MikeWI

I was Stage 2c as well.  Diagnosed in May of 2011.  MIne was on the right leg, and had a depth of 9 mm.  I had a wide area incision and did the complete interferon treatment of of high dose/low dose over 12 months.  I am currently NED and my five year period should end in May of 2016.

I would advise you to follow the treatment plan your Dr is recomending since he is the expert.  If your Dr is recomending interferon I would do it.  That 7 percent maybe enough margin for you.  Why take a risk?

Interferon was not pleasant.  In fact it probably was the worst thing I ever did.  Everyone has different side effects, some people have none.  I had practically all them and yet with the side effects I finished!  The thought of my child not growing up with a father was what pushed me to finish.  Given the same choices again, there is no question I would do the interferon again.

Being stage 2c really kinda sucks.  You are in between the really serious cases and the more minor cases so Dr's are not sure what to do with you.  There are very few treatment options for us.  And for me when I was diagnosed there were not many treatment options besides surgery and interferon.  The Braf and Mek inhibitors were just coming to be. With the new discoverys being made I suspect our survival rate is higher than 50 %.  In 2011 that was only 40%.

A note on the percentages.  I about crapped my pants when almost five years ago I learned my five year survival rate was only 40%.  I worried a lot about that number, but here it is 5 years and I am still alive and stil NED.

Good luck and make the best choice for you

MikeWI

I was Stage 2c as well.  Diagnosed in May of 2011.  MIne was on the right leg, and had a depth of 9 mm.  I had a wide area incision and did the complete interferon treatment of of high dose/low dose over 12 months.  I am currently NED and my five year period should end in May of 2016.

I would advise you to follow the treatment plan your Dr is recomending since he is the expert.  If your Dr is recomending interferon I would do it.  That 7 percent maybe enough margin for you.  Why take a risk?

Interferon was not pleasant.  In fact it probably was the worst thing I ever did.  Everyone has different side effects, some people have none.  I had practically all them and yet with the side effects I finished!  The thought of my child not growing up with a father was what pushed me to finish.  Given the same choices again, there is no question I would do the interferon again.

Being stage 2c really kinda sucks.  You are in between the really serious cases and the more minor cases so Dr's are not sure what to do with you.  There are very few treatment options for us.  And for me when I was diagnosed there were not many treatment options besides surgery and interferon.  The Braf and Mek inhibitors were just coming to be. With the new discoverys being made I suspect our survival rate is higher than 50 %.  In 2011 that was only 40%.

A note on the percentages.  I about crapped my pants when almost five years ago I learned my five year survival rate was only 40%.  I worried a lot about that number, but here it is 5 years and I am still alive and stil NED.

Good luck and make the best choice for you

MikeWI

I was Stage 2c as well.  Diagnosed in May of 2011.  MIne was on the right leg, and had a depth of 9 mm.  I had a wide area incision and did the complete interferon treatment of of high dose/low dose over 12 months.  I am currently NED and my five year period should end in May of 2016.

I would advise you to follow the treatment plan your Dr is recomending since he is the expert.  If your Dr is recomending interferon I would do it.  That 7 percent maybe enough margin for you.  Why take a risk?

Interferon was not pleasant.  In fact it probably was the worst thing I ever did.  Everyone has different side effects, some people have none.  I had practically all them and yet with the side effects I finished!  The thought of my child not growing up with a father was what pushed me to finish.  Given the same choices again, there is no question I would do the interferon again.

Being stage 2c really kinda sucks.  You are in between the really serious cases and the more minor cases so Dr's are not sure what to do with you.  There are very few treatment options for us.  And for me when I was diagnosed there were not many treatment options besides surgery and interferon.  The Braf and Mek inhibitors were just coming to be. With the new discoverys being made I suspect our survival rate is higher than 50 %.  In 2011 that was only 40%.

A note on the percentages.  I about crapped my pants when almost five years ago I learned my five year survival rate was only 40%.  I worried a lot about that number, but here it is 5 years and I am still alive and stil NED.

Good luck and make the best choice for you

MikeWI

I did interferon at stage 2c.  It was the most unpleasant thing I have ever done, but I finished the 4 week high dose and the 12 month self injection low dose.

I knew about the inconclusive studies about extended survivablity before starting treatment.  Since it was the only treatment available for my stage at the time I elected to do it.  Like it has been stated in this thread, it was a personal choice for me.  The thought of my son growing up without a father was a deciding factor.  Maybe it helped or maybe it did nothing.  I would rather go down fighting.  Given the information I had at that time, I would still have made the same decision.

MikeWI

stage 2c, currently still NED

I did interferon at stage 2c.  It was the most unpleasant thing I have ever done, but I finished the 4 week high dose and the 12 month self injection low dose.

I knew about the inconclusive studies about extended survivablity before starting treatment.  Since it was the only treatment available for my stage at the time I elected to do it.  Like it has been stated in this thread, it was a personal choice for me.  The thought of my son growing up without a father was a deciding factor.  Maybe it helped or maybe it did nothing.  I would rather go down fighting.  Given the information I had at that time, I would still have made the same decision.

MikeWI

stage 2c, currently still NED

I did interferon at stage 2c.  It was the most unpleasant thing I have ever done, but I finished the 4 week high dose and the 12 month self injection low dose.

I knew about the inconclusive studies about extended survivablity before starting treatment.  Since it was the only treatment available for my stage at the time I elected to do it.  Like it has been stated in this thread, it was a personal choice for me.  The thought of my son growing up without a father was a deciding factor.  Maybe it helped or maybe it did nothing.  I would rather go down fighting.  Given the information I had at that time, I would still have made the same decision.

MikeWI

stage 2c, currently still NED

Alana, 

Two years ago I went through the exact same thing you are now.  I acted the same way as you are now.  I researched my disease online and read the same stats as you did for 5 year survivalibilty.  I was intially staged the same as you, t4b.  My dermatologist stated that I had the largest tumor she had seen in years.  I had the same wait for surgery, I was informed I had this disease on 5/24 and had my surgery on 7/6/2011.  During that time I drove myself nuts by reading what was on the internet about this disease.  THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.  Unplug from the internet for awhile until your tests come in.

My doctor explained to me that the wait for surgery was due to all the tests that need to be done before a final stage is made(you have been prestaged at t4b)  This includes a CT/PET scan and may include a CAT scan and possibly an MRI.  Doctors like to do these scans before surgery to get an idea as to what they are dealing with.  Once those scans have been made and the surgery has been completed you will be given a final stage.  Once the final stage has been made the doctor will start to talk to you about a treatment plan.

here is my information that I hope puts you at ease.  I read the 40 % survivablity stat as well for t4b.  I read that 2 years ago.  After treatment, 2 years later, I am still alive,and my cancer has yet to advance.  I am still NED

MikeWI

Stage 2c currently NED

Alana, 

Two years ago I went through the exact same thing you are now.  I acted the same way as you are now.  I researched my disease online and read the same stats as you did for 5 year survivalibilty.  I was intially staged the same as you, t4b.  My dermatologist stated that I had the largest tumor she had seen in years.  I had the same wait for surgery, I was informed I had this disease on 5/24 and had my surgery on 7/6/2011.  During that time I drove myself nuts by reading what was on the internet about this disease.  THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.  Unplug from the internet for awhile until your tests come in.

My doctor explained to me that the wait for surgery was due to all the tests that need to be done before a final stage is made(you have been prestaged at t4b)  This includes a CT/PET scan and may include a CAT scan and possibly an MRI.  Doctors like to do these scans before surgery to get an idea as to what they are dealing with.  Once those scans have been made and the surgery has been completed you will be given a final stage.  Once the final stage has been made the doctor will start to talk to you about a treatment plan.

here is my information that I hope puts you at ease.  I read the 40 % survivablity stat as well for t4b.  I read that 2 years ago.  After treatment, 2 years later, I am still alive,and my cancer has yet to advance.  I am still NED

MikeWI

Stage 2c currently NED

Alana, 

Two years ago I went through the exact same thing you are now.  I acted the same way as you are now.  I researched my disease online and read the same stats as you did for 5 year survivalibilty.  I was intially staged the same as you, t4b.  My dermatologist stated that I had the largest tumor she had seen in years.  I had the same wait for surgery, I was informed I had this disease on 5/24 and had my surgery on 7/6/2011.  During that time I drove myself nuts by reading what was on the internet about this disease.  THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.  Unplug from the internet for awhile until your tests come in.

My doctor explained to me that the wait for surgery was due to all the tests that need to be done before a final stage is made(you have been prestaged at t4b)  This includes a CT/PET scan and may include a CAT scan and possibly an MRI.  Doctors like to do these scans before surgery to get an idea as to what they are dealing with.  Once those scans have been made and the surgery has been completed you will be given a final stage.  Once the final stage has been made the doctor will start to talk to you about a treatment plan.

here is my information that I hope puts you at ease.  I read the 40 % survivablity stat as well for t4b.  I read that 2 years ago.  After treatment, 2 years later, I am still alive,and my cancer has yet to advance.  I am still NED

MikeWI

Stage 2c currently NED

So sorry to hear this.  Linda was nice and knew a lot about our disease.  I hope she rests in peace and will say a pray for her.

MikeWI

Stage 2c currently NED

So sorry to hear this.  Linda was nice and knew a lot about our disease.  I hope she rests in peace and will say a pray for her.

MikeWI

Stage 2c currently NED

So sorry to hear this.  Linda was nice and knew a lot about our disease.  I hope she rests in peace and will say a pray for her.

MikeWI

Stage 2c currently NED

Deb,

I am stage 2c and did interferon for a year both High and low dose.  It was not pleasant, I had fatigue, nausea, depression and muscle ache.  I would rate my side effects to moderate to severe.  But even with all those side effects I managed to finish.

My tumor was on my lower right leg.  I also had the surgery to remove the tumor and some of my lymph nodes to have them tested.  Both came back free of melanoma

Interferon is a topic of debate in the melanoma community.  Part of my decision to do it was based on a study that indicated that it was more effective when the tumor is ulcerated.  In order to be stage 2c the tumor is ulcerated.  Another reason for was I have a family I need to be there for and simply could not sit and wait for the the disease to take me.  I needed to try something.  Given the same circumstances I faced 18 months ago I would still make the same decision.

The advice here on this web site is sound.  I would recomend a specialist in melanoma, and have heard that Mass general is excellant.

Currently I am NED, and hope to remain such.

Thanks,

MIkeWI, currently NED

Deb,

I am stage 2c and did interferon for a year both High and low dose.  It was not pleasant, I had fatigue, nausea, depression and muscle ache.  I would rate my side effects to moderate to severe.  But even with all those side effects I managed to finish.

My tumor was on my lower right leg.  I also had the surgery to remove the tumor and some of my lymph nodes to have them tested.  Both came back free of melanoma

Interferon is a topic of debate in the melanoma community.  Part of my decision to do it was based on a study that indicated that it was more effective when the tumor is ulcerated.  In order to be stage 2c the tumor is ulcerated.  Another reason for was I have a family I need to be there for and simply could not sit and wait for the the disease to take me.  I needed to try something.  Given the same circumstances I faced 18 months ago I would still make the same decision.

The advice here on this web site is sound.  I would recomend a specialist in melanoma, and have heard that Mass general is excellant.

Currently I am NED, and hope to remain such.

Thanks,

MIkeWI, currently NED

Deb,

I am stage 2c and did interferon for a year both High and low dose.  It was not pleasant, I had fatigue, nausea, depression and muscle ache.  I would rate my side effects to moderate to severe.  But even with all those side effects I managed to finish.

My tumor was on my lower right leg.  I also had the surgery to remove the tumor and some of my lymph nodes to have them tested.  Both came back free of melanoma

Interferon is a topic of debate in the melanoma community.  Part of my decision to do it was based on a study that indicated that it was more effective when the tumor is ulcerated.  In order to be stage 2c the tumor is ulcerated.  Another reason for was I have a family I need to be there for and simply could not sit and wait for the the disease to take me.  I needed to try something.  Given the same circumstances I faced 18 months ago I would still make the same decision.

The advice here on this web site is sound.  I would recomend a specialist in melanoma, and have heard that Mass general is excellant.

Currently I am NED, and hope to remain such.

Thanks,

MIkeWI, currently NED