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Stage IIIB Treatment Options
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Stage IIIB Treatment Options

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage IIIB Treatment Options

  • Post
    • October 23, 2015 at 4:34 pm
    Angsta39
    Participant

      I was diagnosed with Stage IIIB after two surgeries to remove the intial cancer from my leg, a sentinal lymph node biopsy, and having the rest of my lymph nodes removed from my right groin. When I went to see my Medical Oncologist, she offered me three treatments. Interferon, Peg, or Biochemo or just to watch and wait. She explained that none of the treatments she offered would change the 60% chance of the mel coming back within 5 years, so I decided to just watch and wait instead of dealing with the side effects she told me I may have from the treatments. I have tried to find data on each one of these treatments and if they really work or if I'm better off keeping to the watch and wait. I gave read threads where people have been NED for years from doing these treatments so it makes me question myself and my doctor. Could anyone who has been through these treatments please share your story with me so that I can be more educated on all of this. Thank you in advance for your help.  

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 23, 2015 at 5:59 pm
        Julie in SoCal
        Participant

          Hi Angsta39,

          Sorry you're here, but welcome! You've come to the right place for info on melanoma treatments.  The better informed you are about the options the better it will go for you. 

          The best thing you can do right now is to find a medical oncologist that specializes in melanoma.  Treatment options have changed dramatically in the last few years and general oncologist (in general) don't know about them.  The treatment's your doctor has offered are old and there are more effective ones out there. 

          Here's a link to a good write up of the options for Stage 3

          http://melanomainternational.org/2015/10/october-19-2015-melanoma-stage-iii-decisions/#.VipzvfmrSUl

          Shalom,

          Julie

            • October 23, 2015 at 6:39 pm
            Angsta39
            Participant

              Thank you for the information Julie. I am currently seeing a Medical Oncologist at MD Anderson specifically for Melanoma and these were the options she gave me. That why I posted this because I was confused on why an MD Anderson Melamoma doctor would not have up to date treatments but offer only these four to me. 

              • October 28, 2015 at 5:14 pm
              brewgirl68
              Participant

                Actually, your doc did give you the options that are available at the moment within protocol. Outside of that, you may qualify for a clinical trial. If you are interested in participating you should check in with your doc and see how to proceed (my oncologist has a department dedicated to helping patients navigate clinical trials). 

                Best wishes!

                Sheila

                • October 28, 2015 at 5:14 pm
                brewgirl68
                Participant

                  Actually, your doc did give you the options that are available at the moment within protocol. Outside of that, you may qualify for a clinical trial. If you are interested in participating you should check in with your doc and see how to proceed (my oncologist has a department dedicated to helping patients navigate clinical trials). 

                  Best wishes!

                  Sheila

                  • October 28, 2015 at 5:14 pm
                  brewgirl68
                  Participant

                    Actually, your doc did give you the options that are available at the moment within protocol. Outside of that, you may qualify for a clinical trial. If you are interested in participating you should check in with your doc and see how to proceed (my oncologist has a department dedicated to helping patients navigate clinical trials). 

                    Best wishes!

                    Sheila

                    • October 23, 2015 at 6:39 pm
                    Angsta39
                    Participant

                      Thank you for the information Julie. I am currently seeing a Medical Oncologist at MD Anderson specifically for Melanoma and these were the options she gave me. That why I posted this because I was confused on why an MD Anderson Melamoma doctor would not have up to date treatments but offer only these four to me. 

                      • October 23, 2015 at 6:39 pm
                      Angsta39
                      Participant

                        Thank you for the information Julie. I am currently seeing a Medical Oncologist at MD Anderson specifically for Melanoma and these were the options she gave me. That why I posted this because I was confused on why an MD Anderson Melamoma doctor would not have up to date treatments but offer only these four to me. 

                      • October 23, 2015 at 5:59 pm
                      Julie in SoCal
                      Participant

                        Hi Angsta39,

                        Sorry you're here, but welcome! You've come to the right place for info on melanoma treatments.  The better informed you are about the options the better it will go for you. 

                        The best thing you can do right now is to find a medical oncologist that specializes in melanoma.  Treatment options have changed dramatically in the last few years and general oncologist (in general) don't know about them.  The treatment's your doctor has offered are old and there are more effective ones out there. 

                        Here's a link to a good write up of the options for Stage 3

                        http://melanomainternational.org/2015/10/october-19-2015-melanoma-stage-iii-decisions/#.VipzvfmrSUl

                        Shalom,

                        Julie

                        • October 23, 2015 at 5:59 pm
                        Julie in SoCal
                        Participant

                          Hi Angsta39,

                          Sorry you're here, but welcome! You've come to the right place for info on melanoma treatments.  The better informed you are about the options the better it will go for you. 

                          The best thing you can do right now is to find a medical oncologist that specializes in melanoma.  Treatment options have changed dramatically in the last few years and general oncologist (in general) don't know about them.  The treatment's your doctor has offered are old and there are more effective ones out there. 

                          Here's a link to a good write up of the options for Stage 3

                          http://melanomainternational.org/2015/10/october-19-2015-melanoma-stage-iii-decisions/#.VipzvfmrSUl

                          Shalom,

                          Julie

                          • October 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm
                          273c
                          Participant

                            You want Nivo or Keytruda but right now I am betting they aren't approved for stage IIIB.  I think watch and wait is a good option right now.  Part of what you want to watch for is if Nivo, Keytruda or Ipi gets approved for stage III. 

                             

                            Of course also go for your scans as recommended and watch for any skin changes. 

                            Good Luck,

                            Kathy

                              • October 23, 2015 at 8:25 pm
                              Angsta39
                              Participant

                                Thank you Kathy. I will definatley watch for those treatments as you are correct that they are not approved for Stage IIIB right now. I have my next scans and Derm appointment in December. 

                                • October 23, 2015 at 8:25 pm
                                Angsta39
                                Participant

                                  Thank you Kathy. I will definatley watch for those treatments as you are correct that they are not approved for Stage IIIB right now. I have my next scans and Derm appointment in December. 

                                  • October 23, 2015 at 8:25 pm
                                  Angsta39
                                  Participant

                                    Thank you Kathy. I will definatley watch for those treatments as you are correct that they are not approved for Stage IIIB right now. I have my next scans and Derm appointment in December. 

                                  • October 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm
                                  273c
                                  Participant

                                    You want Nivo or Keytruda but right now I am betting they aren't approved for stage IIIB.  I think watch and wait is a good option right now.  Part of what you want to watch for is if Nivo, Keytruda or Ipi gets approved for stage III. 

                                     

                                    Of course also go for your scans as recommended and watch for any skin changes. 

                                    Good Luck,

                                    Kathy

                                    • October 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm
                                    273c
                                    Participant

                                      You want Nivo or Keytruda but right now I am betting they aren't approved for stage IIIB.  I think watch and wait is a good option right now.  Part of what you want to watch for is if Nivo, Keytruda or Ipi gets approved for stage III. 

                                       

                                      Of course also go for your scans as recommended and watch for any skin changes. 

                                      Good Luck,

                                      Kathy

                                      • October 23, 2015 at 8:46 pm
                                      mkirkland
                                      Participant

                                        Hi! I am a stage 3A and I am also at MDA. I meet with my medical oncologist in about two weeks. I hate to hear that that is all they offered you. I was under the impression that there may be some clinical trials available for stage 3 patients. Do u mind me asking which oncologist u are seeing? I also had a CLND at my right groin. 

                                        • October 23, 2015 at 8:46 pm
                                        mkirkland
                                        Participant

                                          Hi! I am a stage 3A and I am also at MDA. I meet with my medical oncologist in about two weeks. I hate to hear that that is all they offered you. I was under the impression that there may be some clinical trials available for stage 3 patients. Do u mind me asking which oncologist u are seeing? I also had a CLND at my right groin. 

                                          • October 23, 2015 at 8:46 pm
                                          mkirkland
                                          Participant

                                            Hi! I am a stage 3A and I am also at MDA. I meet with my medical oncologist in about two weeks. I hate to hear that that is all they offered you. I was under the impression that there may be some clinical trials available for stage 3 patients. Do u mind me asking which oncologist u are seeing? I also had a CLND at my right groin. 

                                            • October 24, 2015 at 12:21 am
                                            JoshF
                                            Participant

                                              I was initially Stage III and my onc(melanoma specialist) advised highly against Interferon and didn't want to even consider biochemo…didn't even offer it truth be told. He also said that I was high risk for recurrence but wouldn't put a percentage on it. I think they just go off of averages because when I got close to 3 years of NED they felt it was coming out of woods and chance of recurrence went way down. Not much later than that I went Stage 4. Just never know. Wish you best!

                                              Josh

                                              • October 24, 2015 at 12:21 am
                                              JoshF
                                              Participant

                                                I was initially Stage III and my onc(melanoma specialist) advised highly against Interferon and didn't want to even consider biochemo…didn't even offer it truth be told. He also said that I was high risk for recurrence but wouldn't put a percentage on it. I think they just go off of averages because when I got close to 3 years of NED they felt it was coming out of woods and chance of recurrence went way down. Not much later than that I went Stage 4. Just never know. Wish you best!

                                                Josh

                                                • October 24, 2015 at 12:21 am
                                                JoshF
                                                Participant

                                                  I was initially Stage III and my onc(melanoma specialist) advised highly against Interferon and didn't want to even consider biochemo…didn't even offer it truth be told. He also said that I was high risk for recurrence but wouldn't put a percentage on it. I think they just go off of averages because when I got close to 3 years of NED they felt it was coming out of woods and chance of recurrence went way down. Not much later than that I went Stage 4. Just never know. Wish you best!

                                                  Josh

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