

                                                • March 23, 2012 at 4:18 am
                                                JerryfromFauq
                                                Participant

                                                  Cody, talk with the Oncologist about whether or not the right arm could have been a new primary.  Were any melignant lymph nodes found?  While nothing is absolute with melanoma, it tends to first follow the lymph system.  From a primary on the left calf it would most likely go up through the lymph nodes in either the left knee and/or left groin inquinal/iliac lymph nodes and on up toward where the lymph system joins the blood system over the heart.  Of course if it gets into the blood system it can appear anywhere  in the body. 

                                                     Where on the left leg was the next left leg tumor?  Was it considered to be an in-transit tumor?

                                              Viewing 11 reply threads
                                              • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                                              About the MRF Patient Forum

                                              The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                                              The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.