just diagnosed with melanoma

So sorry your husband has joined the melanoma club. First thing you need to do is get him a melanoma specialist. That's an oncologist who only deals with melanoma patients. They will be up to date on the latest treatment options and in the know about any clinical trials. A regular oncologist will not do, they just don't have the knowledge to properly handle this disease. 

Try to stay off Google, it will only bring up old statistics and create unecessary anxiety. I am not familiar with your side of the country, but I know others on here will be able to chime in on some great hospitals and doctors to look into near you.

This forum is an excellent resource for you, any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask here. You're not alone, there are other wonderful caregivers on here as well. 

All the best,

So sorry your husband has joined the melanoma club. First thing you need to do is get him a melanoma specialist. That's an oncologist who only deals with melanoma patients. They will be up to date on the latest treatment options and in the know about any clinical trials. A regular oncologist will not do, they just don't have the knowledge to properly handle this disease. 

Try to stay off Google, it will only bring up old statistics and create unecessary anxiety. I am not familiar with your side of the country, but I know others on here will be able to chime in on some great hospitals and doctors to look into near you.

This forum is an excellent resource for you, any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask here. You're not alone, there are other wonderful caregivers on here as well. 

All the best,

So sorry your husband has joined the melanoma club. First thing you need to do is get him a melanoma specialist. That's an oncologist who only deals with melanoma patients. They will be up to date on the latest treatment options and in the know about any clinical trials. A regular oncologist will not do, they just don't have the knowledge to properly handle this disease. 

Try to stay off Google, it will only bring up old statistics and create unecessary anxiety. I am not familiar with your side of the country, but I know others on here will be able to chime in on some great hospitals and doctors to look into near you.

This forum is an excellent resource for you, any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask here. You're not alone, there are other wonderful caregivers on here as well. 

All the best,

Hi Lisa,

Sorry you are here but glad you have found this forum early on. My USA Geography is not the best but this centre 

conducts clinical trials so is likely to be well up to date. on the latest thinking.

Decision taken from here are likely to be dependent on the staging. Was the positive node micro- a few cells or macro- clearly visible and measurable ? 

The bigger the tumour in the node the more likely it has spread in the lymph system so the more likely you are to be advised to have all the lymph nodes from that area removed although there is debate on the benefits of this given the risks – infection , lymphoedema etc but this is sometimes a precondition for trials.

This wesite has some information on stage 3 treatments or try this for a starter course

 http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

Usual advice- don't look at survival stats as they are not representative of results from the newer treatments. Beware any info that is not regularly updated- there have been lots of new drug approvals and treatments and something that looks recent might have been superceeded.

If you are advised to go for the removal of more lymph nodes try andget a melanoma specialist surgeon who does the procedure regularly as the results from someone with more experience is likely to be better ….even if the travelling is tough on a family man.

Keep going- its tough on you as the supporter as well as the patient.. but it does get easier when you have a plan and knowledeable docs.

Best wishes

DEb

Hi Lisa,

Sorry you are here but glad you have found this forum early on. My USA Geography is not the best but this centre 

conducts clinical trials so is likely to be well up to date. on the latest thinking.

Decision taken from here are likely to be dependent on the staging. Was the positive node micro- a few cells or macro- clearly visible and measurable ? 

The bigger the tumour in the node the more likely it has spread in the lymph system so the more likely you are to be advised to have all the lymph nodes from that area removed although there is debate on the benefits of this given the risks – infection , lymphoedema etc but this is sometimes a precondition for trials.

This wesite has some information on stage 3 treatments or try this for a starter course

 http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

Usual advice- don't look at survival stats as they are not representative of results from the newer treatments. Beware any info that is not regularly updated- there have been lots of new drug approvals and treatments and something that looks recent might have been superceeded.

If you are advised to go for the removal of more lymph nodes try andget a melanoma specialist surgeon who does the procedure regularly as the results from someone with more experience is likely to be better ….even if the travelling is tough on a family man.

Keep going- its tough on you as the supporter as well as the patient.. but it does get easier when you have a plan and knowledeable docs.

Best wishes

DEb

Hi Lisa,

Sorry you are here but glad you have found this forum early on. My USA Geography is not the best but this centre 

conducts clinical trials so is likely to be well up to date. on the latest thinking.

Decision taken from here are likely to be dependent on the staging. Was the positive node micro- a few cells or macro- clearly visible and measurable ? 

The bigger the tumour in the node the more likely it has spread in the lymph system so the more likely you are to be advised to have all the lymph nodes from that area removed although there is debate on the benefits of this given the risks – infection , lymphoedema etc but this is sometimes a precondition for trials.

This wesite has some information on stage 3 treatments or try this for a starter course

 http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

Usual advice- don't look at survival stats as they are not representative of results from the newer treatments. Beware any info that is not regularly updated- there have been lots of new drug approvals and treatments and something that looks recent might have been superceeded.

If you are advised to go for the removal of more lymph nodes try andget a melanoma specialist surgeon who does the procedure regularly as the results from someone with more experience is likely to be better ….even if the travelling is tough on a family man.

Keep going- its tough on you as the supporter as well as the patient.. but it does get easier when you have a plan and knowledeable docs.

Best wishes

DEb