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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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 Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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I have read so much on this forum. I have melanoma and have surgery in the morning to start the process.
46 male good health, knowledge of melanoma was none at time of discovery.
I pray for everyone here and hope they all recover. I have a 6 year old son that I am not ready to leave yet. No one deserves this .....
Thanks to you all for being there for all of us.
I will know more next week on what I am going to go thru. I told he could take the arm if it will help.
God bless everyone. I am going to fight until the last breath leaves my body.
Jim |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3775
Location: Tennessee
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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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Surgery seemed to go well, the doctor was gone by the time I woke up. I haven't heard anything yet, and its driving me crazy. Sometimes I think no news is good news.
I am feeling good, a little sore, but in great spirits thanks to all the support I am receiving from friends and strangers.
Have a appointment tomorrow to remove the stiches, should know a little more then.
Jim |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3775
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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I am glad to hear that your surgery went well. Yes, waiting to hear the results can drive a person crazy. I too tend to think that no news is good news... at least in an emergency situation I am sure that your medical team would contact you ASAP.
Good luck at your doctor's appointment.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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Got the news today and it was great. They got the spot within the margins. The test on the lymph nodes showed 9 cells so they want to remove a few more and possible chemo. Doctor said it was the best possible situation, and I have to agree.
I was expecting alot worse for the amount of time I have had this on my arm, it was the size of a nickel. |
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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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I know I have stage IV melanoma, had the SLN done and found 9 cells. I am going to have more removed this week to see if it went further then the first node tested. Is 9 cells a good indication of spreading to other areas of my body? I am so confused about this, any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I have been reading on alternative treatment for melanoma. Does anyone know about using Brandt Grape Cure or Vitamin C? I have been trying to find out more information on this but it seems there is limited information on this subject.
God Bless and thanks for being there. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3775
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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Jotto, I am not sure what you mean when you say they found 9 cells so I am of no help to you. Do you mean the found cancer in 9 nodes maybe?
As of the alternative therapy information you are looking for, you can do a search on this forum. I know that others have talked about Vitamin C before. Or you can look through the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Forum.
Best wishes.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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Thanks for the fast resonse. Doctor said the person looked very close on the sample and only 9 cancer cells were found.
Last edited by Jotto on Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brainman
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Posts: 3775
Location: Tennessee
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Little Bit
New User
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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I am no pro - but my mother is - we just battled 16 years of Melanoma with my dad. I was curious about your post and am always trying to educate myself. The response from my mother was "As usual it means: "it depends". To begin with only NO melanoma cells is really good news. However, if the 9 cells were in the sample that was excised (cut out) with a wide margin of good cells around it, that is encouraging and may mean that the melanoma may have been caught before it spread. Now a days, they often check nearby lymph glands to determine if even 1 cell has spread outside the immediate area. They also do other nearby body scans to make sure nothing has spread. With any melanoma the key is to getting it early. "
I hope you are doing well!
_________________
Sometimes your only available mode of transportation is a leap of faith. |
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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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Meet with the oncologyst today concerning my next step in treatment. In talking with her, she said I am not stage IV but stage IIIb, the other doctor might have been refering to Clark level.
The surgeon removed some more lymph nodes after the first SLN tested positive for 9 - 11 cancer cells. It increased by 2 after it was sent off to another lab. The second lymph node test came back negative and was either 9 or 12 additional nodes.
She said there was interferon, but that it would really bring me down and had a low sucess rate. She also said that there is a 20-40% chance surgery got it all.
She is setting me up to go to MD Anderson. We discussed the use of curcumin and bioperine and to look into some clinical trails. Monthly body exams and quarterly appointments for exam by doctor.
So, that is where I am at.
Thanks everyone
Jim |
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brainman
Site Admin
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Posts: 3775
Location: Tennessee
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Jotto
Regular
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Biloxi MS
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| Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: Melanoma Stage 4 |
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Off to MD Anderson on the 18th of March. I had the CT scans and MRI completed. Wish I could understand the pictures, but I don't have the slightest idea what any of it means. I hope to meet with Professor Aggarwal while I am there.
Hope all goes well, I have always disliked going to doctors .... guess I should work on that. I feel great, but I know that alot of people do in our position.
See ya when I get back.
Jim
Keep the faith, we all have too much to live for. |
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janie
Regular
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 11
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:51 pm Post subject: stage 4 melanoma |
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Hi Jim
I have read all ur posts and I too have posted before, I had to reply to say hw sorry I am for your diagnosis. I was diagnosed last Oct with the same stage as you, my melanoma was on my thigh, i went through a wide local excision and an SNR which came back positive with two cells but in one node, last month I had a complete groin dissection with al my lymph nodes removed, my ct scan was clear, and so were all the remaining lymph nodes, I cant tell you what a relief that was. I have 4 children and like you I have a whole lot of living to do. I wish you luck with your test results and I am keeping everything crossed for you, Please keep me posted , its such a relief to be in touch with others who have this type of cancer
Regards
Janie |
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brainman
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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3775
Location: Tennessee
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