Curing Melanoma

Stage IV with a low tumor burden is not a bad place to be if you're at that point. But it's my understanding that doctors are using the word "cure" very cautiously still.

It's only within the past 5 years that HUGE strides have been made in the treatment of melanoma. More and more Stage IV people are starting to go on with their lives. There are several in this forum who will probably speak up with their own experiences.

It sounds like your doctor has a good plan. Ipi has some side effects that you'll have to deal with but if you search this forum you'll find notes from folks who are responders. There was an article that came out recently which stated that many for whom Ipi worked had durable responses and are still with us after 10 years. PD1 has also worked miracles for people.

I do think that "cure" is a bit premature. But perhaps in another 5 years it won't be. Melanoma is a devastating disease but the medical community is getting a handle on it and the survivor list is growing.

Stage IV with a low tumor burden is not a bad place to be if you're at that point. But it's my understanding that doctors are using the word "cure" very cautiously still.

It's only within the past 5 years that HUGE strides have been made in the treatment of melanoma. More and more Stage IV people are starting to go on with their lives. There are several in this forum who will probably speak up with their own experiences.

It sounds like your doctor has a good plan. Ipi has some side effects that you'll have to deal with but if you search this forum you'll find notes from folks who are responders. There was an article that came out recently which stated that many for whom Ipi worked had durable responses and are still with us after 10 years. PD1 has also worked miracles for people.

I do think that "cure" is a bit premature. But perhaps in another 5 years it won't be. Melanoma is a devastating disease but the medical community is getting a handle on it and the survivor list is growing.

Stage IV with a low tumor burden is not a bad place to be if you're at that point. But it's my understanding that doctors are using the word "cure" very cautiously still.

It's only within the past 5 years that HUGE strides have been made in the treatment of melanoma. More and more Stage IV people are starting to go on with their lives. There are several in this forum who will probably speak up with their own experiences.

It sounds like your doctor has a good plan. Ipi has some side effects that you'll have to deal with but if you search this forum you'll find notes from folks who are responders. There was an article that came out recently which stated that many for whom Ipi worked had durable responses and are still with us after 10 years. PD1 has also worked miracles for people.

I do think that "cure" is a bit premature. But perhaps in another 5 years it won't be. Melanoma is a devastating disease but the medical community is getting a handle on it and the survivor list is growing.

Hi Friend,

I'm stage 3c, and had a very low tumor burden.  I did 4 bags of Ipi, and while my Doc doesn't use the "cure" word, I now no longer have any tumors. I watched them melt away.   Ipi hit a home run for me. As an aside, a friend of mine calls this  state "NERD" No Evidence of Recurring Disease.  I'll gladly be a NERD. I say this, to share my encouragement.  The potential payoff (Home run) was well worth the side effects. 

If you decide to do Ipi or anti-PD1 (or whatever!) make sure you're working with a melanoma specialist and stay in good communication with your team (my doc gave me his cell phone number to text him if I had any questions or concerns or new side effects).  

Blessings,

Julie

Stage 3c WLE, SNB, LDN, HD INF, GM-CSF, IPI = NERD

Hi Friend,

I'm stage 3c, and had a very low tumor burden.  I did 4 bags of Ipi, and while my Doc doesn't use the "cure" word, I now no longer have any tumors. I watched them melt away.   Ipi hit a home run for me. As an aside, a friend of mine calls this  state "NERD" No Evidence of Recurring Disease.  I'll gladly be a NERD. I say this, to share my encouragement.  The potential payoff (Home run) was well worth the side effects. 

If you decide to do Ipi or anti-PD1 (or whatever!) make sure you're working with a melanoma specialist and stay in good communication with your team (my doc gave me his cell phone number to text him if I had any questions or concerns or new side effects).  

Blessings,

Julie

Stage 3c WLE, SNB, LDN, HD INF, GM-CSF, IPI = NERD

Hi Friend,

I'm stage 3c, and had a very low tumor burden.  I did 4 bags of Ipi, and while my Doc doesn't use the "cure" word, I now no longer have any tumors. I watched them melt away.   Ipi hit a home run for me. As an aside, a friend of mine calls this  state "NERD" No Evidence of Recurring Disease.  I'll gladly be a NERD. I say this, to share my encouragement.  The potential payoff (Home run) was well worth the side effects. 

If you decide to do Ipi or anti-PD1 (or whatever!) make sure you're working with a melanoma specialist and stay in good communication with your team (my doc gave me his cell phone number to text him if I had any questions or concerns or new side effects).  

Blessings,

Julie

Stage 3c WLE, SNB, LDN, HD INF, GM-CSF, IPI = NERD

When I was diagnosed in June 2012 with metastatic melanoma of the lung, with no known primary, the first oncologist I want to shared the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology with me.  He recommended following the guidelines that I have surgery to remove the tumor and showed me that such surgery was considered to be of "curative intent.'  Not a sure cure by itself, but some people have found that a similar surgery proved curative by itself.  It was a few months after the surgery when metastases popped up in my brain that we added SRS and Ipi to the mix.  But my tumor load has always been low, and the ipi may prove to be curative.  No way of knowing, but things are moving in the right direction.  Some professionals speak of a "cure" 5 years after reoccurrence, but that is not a sure thing.

When I was diagnosed in June 2012 with metastatic melanoma of the lung, with no known primary, the first oncologist I want to shared the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology with me.  He recommended following the guidelines that I have surgery to remove the tumor and showed me that such surgery was considered to be of "curative intent.'  Not a sure cure by itself, but some people have found that a similar surgery proved curative by itself.  It was a few months after the surgery when metastases popped up in my brain that we added SRS and Ipi to the mix.  But my tumor load has always been low, and the ipi may prove to be curative.  No way of knowing, but things are moving in the right direction.  Some professionals speak of a "cure" 5 years after reoccurrence, but that is not a sure thing.

When I was diagnosed in June 2012 with metastatic melanoma of the lung, with no known primary, the first oncologist I want to shared the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology with me.  He recommended following the guidelines that I have surgery to remove the tumor and showed me that such surgery was considered to be of "curative intent.'  Not a sure cure by itself, but some people have found that a similar surgery proved curative by itself.  It was a few months after the surgery when metastases popped up in my brain that we added SRS and Ipi to the mix.  But my tumor load has always been low, and the ipi may prove to be curative.  No way of knowing, but things are moving in the right direction.  Some professionals speak of a "cure" 5 years after reoccurrence, but that is not a sure thing.