Recent news and a few high notes - Now I have a question!

Appyacres · Last edited by Appyacres on Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:05 pm; edited 1 time in total

Just making a few notes in my log book related to my recent melanoma diagnosis and thought I would share some of the high points.

A friend told me that God has given me this gift because he knows I can handle it. Confused

Good point and something to think about. Presently at Stage IIb waiting for SLNB results in a few days.

Last weeks surgery left an 9 1/2 inch rip down my back and 3 inch one under my right armpit. At the present, the tape residue is the worst part... Smile

One of you said "I would rather have an ugly scar compared to the alternative"

Don't want to ramble and I have more interferon research to do. Think that starts December 1.

I'll keep in touch and keep reading your posts...

Appyacres

Pathology report from original excision:
- malignant melanoma
- Clark's level IV, Breslow's depth 6mm
- nodular type
- margins: invasive melanoma present 2mm from inked lateral margins and from inked depth margin
- no vascular invasion or ulceration identified
- TNM stage: pT4a pNX pMX
- no satellite lesion identified

Pathology from SNLB came out clean as did all tissue removed during margin surgery.

My surgeon is confident that there is no remaining cancer and is not a fan of the Interferon treatment. He stated that the toxicity factors greatly outweigh the benefits since the original node was fully excised, the SNLB came back clean and the toxic side effects of treatment can be longlasting.

We also talked about the fact that 65% of people do not complete the full treatment regime due to the toxicity.

After reading the product information sheet published by Schring-Plough I am a bit hesitant to undergo the Intron-A treatment.

So the question is, since there are people out there that have gone through this,

is it worth the potential risks Question

given my original pathology report and SNLB results???

I am otherwise healthy with high triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels, for which I take daily meds.

A little indecisive so any input is appreciated!!!

owena · New User Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 3

My 13 yr old daughter has stage 3, node positive, melanoma. She was diagnosed in July of 2008 and began her Interferon treatment on October 1st, 2008.

So far, so good. She has not suffered from any of the side effects we were warned about, other than chronic fatigue. But as a teenager, she was always tires anyway so things have not changed. She still has plenty of energy and carries on with her life the same as before.

The doctors tell us that her situation is great, I guess more people suffer from side effects.....the only things that she does daily- drink a lot of water, takes Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours....thats It.

Good Luck and I do hope you decide to try it.

A MOM
_________________
Angela Owen

Appyacres · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: Started Treatment Dec 1 08

Worst part has got to be the needles. I HATE needles.

Took about 2 hours for the first liter of saline and 45 mu interferon.

Had no problem during the interveneous portion but got a tensing of the neck, knees, calfs and ankles on the hour ride home. By the time I walked in the house I had the shakes so bad I couldn't get the Advil and Tylenol out of the jar to take some. Pretty funny scene actually.

Went to bed and wraped up in two warm blankets and the shakes were gone in 20 minutes.

Then I got hungry. Ate 3 bowls of soup, tuna sandwich, 4 chocolates, crackers and drank a 32oz Gatoraid.

Woke up at 5am the next day feeling good but a little foggy (drugs) but was able to feed the horses and hang a light in the barn before breakfast.

They say it gets worse as the drugs build up in your system, so I need to get the horse ride done today incase tomorrow is worse.

Thanks for the support from some of those private messages that I got.

Best to all and the fight goes on,

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