Melanoma Stage Iii On Home Injections

Hi, Yes, I can relate to the excruiating neuropathy pain..worse of right hand, little milder of left hand. I started the home injections of Intron A right after Xmas ( I only could tolerate 13 IV treaments out of the 19). My severe neuropathy of my hands started about the first of Feb. My doctors in Boston, started me on Nerontin 300mg. One cap. twice a day and 2 at bedtime. The Nerontin doesn't help at all. I am going to ask my doctors at Beth Israel in Boston, if there is anything else they can try. Sorry I was not much help, but my heart goes out to you and your dad. Debbiz

Good Afternoon,


My husband is currently on the same therapy with the Interferon. Be careful of course with the side effects. Please continue with the followup testing. Always stay alert for any changes, regardless how small they seem. Keep an open line of communication with your doctors and God bless you through it all. If you don't have to work while on this treatment, I think you will be stronger through the process. Stay away from people with colds, etc. Your immune system is not necessarily strong right now.

My husband was diagnosed August 01, 2005. He did have 3 major surgeries and 1 minor surgery.
He has been taking the Interferon since January 16, 2006. His liver count, and white blood cell count has caused him to stop the treatment twice. His latest Pet/Ct Scan has found new tumors, and we now start biopsies tomorrow. His colon and inner left ear/auditory canal tumor is of major concern.

Be careful, practice healthy living, and build your relationship with God. Pray often and try with everything to keep a positive outlook.

Stay in touch and know that you are in my prayers.




Gail

Oh Gail,
I'm a "night hawk" and I just checked to see if I got any replies. Thank you for replying. You and your husband have a tedious and mentally exhausting day ahead of you. I always feel that waiting for the biopsy reports to come back, is worse mentally than the procedures themselves. Thank you for all your advice and I have been doing everything that you mentioned. Wednesday, I went to my monthly appt. at the Melanoma Clinic in Boston. My wonderful and super-caring nurse pract. made a few changes with the dosage of my injections. I don't want to go on about me, because you and your husband are more important right now with the biopsies. When you are up to it Gail, I would lilke to hear from you again! You are both in my prayers. I will await your reply and not burden you with anything about my "melanoma and surgeries" that I had.
Most Sincerely, Deb

Good Morning,

How are you today? Good to hear from you. All went well with our procedures on Friday and Monday, we still have to wait a few days for the results. But, they think perhaps things are not as bad as originally thought. We are staying prayerful as always.

Now, how are things with you? How are you doing with your injections, was the dosage changed due to any problems with your blood or liver counts? My husband tends to maintain very high liver counts and of course low red and white blood cell counts. We thank God that his CEA was very close to normal range. He has a tumor in the prostate and that biopsy came back benign. Now we must work on the liver nodules. So please stay on top of things with your doctors. Timing is everything.

I pray that all is well with you, and let's please keep in touch.


Have a great day and be blessed
Gail

Gail, I typed you a reply since last week. I am wonhdering if you got it? I'm not sure if I did the last step to send you the msg. Always Debbiz

Hi Gwilli

I have been thinking and praying for you and your husband. I haven't heard anything from you. You last mentioned that liver nodules had to be tested/biopsied. I've been worried, because I haven't heard from you. I pray it wasn't bad news re:liver nodules. Drop me a line when the time is good for you. P.S. I am still wondering if you ever got that "long reply" I meant to send you--I may have replied to the wrong person!! All is about the same with me. The numbness and excrutiating pain in my hands and fingers is still with me. I am down to taking 5 miu's of Intron A. I was told that 5 is the lowest therapeutic dose. I hope I can make it to Dec. and I hope it will all be worth it for "many" years of remission. Thinking and you and your husband are in my prayers. Debbiz PSS. Another good website JUST FOR MELANOMA. Just type MPIP in your "web search bar"---MPIP should show. It also offers a chat room and gives the times.

Hi Gwilli
Sunday 7/9/06 around 3 pm, I typed you a message and I used for the "subject" Gwilli. When I had finished, I went to my regular email and the inbox showed that I had received a response ALREADT from "to Gwilli"??? I thought, that is impossible. There was no response from you or anybody else!! Maybe that happens when you change the "subject". This is where I get confused. I think I am going to like the MPIP web site that I told you about. Maybe it will be easier to track down when someone sends you a reply/message!!?? thinking of you debbiz...check out that "subject"
Gwilli, ok