leslieann79

Are you BRAF positive? My doctor and the new doctor taking his place told me that going off my BRAF inhibitors was not a good idea. It could cause the melanoma to become more active (darn that BRAF gene!!). I currently take both inhibitors and immunitheraphy drugs. I will not state which ones because they have yet to be approved together. You may want to speak to your doctor about it. Not all inhibitors and immunitheraphy drugs have been tested together, however, you will find that similar inhibitors and immunitherapy drugs have been tested and approoved leaving it up to you and your doc as to whether or not you want to chance a similar combo. I'm chancing the combination and have had no issues to date.

I did get off my inhibitors for a while when receiving bio-chemotherapy. The scan results showed more activity in my largest tumor.

If you do choose to keep off the inhibitor and stay on immunitheraphy only, check out your next set of scans and see what the activity level is in your tumors.

Are you BRAF positive? My doctor and the new doctor taking his place told me that going off my BRAF inhibitors was not a good idea. It could cause the melanoma to become more active (darn that BRAF gene!!). I currently take both inhibitors and immunitheraphy drugs. I will not state which ones because they have yet to be approved together. You may want to speak to your doctor about it. Not all inhibitors and immunitheraphy drugs have been tested together, however, you will find that similar inhibitors and immunitherapy drugs have been tested and approoved leaving it up to you and your doc as to whether or not you want to chance a similar combo. I'm chancing the combination and have had no issues to date.

I did get off my inhibitors for a while when receiving bio-chemotherapy. The scan results showed more activity in my largest tumor.

If you do choose to keep off the inhibitor and stay on immunitheraphy only, check out your next set of scans and see what the activity level is in your tumors.

Are you BRAF positive? My doctor and the new doctor taking his place told me that going off my BRAF inhibitors was not a good idea. It could cause the melanoma to become more active (darn that BRAF gene!!). I currently take both inhibitors and immunitheraphy drugs. I will not state which ones because they have yet to be approved together. You may want to speak to your doctor about it. Not all inhibitors and immunitheraphy drugs have been tested together, however, you will find that similar inhibitors and immunitherapy drugs have been tested and approoved leaving it up to you and your doc as to whether or not you want to chance a similar combo. I'm chancing the combination and have had no issues to date.

I did get off my inhibitors for a while when receiving bio-chemotherapy. The scan results showed more activity in my largest tumor.

If you do choose to keep off the inhibitor and stay on immunitheraphy only, check out your next set of scans and see what the activity level is in your tumors.

That is interesting! I'm excited to see how far doctors are coming with treatment for later stage melanoma. I know I'll always have to take something to either keep the tumors from growing or to keep new ones from arriving. They are right, drugs eventually stop working as good. I've experienced that a few times. This BRAF gene is a pain in the you know what to keep under control!

That is interesting! I'm excited to see how far doctors are coming with treatment for later stage melanoma. I know I'll always have to take something to either keep the tumors from growing or to keep new ones from arriving. They are right, drugs eventually stop working as good. I've experienced that a few times. This BRAF gene is a pain in the you know what to keep under control!

That is interesting! I'm excited to see how far doctors are coming with treatment for later stage melanoma. I know I'll always have to take something to either keep the tumors from growing or to keep new ones from arriving. They are right, drugs eventually stop working as good. I've experienced that a few times. This BRAF gene is a pain in the you know what to keep under control!

Italley,

As far as technology goes, there's been quite a few breakthroughs and drugs the past few years in regards to melanoma and the research keeps going! It's nice to know that this is not some rare cancer that no one knows about. Some people's bodies just won't work with certain drugs or the cancer is just too far advanced for anything to work. Luckily you are at an early stage and my best advise is not to worry past the stage you are at. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I'm not saying "don't worry" because that's a foolish thing to say to a cancer patient, however, don't worry beyond your means and don't get trapped in worry world. You'll miss out on today. 

My kids are informed of what is going on and what may happen. We love taking "selfies" and spending quality time together. It makes them feel like everything is still okay but when I have my bad days (ie side effects kick in) they understand.  It took a while, but I live my life for today and not tomorrow in regards to my cancer. Not everyone can get there, however, it really can happen, I promise. I'm not scared anymore and it feels good.  I have hope that I will beat this or at least not pass from it anytime soon. I really hope you can find this place, or at the very least, know that it does exist and it gives you hope. All my best to you and your family.

Italley,

As far as technology goes, there's been quite a few breakthroughs and drugs the past few years in regards to melanoma and the research keeps going! It's nice to know that this is not some rare cancer that no one knows about. Some people's bodies just won't work with certain drugs or the cancer is just too far advanced for anything to work. Luckily you are at an early stage and my best advise is not to worry past the stage you are at. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I'm not saying "don't worry" because that's a foolish thing to say to a cancer patient, however, don't worry beyond your means and don't get trapped in worry world. You'll miss out on today. 

My kids are informed of what is going on and what may happen. We love taking "selfies" and spending quality time together. It makes them feel like everything is still okay but when I have my bad days (ie side effects kick in) they understand.  It took a while, but I live my life for today and not tomorrow in regards to my cancer. Not everyone can get there, however, it really can happen, I promise. I'm not scared anymore and it feels good.  I have hope that I will beat this or at least not pass from it anytime soon. I really hope you can find this place, or at the very least, know that it does exist and it gives you hope. All my best to you and your family.

Italley,

As far as technology goes, there's been quite a few breakthroughs and drugs the past few years in regards to melanoma and the research keeps going! It's nice to know that this is not some rare cancer that no one knows about. Some people's bodies just won't work with certain drugs or the cancer is just too far advanced for anything to work. Luckily you are at an early stage and my best advise is not to worry past the stage you are at. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I'm not saying "don't worry" because that's a foolish thing to say to a cancer patient, however, don't worry beyond your means and don't get trapped in worry world. You'll miss out on today. 

My kids are informed of what is going on and what may happen. We love taking "selfies" and spending quality time together. It makes them feel like everything is still okay but when I have my bad days (ie side effects kick in) they understand.  It took a while, but I live my life for today and not tomorrow in regards to my cancer. Not everyone can get there, however, it really can happen, I promise. I'm not scared anymore and it feels good.  I have hope that I will beat this or at least not pass from it anytime soon. I really hope you can find this place, or at the very least, know that it does exist and it gives you hope. All my best to you and your family.