Dad has stage IV

So sorry honey for your pain. My 58 yr old husband just diagnozed with stage 4 first oncologist

appt today. I told my 20 year old daughter but tried to downplay as to not worry her, (plus we dont have

all the facts) I am not sure how old you are but Im sure being far makes it tougher. Where in Florida

do your parents live? We are in Fort Lauderdale. I will add your family to my prayer list. Im rapidly

researching new treatments etc since our intial bout (stage 2) in 2001. 

Take care, keep the faith, know people care!  Vicki, Randall's wife

So sorry honey for your pain. My 58 yr old husband just diagnozed with stage 4 first oncologist

appt today. I told my 20 year old daughter but tried to downplay as to not worry her, (plus we dont have

all the facts) I am not sure how old you are but Im sure being far makes it tougher. Where in Florida

do your parents live? We are in Fort Lauderdale. I will add your family to my prayer list. Im rapidly

researching new treatments etc since our intial bout (stage 2) in 2001. 

Take care, keep the faith, know people care!  Vicki, Randall's wife

So sorry honey for your pain. My 58 yr old husband just diagnozed with stage 4 first oncologist

appt today. I told my 20 year old daughter but tried to downplay as to not worry her, (plus we dont have

all the facts) I am not sure how old you are but Im sure being far makes it tougher. Where in Florida

do your parents live? We are in Fort Lauderdale. I will add your family to my prayer list. Im rapidly

researching new treatments etc since our intial bout (stage 2) in 2001. 

Take care, keep the faith, know people care!  Vicki, Randall's wife

Hello Natasha,

Sorry you had to come to this site but there is much support and great ideas are shared here so in my opinion this is a great place to be when faced with this horrible disease.

First of all I want to say don't give up hope.  My husband was stage IV 2 1/2 years ago and is now NED (no evidence of disease).  He had liver, lungs and a unresectable (not able to operate because of where on the spine was located at the C1 C2 area) pushing against the spine.  He went into a clinical trial it will be 2 years ago March 3.  If you would like to read about his journey click on his name and it will take you to his profile.

Secondly, if in Florida many here are treated at Moffitt in Tampa.  They seem to be a great melanoma hospital.  A must is to get a melanoma specialist as they are up to date on the clinical trials and drugs that are working plus they know how to treat the side effects.  They also know what test to preform if looking into a clinical trial.

Third keep up the faith and don't dwell on the gloom because it is not over yet.  In the past 2 years some very promising drugs have come to market that are working.  Some work for one and not the other but sometimes combinations work well.  Each individual person works differently with each drug.

I am sure it is really hard with the distance between the family but be a great support.  Always have someone go with him to the Dr. appointments as all the information is really hard to digest and remind them to get copies of all the scans and reports in case you need to seek out another Dr. you will have everything readily available.

Keep us posted and here is a cyberhug  {{{{hug}}}} to help ease the tension and I will keep you in my prayers as well.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

Hello Natasha,

Sorry you had to come to this site but there is much support and great ideas are shared here so in my opinion this is a great place to be when faced with this horrible disease.

First of all I want to say don't give up hope.  My husband was stage IV 2 1/2 years ago and is now NED (no evidence of disease).  He had liver, lungs and a unresectable (not able to operate because of where on the spine was located at the C1 C2 area) pushing against the spine.  He went into a clinical trial it will be 2 years ago March 3.  If you would like to read about his journey click on his name and it will take you to his profile.

Secondly, if in Florida many here are treated at Moffitt in Tampa.  They seem to be a great melanoma hospital.  A must is to get a melanoma specialist as they are up to date on the clinical trials and drugs that are working plus they know how to treat the side effects.  They also know what test to preform if looking into a clinical trial.

Third keep up the faith and don't dwell on the gloom because it is not over yet.  In the past 2 years some very promising drugs have come to market that are working.  Some work for one and not the other but sometimes combinations work well.  Each individual person works differently with each drug.

I am sure it is really hard with the distance between the family but be a great support.  Always have someone go with him to the Dr. appointments as all the information is really hard to digest and remind them to get copies of all the scans and reports in case you need to seek out another Dr. you will have everything readily available.

Keep us posted and here is a cyberhug  {{{{hug}}}} to help ease the tension and I will keep you in my prayers as well.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

Hello Natasha,

Sorry you had to come to this site but there is much support and great ideas are shared here so in my opinion this is a great place to be when faced with this horrible disease.

First of all I want to say don't give up hope.  My husband was stage IV 2 1/2 years ago and is now NED (no evidence of disease).  He had liver, lungs and a unresectable (not able to operate because of where on the spine was located at the C1 C2 area) pushing against the spine.  He went into a clinical trial it will be 2 years ago March 3.  If you would like to read about his journey click on his name and it will take you to his profile.

Secondly, if in Florida many here are treated at Moffitt in Tampa.  They seem to be a great melanoma hospital.  A must is to get a melanoma specialist as they are up to date on the clinical trials and drugs that are working plus they know how to treat the side effects.  They also know what test to preform if looking into a clinical trial.

Third keep up the faith and don't dwell on the gloom because it is not over yet.  In the past 2 years some very promising drugs have come to market that are working.  Some work for one and not the other but sometimes combinations work well.  Each individual person works differently with each drug.

I am sure it is really hard with the distance between the family but be a great support.  Always have someone go with him to the Dr. appointments as all the information is really hard to digest and remind them to get copies of all the scans and reports in case you need to seek out another Dr. you will have everything readily available.

Keep us posted and here is a cyberhug  {{{{hug}}}} to help ease the tension and I will keep you in my prayers as well.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

Natasha & Vicki:  You might want to check my profile also for my journey as a Florida patient.  I saw a fine doctor at Mt. Sinai in Miami/Boca (2 locations at that time) but I chose Moffitt and still go there after moving to Gainesville. I wish you both and your families well.  Dan

Natasha & Vicki:  You might want to check my profile also for my journey as a Florida patient.  I saw a fine doctor at Mt. Sinai in Miami/Boca (2 locations at that time) but I chose Moffitt and still go there after moving to Gainesville. I wish you both and your families well.  Dan

Natasha & Vicki:  You might want to check my profile also for my journey as a Florida patient.  I saw a fine doctor at Mt. Sinai in Miami/Boca (2 locations at that time) but I chose Moffitt and still go there after moving to Gainesville. I wish you both and your families well.  Dan

Natasha,

your fathers case in critical, but not necessarily hopeless.  I would expect that an immediate DNA mutation test will be conducted and the brain mets will be addresed first.  The Temador hopefully will help with the brain tumors.

MDA is trying a lot of biochem work at present.  Hopefully this will reduce your fathers tumor load while the DNA testing is being conducted.  If the biochem does not provide a quick response and his tumors contain either the BRAF DNA mutation (very likely) or a C-kit mutation Nor likely from the location of his primary) then a targeted chemo is the most likely FDA approved tretment to provide an immediate response.  If a clinical trial of anti-PD-1 is available this would be a good trial to get into.  Dependent upon his condition IL-2 would be another option to try as quick as possible.

Natasha,

your fathers case in critical, but not necessarily hopeless.  I would expect that an immediate DNA mutation test will be conducted and the brain mets will be addresed first.  The Temador hopefully will help with the brain tumors.

MDA is trying a lot of biochem work at present.  Hopefully this will reduce your fathers tumor load while the DNA testing is being conducted.  If the biochem does not provide a quick response and his tumors contain either the BRAF DNA mutation (very likely) or a C-kit mutation Nor likely from the location of his primary) then a targeted chemo is the most likely FDA approved tretment to provide an immediate response.  If a clinical trial of anti-PD-1 is available this would be a good trial to get into.  Dependent upon his condition IL-2 would be another option to try as quick as possible.

Natasha,

your fathers case in critical, but not necessarily hopeless.  I would expect that an immediate DNA mutation test will be conducted and the brain mets will be addresed first.  The Temador hopefully will help with the brain tumors.

MDA is trying a lot of biochem work at present.  Hopefully this will reduce your fathers tumor load while the DNA testing is being conducted.  If the biochem does not provide a quick response and his tumors contain either the BRAF DNA mutation (very likely) or a C-kit mutation Nor likely from the location of his primary) then a targeted chemo is the most likely FDA approved tretment to provide an immediate response.  If a clinical trial of anti-PD-1 is available this would be a good trial to get into.  Dependent upon his condition IL-2 would be another option to try as quick as possible.