I'm Looking To Talk To Anyone About Advanced Melanoma

My 40 year old step dad was recently diagnosed with melanoma that has grown into his adrenal gland, lung, and he has four lesions in his brain, he had a large tumor removed from his small intestine also. He will be going for immunotherapy @ Rush Hospital in Chicago next month. I am having a hard time finding information. Any would be appreciated, Thank You

Hi Carrie,
My 41 year old brother was diagnosed in July with this too. It just went into his lungs within the last month. He goes into the Univerisity of Ann Arbor, MI next Monday. They are trying a treatment called Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Its a chemo-biotherapy. I've got some info on it if you want me to fax it to you. The doc did mention that if the cancer had spread to his brain that they would be taking another route, so I'm not sure if this would help your step dad or not. With this, they go in the hospital for 5-6 days of treatment, come home for two weeks, then back in. It goes on for 4 sessions, which is all the body can take I guess. Theres a 50% chance of remission.
Other than that, I'd say ask your side of the doctors if this treatment would work. Its still experimental, so who knows.
They told us that advanced melonoma is a very fast spreading cancer, which you probably already know. So, enjoy the time you have with him and make this a great Christmas as a family. We will be too. God Bless. Shelly in Michigan

I'm actually Sue, not Raymond. But Raymond is my husband who was diagnosed with malignant metastatic melanoma in late June. It is on his liver, adrenal glands and one of his lungs. He was treated with Taxol and Carboplatin which he got once a week. I also give Ray Interferon shots three times a week. He had a PET scan in early Novemeber that showed the chemo is working. The adrenal glands and lungs has reduced in size and both of his doctors (one a melanoma specialist, and the other an oncologist) were extremely thrilled. However, Ray has had tingling in his hands and feet so the doctors decided to switch him to Dacarbazine which he gets three times a week every three weeks. And I'm still giving him the Interferon shots three times and week and Procrit once a week. So you have to hope for the best, have a positive outlook, do a lot of praying, and make the most of the time you have together. I, myself, am a leukemia survivor. Diagnosed in 1981, I was given two months to live if the doctors didn't get me into remission...I'm here to talk about it over twenty years later! Best wishes.

Hi. I would also like to know if anyone is fimiliar with desmoplastic melanoma. My 26 year old son just had a cancerous tumor of this kind removed. He is still undergoing tests to see if it has spread anywhere else. We are just praying that it hasn't, of course. But I've never heard of desmoplastic. I'd appreciate any information anyone can give me. Thanks.

Dear Shelly,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my message, sorry to hear about your brother. Dan will be starting the Interleukin-2 in January @ Rush Hospital in Chicago, please let me know how your brother does with this. They told us that with this Dan will need to be in the intensive care unit due to the possible side effects. I truly appreciate you taking the time. Best Wishes and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

My husband has also been battling advanced melanoma. We have been helped tremendously through the John Wayne Cancer institute in Los Angeles. He operated on my husband and saved his life. Also on the internet, there are many good sources for Cancer trials. Enter "looking for Melanoma Cancer Trials" in your browser, and you will find many helpful websites.

Let me know if we can be of further help.

God bless you,
Cathi D.

Cathi,

Hi, I don't know how to start this. I pray your husband is doing well. My dad has melanoma on his lungs and under his right arm. He is currently on a clinical study call Paclitaxel/Carboplatin with Sorefenib. He had 2 treatments and is now having a really bad side effect. He cannot walk and cannot use his hands. We are at a lose as to what to do. The doctor I don't think knows either. Is there any advice you can give me. We don't know what to do because he has been of the chemo for 4 weeks now and it only seems to get worst. Please help if you can.
Thank You
Cory

Dear Cory- I am so sorry to hear about your father- my husband, Hans, passed away, May 2, 2003. I wish I knew how to direct you, other than just going online and checking the medicatoin through research on the internet- that is what I did. I felt that if nothing else, I could inform myself, and ask questions of the doctors from what I learned. This is a horrible disease, and I feel so bad that you are going through this, and for your dad. I shall keep you in my prayers, as that is also what got us thorugh the hard times- our faith in Jesus Christ- I was able to witness my husband as he was passing into the arms of Jesus, and that was an experience, which will forever sustain me, until we meet again, in Heaven. God bless you for trying to help your father, and if I can be of any help, please email me: --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ----

God bless,
Cathi Drost

Carrie, do you mind if we aked you did your father lose a lot of weight due to the illness and aenemic, not eating and no energy?
Thanks,
Cathy

Sue, can you please tell me what the infernon and procrit is? Relative has had first chem session (Daz - same as the chemo you are on). Are you having much sickness and side effects with this? We are experience weight loss, lack of appetite and no energy. From Ireland and desperate for help.
Thanks, Cathy