malynchi

For me I think the best option at this point for patients to try and combine therapies.  This wait and see attitude is literally getting us killed.  I am lobbying for TACE treatement with DEBIR along with Yervoy concurrently.  The thought is that if you can poison the tumor directly (not systemically) it will be much easier for the yervoy to pick off the melanoma.  Cancer is very adaptive, so I think the trick is trying different things at once.  

The Drug Companies and Drs get paid no matter what happens to us.  We are in a high risk situation and need to take matters into our own hands. Now there is the argument that therapies could interfere with one another.  That's possible, but I for one don't want to go the grave knowing that I didn't do everything I could.

I feel as if the general opinion out there is that we are all going to die and the drs. job is to just try and improve Quality of Life while we wait for the inevitable.  This can not be our thinking.  We have to look at all of the options out there and be willing to take risks.  Its our lives at stake.

I wish you all the best in your treatment options.  Please do your homework.  Arm yourself with knowledge and do whatever you feel is necessary to fight this thing so when the time does come you know you did everything you possibly could.

Here are examples of things I have done to speed up treatment/testing.

I needed to have the Genetic testing performed to see if I am a candidate for Zelboraf.  I was told that it would take two weeks.  The test it self only takes 12 hours or so to perform so 2 weeks is unacceptable.  I researched the labs and found one that could perform in 3-5 days.  I called the original lab and let them know the situation and the committed to expediting results in less than 5 days. 

Also, my insurance company told me it would take 15 days to approve yervoy treatment.  I contacted my employer because our contract allows my company to request an expedited review and the yervoy was approved in 24 hours and mailed the next day. 

There are more resources out there than you know and quite possibly more levers we can pull when we are in the know.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I wish you all the happiness and joy possible.

Take care, God Bless and Livestrong

M

For me I think the best option at this point for patients to try and combine therapies.  This wait and see attitude is literally getting us killed.  I am lobbying for TACE treatement with DEBIR along with Yervoy concurrently.  The thought is that if you can poison the tumor directly (not systemically) it will be much easier for the yervoy to pick off the melanoma.  Cancer is very adaptive, so I think the trick is trying different things at once.  

The Drug Companies and Drs get paid no matter what happens to us.  We are in a high risk situation and need to take matters into our own hands. Now there is the argument that therapies could interfere with one another.  That's possible, but I for one don't want to go the grave knowing that I didn't do everything I could.

I feel as if the general opinion out there is that we are all going to die and the drs. job is to just try and improve Quality of Life while we wait for the inevitable.  This can not be our thinking.  We have to look at all of the options out there and be willing to take risks.  Its our lives at stake.

I wish you all the best in your treatment options.  Please do your homework.  Arm yourself with knowledge and do whatever you feel is necessary to fight this thing so when the time does come you know you did everything you possibly could.

Here are examples of things I have done to speed up treatment/testing.

I needed to have the Genetic testing performed to see if I am a candidate for Zelboraf.  I was told that it would take two weeks.  The test it self only takes 12 hours or so to perform so 2 weeks is unacceptable.  I researched the labs and found one that could perform in 3-5 days.  I called the original lab and let them know the situation and the committed to expediting results in less than 5 days. 

Also, my insurance company told me it would take 15 days to approve yervoy treatment.  I contacted my employer because our contract allows my company to request an expedited review and the yervoy was approved in 24 hours and mailed the next day. 

There are more resources out there than you know and quite possibly more levers we can pull when we are in the know.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I wish you all the happiness and joy possible.

Take care, God Bless and Livestrong

M

For me I think the best option at this point for patients to try and combine therapies.  This wait and see attitude is literally getting us killed.  I am lobbying for TACE treatement with DEBIR along with Yervoy concurrently.  The thought is that if you can poison the tumor directly (not systemically) it will be much easier for the yervoy to pick off the melanoma.  Cancer is very adaptive, so I think the trick is trying different things at once.  

The Drug Companies and Drs get paid no matter what happens to us.  We are in a high risk situation and need to take matters into our own hands. Now there is the argument that therapies could interfere with one another.  That's possible, but I for one don't want to go the grave knowing that I didn't do everything I could.

I feel as if the general opinion out there is that we are all going to die and the drs. job is to just try and improve Quality of Life while we wait for the inevitable.  This can not be our thinking.  We have to look at all of the options out there and be willing to take risks.  Its our lives at stake.

I wish you all the best in your treatment options.  Please do your homework.  Arm yourself with knowledge and do whatever you feel is necessary to fight this thing so when the time does come you know you did everything you possibly could.

Here are examples of things I have done to speed up treatment/testing.

I needed to have the Genetic testing performed to see if I am a candidate for Zelboraf.  I was told that it would take two weeks.  The test it self only takes 12 hours or so to perform so 2 weeks is unacceptable.  I researched the labs and found one that could perform in 3-5 days.  I called the original lab and let them know the situation and the committed to expediting results in less than 5 days. 

Also, my insurance company told me it would take 15 days to approve yervoy treatment.  I contacted my employer because our contract allows my company to request an expedited review and the yervoy was approved in 24 hours and mailed the next day. 

There are more resources out there than you know and quite possibly more levers we can pull when we are in the know.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I wish you all the happiness and joy possible.

Take care, God Bless and Livestrong

M