Indiana82

Many thanks for your replies and encouragement.  Really appreciate it.  Will update after our trip to Mayo.

Many thanks for your replies and encouragement.  Really appreciate it.  Will update after our trip to Mayo.

Many thanks for your replies and encouragement.  Really appreciate it.  Will update after our trip to Mayo.

Decided on no further surgery at this time.  Second PET scan was clean.  Dermatologist found nothing.  Mayo Medical oncologist recommends at the very least PET scans every 3-4 months for 3 years (hopefully our insurance will agree!) and possibly starting Leukine or one of the available clinical trials.  He cites a 50% likely recurrence within 3 years.  Not certain at this point whether to begin Leukine, especially after researching the posts on this site and other data.  Will probably return to Dr. Albertini in Madison as he is much closer and the doc at Mayo recommended him and this option as well.  As we've heard several docs say, this type of medicine is an art and not a science.  It would be a bit more comforting if the opinions we receive would agree on the same treatment plan.  We have even heard differing opinions as to how often PET scans should be done–that too often is too harmful.  

Decided on no further surgery at this time.  Second PET scan was clean.  Dermatologist found nothing.  Mayo Medical oncologist recommends at the very least PET scans every 3-4 months for 3 years (hopefully our insurance will agree!) and possibly starting Leukine or one of the available clinical trials.  He cites a 50% likely recurrence within 3 years.  Not certain at this point whether to begin Leukine, especially after researching the posts on this site and other data.  Will probably return to Dr. Albertini in Madison as he is much closer and the doc at Mayo recommended him and this option as well.  As we've heard several docs say, this type of medicine is an art and not a science.  It would be a bit more comforting if the opinions we receive would agree on the same treatment plan.  We have even heard differing opinions as to how often PET scans should be done–that too often is too harmful.  

Decided on no further surgery at this time.  Second PET scan was clean.  Dermatologist found nothing.  Mayo Medical oncologist recommends at the very least PET scans every 3-4 months for 3 years (hopefully our insurance will agree!) and possibly starting Leukine or one of the available clinical trials.  He cites a 50% likely recurrence within 3 years.  Not certain at this point whether to begin Leukine, especially after researching the posts on this site and other data.  Will probably return to Dr. Albertini in Madison as he is much closer and the doc at Mayo recommended him and this option as well.  As we've heard several docs say, this type of medicine is an art and not a science.  It would be a bit more comforting if the opinions we receive would agree on the same treatment plan.  We have even heard differing opinions as to how often PET scans should be done–that too often is too harmful.