My Brother Has Melanoma

We found out on Easter that my brother has Melanoma.Since then he has had 24 lymph nodes taken out from under his arm and back.14 had cancer cells in them.He has been to Birmingham alabama several times now and still no treatment.I am afraid time is ticking away.He was sent to another doctor yesterday and was told chemo was a waste of time to him.They want him to go infor a experimental treatment for 9 weeks.We are so unsure of what we need to do to help him.The doctor told his wife he had a 90 percent change its going to come back somewhere else and may all ready be there . I am so scared for him.I am just so confused why are they helping him?

the only treatment for node + melanoma after surgically removing the site and the + nodes is to have interferon or a clinical trial. Interferon has many side effects and a questionable impact on survival. So it sounds like they chose the clinical trial. Get frequent checkups that include chest xrays and MRI to catch metastatic disease early.

Don't go with interferon, a waste of time
Go to a large medical center such as md anderson cancer center in houston. With melanoma you will need interluken treatments. I know my son initially went on interferon a waste, do not delay go immediatley, do not wait on other options time is not there.

He doesn,t know yet what kind of treatment he is going to be doing .Seems like to me nothing because he has had this Melanoma that we know of since Easter.Had the nodes removed and things was healing nicely.But now where he had a mole removed he has a quarter size hole the Doctor said its healing from the inside out but I have to wonder cause its draining alot and he hurts in his back.I feel in my heart he's not doing well but hiding it from us.I wish they would go ahead an do something time is ticking away .I just feel it.Why is it when someone has Cancer they don,t take them on and start treatment I just don,t understand.

Dean in Georgia is RIGHT GO TO MD ANDERSON, Houston, Tx...My daughter Dec 05, had 60 lymph nodes removed, underarm and and neck/chest area, 22 with disease. Jan 06 Radiation at MD Anderson, Feb 22, found two more tumors, one beside spleen other one next to liver...she just completed 4 cycles of BioChemo Theraphy which is a treatment formulated by MD Anderson Melanoma and Skin Center Docs....she recieved CT scans two weeks ago tumors are GONE......
PLEASE GO TO MD ANDERSON.

Kay,

My father has mucosal melanoma, which is a rare and extremely aggressive form of melanoma. He was diagnosed one year ago. He had surgery and radiation last summer, and is just now receiving chemotherapy. This is after many, many delays by doctors. He went to MD Anderson and it took them 3 weeks to call him back with his test results!! I, like you, do not understand why doctors drag their feet with this and act as if time doesn't matter. I'm very frustrated. His cancer is spreading -- each time he is tested they find more spots. Please tell your brother to follow-up with his doctors -- don't wait for them to contact him back...he needs to be aggressive. From our experience, the doctors certainly are not aggressive.

Spider_Lilly....I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on the back side of my lower right calf May 2005. The two lymph nodes removed during the wide excision of melanoma, came back positive for Microscopic metastasis. Therefore, all the remaining lymph nodes in my right groin were removed, and just one of them showed microscopic mets. My Stage is Stage IIIB, this means 2 or more lymph nodes of the groin were positive. I read the other replies and agree with their advice. Find the best melanoma/oncology clinic and top notch oncologist and oncology surgeon. I had many trips to Boston MA, Beth Israel Hospital. One hour and a half one way.....it WAS and IS still worth it!! It is late and I must get to bed. I will be in touch very soon. Sincerely DebBiz