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Chris in Minnesota
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Chris in Minnesota

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      • December 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm
      Chris in Minnesota
      Participant

        I had chemo with 3 drugs.  Avastin, carboplatin, and abraxane.   I had a 9 cm tumor in my armpit.  It was involving a main vessel/artery so they needed to shrink the tumor in order to remove it.  After 3 months of chemo, the tumor shrunk dramatically.  When I went in for surgery, the pathology report showed no more live cancer cells (dead tumor).  I was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.   The Avastin and the Abraxane were not covered by insurance as they are not FDA approved for melanoma so you have to look into that.  Maybe other insurance companies would cover them.  Bottom line is the chemo recipe worked better than what even the doctors were expecting.   The surgery was in August of this year (2013).  I just had my first 3 month scan and am now NED.  Thank God for the doctors at the Mayo Clinic

         

        Good luck

        Chris

        • December 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm
        Chris in Minnesota
        Participant

          I had chemo with 3 drugs.  Avastin, carboplatin, and abraxane.   I had a 9 cm tumor in my armpit.  It was involving a main vessel/artery so they needed to shrink the tumor in order to remove it.  After 3 months of chemo, the tumor shrunk dramatically.  When I went in for surgery, the pathology report showed no more live cancer cells (dead tumor).  I was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.   The Avastin and the Abraxane were not covered by insurance as they are not FDA approved for melanoma so you have to look into that.  Maybe other insurance companies would cover them.  Bottom line is the chemo recipe worked better than what even the doctors were expecting.   The surgery was in August of this year (2013).  I just had my first 3 month scan and am now NED.  Thank God for the doctors at the Mayo Clinic

           

          Good luck

          Chris

          • December 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm
          Chris in Minnesota
          Participant

            I had chemo with 3 drugs.  Avastin, carboplatin, and abraxane.   I had a 9 cm tumor in my armpit.  It was involving a main vessel/artery so they needed to shrink the tumor in order to remove it.  After 3 months of chemo, the tumor shrunk dramatically.  When I went in for surgery, the pathology report showed no more live cancer cells (dead tumor).  I was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.   The Avastin and the Abraxane were not covered by insurance as they are not FDA approved for melanoma so you have to look into that.  Maybe other insurance companies would cover them.  Bottom line is the chemo recipe worked better than what even the doctors were expecting.   The surgery was in August of this year (2013).  I just had my first 3 month scan and am now NED.  Thank God for the doctors at the Mayo Clinic

             

            Good luck

            Chris

            • December 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm
            Chris in Minnesota
            Participant

              I had chemo with 3 drugs.  Avastin, carboplatin, and abraxane.   I had a 9 cm tumor in my armpit.  It was involving a main vessel/artery so they needed to shrink the tumor in order to remove it.  After 3 months of chemo, the tumor shrunk dramatically.  When I went in for surgery, the pathology report showed no more live cancer cells (dead tumor).  I was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.   The Avastin and the Abraxane were not covered by insurance as they are not FDA approved for melanoma so you have to look into that.  Maybe other insurance companies would cover them.  Bottom line is the chemo recipe worked better than what even the doctors were expecting.   The surgery was in August of this year (2013).  I just had my first 3 month scan and am now NED.  Thank God for the doctors at the Mayo Clinic

               

              Good luck

              Chris

              • December 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm
              Chris in Minnesota
              Participant

                I had chemo with 3 drugs.  Avastin, carboplatin, and abraxane.   I had a 9 cm tumor in my armpit.  It was involving a main vessel/artery so they needed to shrink the tumor in order to remove it.  After 3 months of chemo, the tumor shrunk dramatically.  When I went in for surgery, the pathology report showed no more live cancer cells (dead tumor).  I was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.   The Avastin and the Abraxane were not covered by insurance as they are not FDA approved for melanoma so you have to look into that.  Maybe other insurance companies would cover them.  Bottom line is the chemo recipe worked better than what even the doctors were expecting.   The surgery was in August of this year (2013).  I just had my first 3 month scan and am now NED.  Thank God for the doctors at the Mayo Clinic

                 

                Good luck

                Chris

                • December 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm
                Chris in Minnesota
                Participant

                  I had chemo with 3 drugs.  Avastin, carboplatin, and abraxane.   I had a 9 cm tumor in my armpit.  It was involving a main vessel/artery so they needed to shrink the tumor in order to remove it.  After 3 months of chemo, the tumor shrunk dramatically.  When I went in for surgery, the pathology report showed no more live cancer cells (dead tumor).  I was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.   The Avastin and the Abraxane were not covered by insurance as they are not FDA approved for melanoma so you have to look into that.  Maybe other insurance companies would cover them.  Bottom line is the chemo recipe worked better than what even the doctors were expecting.   The surgery was in August of this year (2013).  I just had my first 3 month scan and am now NED.  Thank God for the doctors at the Mayo Clinic

                   

                  Good luck

                  Chris

                  • April 15, 2015 at 4:04 am
                  Chris in Minnesota
                  Participant

                    My oncologist is Dr Block.  He is a brilliant young doctor.  I met him and Dr Markovich together as a 3rd opionon after seeing a couple melanoma oncologists in the twin cities.  The doctors at the Mayo clinic won me over hands down and have done a wonderful job caring for me

                    Good luck with your journey

                    • April 15, 2015 at 4:04 am
                    Chris in Minnesota
                    Participant

                      My oncologist is Dr Block.  He is a brilliant young doctor.  I met him and Dr Markovich together as a 3rd opionon after seeing a couple melanoma oncologists in the twin cities.  The doctors at the Mayo clinic won me over hands down and have done a wonderful job caring for me

                      Good luck with your journey

                      • April 15, 2015 at 4:04 am
                      Chris in Minnesota
                      Participant

                        My oncologist is Dr Block.  He is a brilliant young doctor.  I met him and Dr Markovich together as a 3rd opionon after seeing a couple melanoma oncologists in the twin cities.  The doctors at the Mayo clinic won me over hands down and have done a wonderful job caring for me

                        Good luck with your journey

                        • April 7, 2015 at 2:52 am
                        Chris in Minnesota
                        Participant

                          Sorry.  I've been on GM-CSF since Oct 2013.  They did test a biopsy before I started chemo and I am BRAF negative.  I am being seen by the Mayo Clinic by a Melanoma Oncologist

                          • April 7, 2015 at 2:52 am
                          Chris in Minnesota
                          Participant

                            Sorry.  I've been on GM-CSF since Oct 2013.  They did test a biopsy before I started chemo and I am BRAF negative.  I am being seen by the Mayo Clinic by a Melanoma Oncologist

                            • April 7, 2015 at 2:52 am
                            Chris in Minnesota
                            Participant

                              Sorry.  I've been on GM-CSF since Oct 2013.  They did test a biopsy before I started chemo and I am BRAF negative.  I am being seen by the Mayo Clinic by a Melanoma Oncologist

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