Radiation and melanoma

Melanoma is one of the most radiation resistant cancers known.  Radiation seldom cures melanoma, but is often used to reduce ones tumor load so that surgery can be performed.  It can also be used in an attempt to mop up stray malignant cells that might have been missed in surgery.  I consulted two Radiologist and they wanted to do extensive radiation to a much wider area than I felt comfortable with.  I have heard of many bad problems caused by excessive radiation to ones abdominal area without a specific known tumor.  I refused.  Would have been more open to it, if it had been a limb for the mop up attempt.

   You can do a search for radiation on this BB and find many posts.  Good luck.

Melanoma is one of the most radiation resistant cancers known.  Radiation seldom cures melanoma, but is often used to reduce ones tumor load so that surgery can be performed.  It can also be used in an attempt to mop up stray malignant cells that might have been missed in surgery.  I consulted two Radiologist and they wanted to do extensive radiation to a much wider area than I felt comfortable with.  I have heard of many bad problems caused by excessive radiation to ones abdominal area without a specific known tumor.  I refused.  Would have been more open to it, if it had been a limb for the mop up attempt.

   You can do a search for radiation on this BB and find many posts.  Good luck.

Melanoma is one of the most radiation resistant cancers known.  Radiation seldom cures melanoma, but is often used to reduce ones tumor load so that surgery can be performed.  It can also be used in an attempt to mop up stray malignant cells that might have been missed in surgery.  I consulted two Radiologist and they wanted to do extensive radiation to a much wider area than I felt comfortable with.  I have heard of many bad problems caused by excessive radiation to ones abdominal area without a specific known tumor.  I refused.  Would have been more open to it, if it had been a limb for the mop up attempt.

   You can do a search for radiation on this BB and find many posts.  Good luck.

I had a lymph node removal to the right axila. My onc. recommended radiation as, according to him,  it reduces the chance of a local recurrence from 60 to 10%. I was able to take my supplements during the radiation. I also applied Miaderm radiation cream after each treatment (you cannot apply it before a treatment). My radiation doc. was amazed that I didn't blister after 30 treatments and receiving a high dose. I only got red and the last couple treatments were painful because you feel the cumulative effect. I had some fatigue as well but continued to work. There is a 20% chance of getting lymphedema with surgery alone. It jumps to 40% chance if you get radiation also. I have mild lymphedema in my right arm and control it with manual massage and Juzo compression stockings. Maybe if I wouldn't have had a right vein stuck on 2 different occasions after having radiation maybe I wouldn't have developed Lymphedema.

God Bless and best of success.

 Jim M.

I had a lymph node removal to the right axila. My onc. recommended radiation as, according to him,  it reduces the chance of a local recurrence from 60 to 10%. I was able to take my supplements during the radiation. I also applied Miaderm radiation cream after each treatment (you cannot apply it before a treatment). My radiation doc. was amazed that I didn't blister after 30 treatments and receiving a high dose. I only got red and the last couple treatments were painful because you feel the cumulative effect. I had some fatigue as well but continued to work. There is a 20% chance of getting lymphedema with surgery alone. It jumps to 40% chance if you get radiation also. I have mild lymphedema in my right arm and control it with manual massage and Juzo compression stockings. Maybe if I wouldn't have had a right vein stuck on 2 different occasions after having radiation maybe I wouldn't have developed Lymphedema.

God Bless and best of success.

 Jim M.

I had a lymph node removal to the right axila. My onc. recommended radiation as, according to him,  it reduces the chance of a local recurrence from 60 to 10%. I was able to take my supplements during the radiation. I also applied Miaderm radiation cream after each treatment (you cannot apply it before a treatment). My radiation doc. was amazed that I didn't blister after 30 treatments and receiving a high dose. I only got red and the last couple treatments were painful because you feel the cumulative effect. I had some fatigue as well but continued to work. There is a 20% chance of getting lymphedema with surgery alone. It jumps to 40% chance if you get radiation also. I have mild lymphedema in my right arm and control it with manual massage and Juzo compression stockings. Maybe if I wouldn't have had a right vein stuck on 2 different occasions after having radiation maybe I wouldn't have developed Lymphedema.

God Bless and best of success.

 Jim M.

My father had radiation to the skull after his stage iv met was removed.  The radiation oncologist said it would reduce the chance of recurrence in that particular area from 1 in 3 to 1 in 6.  He just finished a two-week course; side effects were just a little fatigue and mild irritation to the skin where the radiation was focused, like a light sunburn.  Best of luck to you!

My father had radiation to the skull after his stage iv met was removed.  The radiation oncologist said it would reduce the chance of recurrence in that particular area from 1 in 3 to 1 in 6.  He just finished a two-week course; side effects were just a little fatigue and mild irritation to the skin where the radiation was focused, like a light sunburn.  Best of luck to you!

My father had radiation to the skull after his stage iv met was removed.  The radiation oncologist said it would reduce the chance of recurrence in that particular area from 1 in 3 to 1 in 6.  He just finished a two-week course; side effects were just a little fatigue and mild irritation to the skin where the radiation was focused, like a light sunburn.  Best of luck to you!