On 1/8/2007 Margemma wrote:
I have a very close friend with metastatic melanoma. the malignant mole was removed 5 years ago. the disease subsequently entered the lymph system and he had several nodes removed. Then he had lesions appear in his lungs and a portion of the lung was removed. He has had signs of more lesions on his pelvis and sternum. He recently had brain surgery to remove two large lesions in his brain. there are several other smaller tumors still in the brain and he is undergoing radiation treatment at present. There is the possibility that he has a large mass in his lungs but there has not be a scan done of this area for a few months. He has undergone a full year of interferon, and when that didn't work he has had other alternative chemo treatments. Is there any hope out there for alternative treatments that can do something to stem the spread and growth of these tumors.
Hi There! I lost my 35 year old brother to Metastatic melanoma exactly 1 year ago. Your friend is a fighter and it sounds like he has been through a lot. Are they doing anything to address the brain tumors? My brother didn't have lung scans done as frequently as we thought he should have. In 2 months his lungs had virtually filled with tumors. He had a spinal cord and bone cancer which he had surgery on less than 30 days before he passed away. The surgery turned out to be mostly palative, and it actually caused the CA to spread to the lungs extremely rapidly. This too, all started with one mole that he waited WAY too long to have checked.
When I read your message, my heart went out to your friend. Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with alternative treatments for Melanoma. He is lucky to have a good friend like you. Please keep fighting and stay positive.
AE