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Stage 4 at Diagnosis-Update
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Stage 4 at Diagnosis-Update

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage 4 at Diagnosis-Update

  • Post
    • October 18, 2015 at 3:49 pm
    msitz
    Participant

      Part 1 of the story is here:

      http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/stage-4-diagnosis-positive#comment-87431

      We just got some very exciting scan results back. In brief, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma in March of 2015 and had several near fatal complications before he started responding to Keytruda. He has tumours in his abdomen, lungs, lymph nodes and brain.

      This is the result of his most recent CT abdomen/pelvis:

      "There has been interval significant disease improvement. Example – The largest left flank small bowel mass which previously measured 6.4×7.6cm now measure 3x4cm and a right lower quadrant and another small bowel mass which previously measured 3.7x4cm is now not definitely visualized. Left flank peritoneal nodule which previously measured 4.2×4.4cm is not definitely visualized."

      That means that his biggest tumour is about half of what it was and the 2nd and 3rd largest tumours are gone! There were several other small tumours that have all significantly shrunk too. In March my father was given 2 months to live and now his tumours are 70% gone. His quality of life is excellent and he is planning a trip to South America for next year.

      We could not be more thankful. There is hope to those of you with a stage 4 diagnosis with a very high tumour burden. His lung tumours are also responding very well, as is his brain tumour. Since starting Keytruda 7 months ago there have been no new tumours and everything has shrunk.

      – msitz

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    • Replies
        • October 18, 2015 at 9:26 pm
        Polymath
        Participant

          Congratulations and Thank You for the uplifting message of hope.  Many of us are still searching for that ray of light, and are thrilled that anything can happen.

          • October 18, 2015 at 9:26 pm
          Polymath
          Participant

            Congratulations and Thank You for the uplifting message of hope.  Many of us are still searching for that ray of light, and are thrilled that anything can happen.

            • October 18, 2015 at 9:26 pm
            Polymath
            Participant

              Congratulations and Thank You for the uplifting message of hope.  Many of us are still searching for that ray of light, and are thrilled that anything can happen.

              • October 18, 2015 at 11:01 pm
              Patina
              Participant

                This is great to hear and news I wish everyone could have and share in!

                I'm so glad that your Dad is doing better and the melanoma is "disappearing".  My Mom experienced this when she was treated with Yervoy and everyone was floored by how fast this happened.  They called her a supper responder because things worked so fast. I bet that is exactly what they are calling your Dad 🙂  

                 

                • October 18, 2015 at 11:01 pm
                Patina
                Participant

                  This is great to hear and news I wish everyone could have and share in!

                  I'm so glad that your Dad is doing better and the melanoma is "disappearing".  My Mom experienced this when she was treated with Yervoy and everyone was floored by how fast this happened.  They called her a supper responder because things worked so fast. I bet that is exactly what they are calling your Dad 🙂  

                   

                    • March 12, 2016 at 9:43 am
                    EdwardKatz
                    Participant

                      Melanoma staging is the method used in describing the extent of the disease. The doctor will look for the tumor thickness and depth of melanoma cells to the different parts of the body. It helps in determining the treatment plan and the prognosis (outlook). Stage IV, defines that the cells of cancer have been spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs in the body which generally represent metastatic melanoma. Either they are removed surgically or have treatments like targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

                      • March 12, 2016 at 9:43 am
                      EdwardKatz
                      Participant

                        Melanoma staging is the method used in describing the extent of the disease. The doctor will look for the tumor thickness and depth of melanoma cells to the different parts of the body. It helps in determining the treatment plan and the prognosis (outlook). Stage IV, defines that the cells of cancer have been spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs in the body which generally represent metastatic melanoma. Either they are removed surgically or have treatments like targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

                        • March 12, 2016 at 9:43 am
                        EdwardKatz
                        Participant

                          Melanoma staging is the method used in describing the extent of the disease. The doctor will look for the tumor thickness and depth of melanoma cells to the different parts of the body. It helps in determining the treatment plan and the prognosis (outlook). Stage IV, defines that the cells of cancer have been spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs in the body which generally represent metastatic melanoma. Either they are removed surgically or have treatments like targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

                        • October 18, 2015 at 11:01 pm
                        Patina
                        Participant

                          This is great to hear and news I wish everyone could have and share in!

                          I'm so glad that your Dad is doing better and the melanoma is "disappearing".  My Mom experienced this when she was treated with Yervoy and everyone was floored by how fast this happened.  They called her a supper responder because things worked so fast. I bet that is exactly what they are calling your Dad 🙂  

                           

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