Going to Md Anderson

Your doctor was very smart to recommend that you consult with the melanoma specialists at MD Anderson and you are very smart to want to educate yourself about various treatment options before you go for the consult. But sure you write down your questions and bring another person to listen and take notes when you meet with the doctors– it is common for the patient to be so emotionally involved in the conversation that they forget exactly what the doctor said as soon as they walk out the door.

The good thing about you researching clinical trial options now is that you are treatment naive. Patients are often frustrated because they found what looks to be a promising clinical trial only to be excluded because they already took ipi, for example, or they already had interferon treatments. There are a lot of clinical trials going on now testing combination treatments– combining ipi with IL-2, for example, or combining radiotherapy with ipi. Then there are the single agent clinical trials for things like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). 

I suggest that you check out the clinical trials that are described on the MD Anderson web site and do your best to understand what each one is doing. Ask questions of us here, if you want to. That should give you a pretty good introduction to the types of clinical trials being conducted right now and you may find one or two that seem pretty good to you. Then, when you get to MD Anderson,  you can discuss those particular trilas with the doctors there.  

Your doctor was very smart to recommend that you consult with the melanoma specialists at MD Anderson and you are very smart to want to educate yourself about various treatment options before you go for the consult. But sure you write down your questions and bring another person to listen and take notes when you meet with the doctors– it is common for the patient to be so emotionally involved in the conversation that they forget exactly what the doctor said as soon as they walk out the door.

The good thing about you researching clinical trial options now is that you are treatment naive. Patients are often frustrated because they found what looks to be a promising clinical trial only to be excluded because they already took ipi, for example, or they already had interferon treatments. There are a lot of clinical trials going on now testing combination treatments– combining ipi with IL-2, for example, or combining radiotherapy with ipi. Then there are the single agent clinical trials for things like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). 

I suggest that you check out the clinical trials that are described on the MD Anderson web site and do your best to understand what each one is doing. Ask questions of us here, if you want to. That should give you a pretty good introduction to the types of clinical trials being conducted right now and you may find one or two that seem pretty good to you. Then, when you get to MD Anderson,  you can discuss those particular trilas with the doctors there.  

Your doctor was very smart to recommend that you consult with the melanoma specialists at MD Anderson and you are very smart to want to educate yourself about various treatment options before you go for the consult. But sure you write down your questions and bring another person to listen and take notes when you meet with the doctors– it is common for the patient to be so emotionally involved in the conversation that they forget exactly what the doctor said as soon as they walk out the door.

The good thing about you researching clinical trial options now is that you are treatment naive. Patients are often frustrated because they found what looks to be a promising clinical trial only to be excluded because they already took ipi, for example, or they already had interferon treatments. There are a lot of clinical trials going on now testing combination treatments– combining ipi with IL-2, for example, or combining radiotherapy with ipi. Then there are the single agent clinical trials for things like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). 

I suggest that you check out the clinical trials that are described on the MD Anderson web site and do your best to understand what each one is doing. Ask questions of us here, if you want to. That should give you a pretty good introduction to the types of clinical trials being conducted right now and you may find one or two that seem pretty good to you. Then, when you get to MD Anderson,  you can discuss those particular trilas with the doctors there.  

To POWs recommendations, I would also suggest getting to know the Stage IV forum for Melanoma International Foundation.  A number of very helpful Stage IV folks and an excellent director, Catherine Poole, as well as a team of medical experts who provide technical advice at Catherine's request.  Catherine is also reachable by personal email or phone if needed.

To POWs recommendations, I would also suggest getting to know the Stage IV forum for Melanoma International Foundation.  A number of very helpful Stage IV folks and an excellent director, Catherine Poole, as well as a team of medical experts who provide technical advice at Catherine's request.  Catherine is also reachable by personal email or phone if needed.

To POWs recommendations, I would also suggest getting to know the Stage IV forum for Melanoma International Foundation.  A number of very helpful Stage IV folks and an excellent director, Catherine Poole, as well as a team of medical experts who provide technical advice at Catherine's request.  Catherine is also reachable by personal email or phone if needed.

We are also from Alabama and just returned from MD Anderson.. Returning to Houston again next week. Stage 111- b/c.. Trying to finish testing and make decisions on treatment.. Best of luck with your care.

jme

We are also from Alabama and just returned from MD Anderson.. Returning to Houston again next week. Stage 111- b/c.. Trying to finish testing and make decisions on treatment.. Best of luck with your care.

jme

We are also from Alabama and just returned from MD Anderson.. Returning to Houston again next week. Stage 111- b/c.. Trying to finish testing and make decisions on treatment.. Best of luck with your care.

jme