› Forums › General Melanoma Community › It’s back… Questions about 3C treatment
- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 6 months ago by
Julie in SoCal.
- Post
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- December 8, 2013 at 4:20 am
Dear Friends,
After almost 5 years of NED status, Mel is back. Both of the biopsied funk have come back positive for mel.
I'm possibly getting ahead of myself, as I haven't had scans yet, but what are the treatment options for Stage 3C resected? Are there any?
Anyone have any experience with this?
Thank you Friends,
Julie
- Replies
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- December 8, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Hi, Julie-
I am very sorry that that you have to wade back into battle with melanoma. Damn! But I am so relieved that you took immediate action rather than let things slide until February. Very, very wise of you.
I don't think that there are any new treatments for resectable Stage III that have been FDA approved. I seem to recall that Yervoy and Zelboraf are approved for non-resectable, but not for resectable. And frankly, it's better to have resectable tumors than non-resectable. There are, however, several clinical trials going on for Stage III that you may or may not be interested in.
The National Cancer Institute publishsed a list of the currently approved therapies for Stage III. Note that they have provided to link to Stage III melanoma clicial trials on the page. Take a look at, "Standard Treatment Options for Stage III Melanoma" at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/HealthProfessional/page8 There are a lot of clinical trials listed and you probably wouldn't be interested in most of them, but it's a place to start.
Between your vigilance, your quick action and your positive mental attitude (yes, it will be wonderful to be home for the holiday season!) I think you're going to make out fine in the long run. Between making travel plans and scheduling medical appointments I'm sure the next few weeks will be very busy for you. But do try to drop us a line when you can and let us know how you make out.
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- December 9, 2013 at 9:59 pm
I think POW's comments are spot on. If it is resectable, you cut it out… so that is a better place to be. While interferon would be the standard of care for resectable stage 3, most melanoma specialists would not pursue that course of action given the strong side effects in conjunction with the limited effectiveness (at least statisically… I know some people have gone through it and it has worked for them). Clinical trials are an option as is the old "watch and wait."
Kevin
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:24 am
Hi Julie,
Sounds like we are going through this at the same time together. Thankfully, my scans came back clear, and I am certainly pulling for you to have clear scans. I have to have one more surgery since the margins were positive and a SNB. I guess that biospy will help point us to a clear direction. My Dr talked today about some clinical trials that are available. He is going to talk to some people and see what's available. I will be happy to pass along to you anything I hear. Good luck. Please keep me up to date.
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:24 am
Hi Julie,
Sounds like we are going through this at the same time together. Thankfully, my scans came back clear, and I am certainly pulling for you to have clear scans. I have to have one more surgery since the margins were positive and a SNB. I guess that biospy will help point us to a clear direction. My Dr talked today about some clinical trials that are available. He is going to talk to some people and see what's available. I will be happy to pass along to you anything I hear. Good luck. Please keep me up to date.
-
- December 11, 2013 at 1:24 am
Hi Julie,
Sounds like we are going through this at the same time together. Thankfully, my scans came back clear, and I am certainly pulling for you to have clear scans. I have to have one more surgery since the margins were positive and a SNB. I guess that biospy will help point us to a clear direction. My Dr talked today about some clinical trials that are available. He is going to talk to some people and see what's available. I will be happy to pass along to you anything I hear. Good luck. Please keep me up to date.
-
- December 11, 2013 at 7:43 am
Yes, Delora. Looks like we'll be treatment buddies. I'm sorry you're in this, but glad we're not alone. So glad your scans came back clear!
I'm pretty sure my next steps are: 3 WLEs on the in-transits, gene typing to see what my C-Kit and BRAF status is, and then of course scans….
We're in a little different places, in that this is a recurrance for me, but I would love to hear whatever info you get from your dr, and would be grateful if you passed it along to me. I'll do the same. You can post them here (I come here daily now) or you can send it to me via my email. My addy is (without spaces) s a n u k . s a n a n ( A T ) g m a i l . c o m. Either way is fine.
This unplanned "I'll be home for Christmas" has been a bit stressful. Not only am I packing up my things and and putting my apartment here in Bangkok in "I may be gone for a while" mode, but yesterday I went out on the town and got Christmas presents for big and little people alike. That was fun.
I trust you're having some fun too!
Together,
Julie
-
- December 11, 2013 at 7:43 am
Yes, Delora. Looks like we'll be treatment buddies. I'm sorry you're in this, but glad we're not alone. So glad your scans came back clear!
I'm pretty sure my next steps are: 3 WLEs on the in-transits, gene typing to see what my C-Kit and BRAF status is, and then of course scans….
We're in a little different places, in that this is a recurrance for me, but I would love to hear whatever info you get from your dr, and would be grateful if you passed it along to me. I'll do the same. You can post them here (I come here daily now) or you can send it to me via my email. My addy is (without spaces) s a n u k . s a n a n ( A T ) g m a i l . c o m. Either way is fine.
This unplanned "I'll be home for Christmas" has been a bit stressful. Not only am I packing up my things and and putting my apartment here in Bangkok in "I may be gone for a while" mode, but yesterday I went out on the town and got Christmas presents for big and little people alike. That was fun.
I trust you're having some fun too!
Together,
Julie
-
- December 11, 2013 at 7:43 am
Yes, Delora. Looks like we'll be treatment buddies. I'm sorry you're in this, but glad we're not alone. So glad your scans came back clear!
I'm pretty sure my next steps are: 3 WLEs on the in-transits, gene typing to see what my C-Kit and BRAF status is, and then of course scans….
We're in a little different places, in that this is a recurrance for me, but I would love to hear whatever info you get from your dr, and would be grateful if you passed it along to me. I'll do the same. You can post them here (I come here daily now) or you can send it to me via my email. My addy is (without spaces) s a n u k . s a n a n ( A T ) g m a i l . c o m. Either way is fine.
This unplanned "I'll be home for Christmas" has been a bit stressful. Not only am I packing up my things and and putting my apartment here in Bangkok in "I may be gone for a while" mode, but yesterday I went out on the town and got Christmas presents for big and little people alike. That was fun.
I trust you're having some fun too!
Together,
Julie
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Forgive me, Delora! We're in the exact same place: recurrance, and this sucks. After reading all the posts, I lost track of who I was writing to. I sorry about that. Forgive me!
We will walk similar paths, and I am happy to have company,
Julie
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- December 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Forgive me, Delora! We're in the exact same place: recurrance, and this sucks. After reading all the posts, I lost track of who I was writing to. I sorry about that. Forgive me!
We will walk similar paths, and I am happy to have company,
Julie
-
- December 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Forgive me, Delora! We're in the exact same place: recurrance, and this sucks. After reading all the posts, I lost track of who I was writing to. I sorry about that. Forgive me!
We will walk similar paths, and I am happy to have company,
Julie
-
- December 9, 2013 at 9:59 pm
I think POW's comments are spot on. If it is resectable, you cut it out… so that is a better place to be. While interferon would be the standard of care for resectable stage 3, most melanoma specialists would not pursue that course of action given the strong side effects in conjunction with the limited effectiveness (at least statisically… I know some people have gone through it and it has worked for them). Clinical trials are an option as is the old "watch and wait."
Kevin
-
- December 9, 2013 at 9:59 pm
I think POW's comments are spot on. If it is resectable, you cut it out… so that is a better place to be. While interferon would be the standard of care for resectable stage 3, most melanoma specialists would not pursue that course of action given the strong side effects in conjunction with the limited effectiveness (at least statisically… I know some people have gone through it and it has worked for them). Clinical trials are an option as is the old "watch and wait."
Kevin
-
- December 8, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Hi, Julie-
I am very sorry that that you have to wade back into battle with melanoma. Damn! But I am so relieved that you took immediate action rather than let things slide until February. Very, very wise of you.
I don't think that there are any new treatments for resectable Stage III that have been FDA approved. I seem to recall that Yervoy and Zelboraf are approved for non-resectable, but not for resectable. And frankly, it's better to have resectable tumors than non-resectable. There are, however, several clinical trials going on for Stage III that you may or may not be interested in.
The National Cancer Institute publishsed a list of the currently approved therapies for Stage III. Note that they have provided to link to Stage III melanoma clicial trials on the page. Take a look at, "Standard Treatment Options for Stage III Melanoma" at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/HealthProfessional/page8 There are a lot of clinical trials listed and you probably wouldn't be interested in most of them, but it's a place to start.
Between your vigilance, your quick action and your positive mental attitude (yes, it will be wonderful to be home for the holiday season!) I think you're going to make out fine in the long run. Between making travel plans and scheduling medical appointments I'm sure the next few weeks will be very busy for you. But do try to drop us a line when you can and let us know how you make out.
-
- December 8, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Hi, Julie-
I am very sorry that that you have to wade back into battle with melanoma. Damn! But I am so relieved that you took immediate action rather than let things slide until February. Very, very wise of you.
I don't think that there are any new treatments for resectable Stage III that have been FDA approved. I seem to recall that Yervoy and Zelboraf are approved for non-resectable, but not for resectable. And frankly, it's better to have resectable tumors than non-resectable. There are, however, several clinical trials going on for Stage III that you may or may not be interested in.
The National Cancer Institute publishsed a list of the currently approved therapies for Stage III. Note that they have provided to link to Stage III melanoma clicial trials on the page. Take a look at, "Standard Treatment Options for Stage III Melanoma" at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/HealthProfessional/page8 There are a lot of clinical trials listed and you probably wouldn't be interested in most of them, but it's a place to start.
Between your vigilance, your quick action and your positive mental attitude (yes, it will be wonderful to be home for the holiday season!) I think you're going to make out fine in the long run. Between making travel plans and scheduling medical appointments I'm sure the next few weeks will be very busy for you. But do try to drop us a line when you can and let us know how you make out.
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