Hello everybody,
Hello everybody,
I have to say that this is one great place for support and information. First time posting and would like to share our experience with Dad's melanoma.
My father is 82 years old. First biopsy came from a suspicious mole on his right shoulder blade. Initial biopsy was done overseas (Greece) and I decided to get on the next flight out and bring him to NY. Thank God I did. Initial results in Greece showed 1.5mm on the primary tumor thickness. The same film brought to NYU was diagnosed as 6mm. immediately our Doctors at NYU called for PET/CT followed with lympadenectomy on May 24th The plan was to also start radiation therapy a couple of weeks later over the area of the surgery to prevent any metastasis. A week after radiation therapy started my father started complaining about lower back pain. A few days later it was almost impossible to get him on the radiation table even though he was on oxycontin.
By late June and after an MRI that showed metastasis to his spine. His higher dose of oxycontin (12h) and oxycodone (4h) had caused changes in his persona. For example, lethargic and sleepy and even going to the rest room was a huge task (severe constipation) and frequency in urination. We decided to go for a second opinion/consult with Dr. Francis Arena in Long Island. Dr. Arena wasted no time to communicate with Dr. Ott at NYU and both agreed it was necessary to start radiation therapy on his back to relieve the pain. After ten sessions and because of time constraints with the start of the clinical trial of Zelboraf that we had matched we had great success with in controlling his pain and getting completely off oxycontin by the time we started Zelboraf.
Two and a half cycles of Zelboraf nd with minor adverse reactions we were scheduled for PET/CT and MRI of the spine. The results? Devastating. new mets and old mets had grown. We were told that Zelboraf had stopped working. I don't know if he had ever reacted to it. We stopped Zelboraf two weeks ago and were told by NYU to start on temodar. I again called Dr Arena and requested another consult because my father by now was ready to throw in the towel and requesting to bring him back to Greece for his last days. I know it’s his wish but I can not give up hope yet. Dr. Arena also build on our hopes and my father is ready to start on his first infusion of Yervoy Wednesday Nov. 2nd. We are looking and praying for some positive developments because we are back on oxycontin and the pain under his right arm is excruciating. I hate seeing anybody in pain but I can't express my pain seeing my DAD in this condition.
Love and Hope to all of you and yours…Kosta
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