Subject: Stage IV
Date: 04/16/2007
My husband was just diagnosed with stage IV melanoma. Two years ago he was a Stage III patient and he underwent 1 year of interferon. Now they have discovered it metastized to his lung. He just started a clinical trial of Temador where he takes a pill once a day, but that doesnt seem very aggressive to me. What should we be doing at this point. What questions should we have? What other forms of treatment are there? What are his chances that he will beat this thing? From what I have read on the internet stage IV can not be cured.....I really dont want to believe that, but I also dont want to be blindsided. If anyone can provide me with some information, or hope, I would be glad to hear it. My heart just feels like it is going to break. We were just going to start having kids, and now from what I am reading everywhere, that wont be happening. Supposably he is at one of the best hospitals (MD ANderson), but I am questioning that now too. Apparently they found something on his CT scan 6 months ago, but were "unsure" of what it was, so waited 6 months to scan him again. They only told us this now. I wish they had told us this 6 months ago...... I would have insisted they scan him again until they knew definitively what they were seeing. Please, any help would be so appreciated. He is my sweetheart..... and I want to do whatever I can to help him, but I just dont know what to think right now.
Melanomasucks Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/16/2007
my wife was rescently diagnoised stage IV as well. I found the people at mpip.org message board...to be very educated and supportive. Please come on over there. I am sorry you are haveing to deal with this---
Dean in Georgia Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/17/2007
Temador is a good chemo theapry. Did MD Anderson initially start your husband on Interferon, or was that administered elsewhere.
Gopher Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/17/2007
On 4/17/2007 Dean in Georgia wrote: Temador is a good chemo theapry. Did MD Anderson initially start your husband on Interferon, or was that administered elsewhere.
Yes, MD Anderson has been his hospital from the get go. They gave him a full year of Interferon, and he ended that in July of 2006. Can you tell me anything more about Temador, or stage IV Melanoma? Thanks for responding by the way.
Oncrx Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/17/2007
On 4/16/2007 Gopher wrote:
My husband was just diagnosed with stage IV melanoma. Two years ago he was a Stage III patient and he underwent 1 year of interferon. Now they have discovered it metastized to his lung. He just started a clinical trial of Temador where he takes a pill once a day, but that doesnt seem very aggressive to me. What should we be doing at this point. What questions should we have? What other forms of treatment are there? What are his chances that he will beat this thing? From what I have read on the internet stage IV can not be cured.....I really dont want to believe that, but I also dont want to be blindsided. If anyone can provide me with some information, or hope, I would be glad to hear it. My heart just feels like it is going to break. We were just going to start having kids, and now from what I am reading everywhere, that wont be happening. Supposably he is at one of the best hospitals (MD ANderson), but I am questioning that now too. Apparently they found something on his CT scan 6 months ago, but were "unsure" of what it was, so waited 6 months to scan him again. They only told us this now. I wish they had told us this 6 months ago...... I would have insisted they scan him again until they knew definitively what they were seeing. Please, any help would be so appreciated. He is my sweetheart..... and I want to do whatever I can to help him, but I just dont know what to think right now.
what about surgery for his lung met? Is that possible? Dont worry about Temodar, its been a pretty good drug in MM and has the advantages of daily, PO administration. In addition, it does cross the blood/brain barrier. Combination chemo with dacarbazine combos are used. Interleukin is also used and melanoma vaccines have been in the news recently. Clinical trials should always be considered in stage 4, which it sounds like you have done. Check clinicaltrials.gov . So, there is a lot going on in the area of innovative MM treatment. However, progress is slow and survival has changed very little for this disease. You are correct in saying this is a disease which so far, has no cure.
Dean in Georgia Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/18/2007
My son had 3 small spots appear in his brain, after 2 rounds of Temador they disappeared. I believe these were caught early on to disappear. You are at the best place you can be. We were there under the care of Dr Camacho.
Roxannehoo Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/22/2007
On 4/16/2007 Gopher wrote:
My husband was just diagnosed with stage IV melanoma. Two years ago he was a Stage III patient and he underwent 1 year of interferon. Now they have discovered it metastized to his lung. He just started a clinical trial of Temador where he takes a pill once a day, but that doesnt seem very aggressive to me. What should we be doing at this point. What questions should we have? What other forms of treatment are there? What are his chances that he will beat this thing? From what I have read on the internet stage IV can not be cured.....I really dont want to believe that, but I also dont want to be blindsided. If anyone can provide me with some information, or hope, I would be glad to hear it. My heart just feels like it is going to break. We were just going to start having kids, and now from what I am reading everywhere, that wont be happening. Supposably he is at one of the best hospitals (MD ANderson), but I am questioning that now too. Apparently they found something on his CT scan 6 months ago, but were "unsure" of what it was, so waited 6 months to scan him again. They only told us this now. I wish they had told us this 6 months ago...... I would have insisted they scan him again until they knew definitively what they were seeing. Please, any help would be so appreciated. He is my sweetheart..... and I want to do whatever I can to help him, but I just dont know what to think right now.
Dancingleaf Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/22/2007
My name is Debi, and my husband was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma, which has metastisized to both of his lungs. I am in the same boat as you are and my heart goes out to you. My husband is my soul mate, and the love of my life. We are trying herbal treatment, as the bio-chemotherapy that was recommended was pretty harsh and frightening... several drugs were recommended which would have caused a total assualt of his body in order to let his immune system "kick in" and fight the cancer. We got a referral to a man named Ralph Schall of Casper WV, who sent us "Vitae Elixxir"... there are several testimonials available on this website as well as the Vitae website. We are desperate and trying anything that is available, however, are a little reserved in treating it with more than one form of herbal therapy, since we do not want any treatment to interfere with another. The therapy consists of foot and chest soaks, as well as three oral preparations... they don't taste very good, and make him nauseated at times. Mr. Schall told us that his symptoms would get worse before better, and he has proven that theory right so far. His pain has increased, as well as his fatigue. We are fearful that we have reached a stage in the cancer progression to where this formula may not work, but we are praying for the best, and preparing for the worst. We are living on a day to day basis, since the conventional doctors gave him 2 to 6 months to live without conventional treatment. I pray for you and your family, and wonder how things are progressing for you. My e mail address is: --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---- ... I hope to hear from you soon. All my best, Debi
Dancingleaf Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/22/2007
Hello again, this is Debi... I apologize that I have given you the incorrect spelling of the name of the person who provides us with --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, phone number removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---- Let me know what you think after you talk to him. Sincerely, Debi
Roxannehoo Message: RE: Stage IV
Subject: RE: Stage IV
Date: 04/23/2007
On 4/22/2007 Roxannehoo wrote:On 4/16/2007 Gopher wrote:
My husband was just diagnosed with stage IV melanoma. Two years ago he was a Stage III patient and he underwent 1 year of interferon. Now they have discovered it metastized to his lung. He just started a clinical trial of Temador where he takes a pill once a day, but that doesnt seem very aggressive to me. What should we be doing at this point. What questions should we have? What other forms of treatment are there? What are his chances that he will beat this thing? From what I have read on the internet stage IV can not be cured.....I really dont want to believe that, but I also dont want to be blindsided. If anyone can provide me with some information, or hope, I would be glad to hear it. My heart just feels like it is going to break. We were just going to start having kids, and now from what I am reading everywhere, that wont be happening. Supposably he is at one of the best hospitals (MD ANderson), but I am questioning that now too. Apparently they found something on his CT scan 6 months ago, but were "unsure" of what it was, so waited 6 months to scan him again. They only told us this now. I wish they had told us this 6 months ago...... I would have insisted they scan him again until they knew definitively what they were seeing. Please, any help would be so appreciated. He is my sweetheart..... and I want to do whatever I can to help him, but I just dont know what to think right now.
My husband was diagnosed on October 26, 2006 with stage IV melanoma. They found it during routine gall bladder surgery. He was not lucky enough to have found it at a curable stage. He did not have a dermatologist with brains enough to send each burned off place to diagnostics. We used to circle spots on his body with a marker or ink. The doctor offensive word removed ed about it. (She needs to loose her license.) I think she gave him a death sentence. He always used sunscreen, long sleeves and a hat. On the boat he was under a bimini top. December 12, 2006 an aggressive surgeon at Emory took cancer out of his lungs with just three small incisions. Dr. Daniel Miller at Emory University in Atlanta. (He deserves a grant. He the closest thing I have seen to a curing cancer,!) No need for Interfuron or interlukin. Cancer free. 1 month and five days later the tumors were rampant. He had sterostatic brain surgery at Moffitt, FL, USF March 2, 2007. It took an old girl friend of his, an eye surgeon, to even get him on Temador. Which to my knowledge is typically acceptable standard treatment. The brain tumor took him out of the trials.
Dr. Daniel Miller at Emory taught the boys at Sloan Keller. Sloan Keller told us to stay at Moffitt. My husband is a pilot so getting any where doesn't matter. Screw the cost. It doesn't cost us any thing.Debt doesn't matter when your life is on the line. Dr. Miller is the closest thing to a cure I know of. He is a cardio thoracic surgeon. We had to be reffered by Dr. Lawson, an oncologist at Emory.
My daddy died of pancreactic cancer. I lost my step father to lung cancer. I lost my aunt to breast cancer. I have two friends who lost their husbands to melanoma. I survived cervical cancer. There is hope out there. Keep seeing different doctors,
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