update on son-in-law

[dhealey]

I went to PA last weekend to be with my daughter and son-in-law. They think he is in stage IV melanoma. They will be scanning him from head to toe within the next week. Doing surgery Nov. 11, to remove lymph nodes from his groin and reexcise lesion on his back as they did not get clean margins. He will start Interferon IV treatment in December every day for 1 month, then 3 weekly injections for 11 months. From what I understand this is a grueling treatment. I have advised him to go to John Hopkins for a second opinion as they are only 1 1/2 hr away. This whole ordeal just breaks my heart as we live so far away and they have no support system there. Please continue to pray for them.

I also found out the cyst that is on my brain is a pineal cyst and apparently needs to be watched, so I will be having another MRI scan in January. Just got the bill for the scan and about had heart failure $5000. I don't know what people do who don't have insurance.

Thank you all for your prayers and concerns regarding my son-in-law. Reading all the posts gives me some peace.

[Becky]

Other great places are the University of PA in Philly and Fox Chase (also in Philly). He should also ask about the use of Leukine in melanoma. It is used for that kind of cancer more extensively than bc.

[Sheila]

Debbie
I would definately have him get a second opinion as far as treatment goes...things change every minute, and something new might be being used at a specialty hospital....please take care of yourself too, the extra stress is not good for you...glad it was just a pineal cyst, but even just a pineal cyst needs close observation...glad to hear you will be getting another MRI in January...sending lots of prayers for you and your son in law and his family, and a big hug.

[tousled1]

Debbie,

A second opinion would be a good idea if he has the strength to go through it. When my son had leukemia I took him to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion. I was very pleased with Hopkins but hey suggested the same treatment that his oncologist in Bethlehem did so since the majority of my family still lives in Bethlehem and all his friends were there he had his treatments there. I was living in VA and spent the entire time he was sick except for maybe 2-3 weeks in PA. From what I've read Interferon treatment is extremely grueling. He'll need all the support he can get. He is in my daily prayers.

Glad that you only had a pineal cyst and really glad that they will be keeping a close watch on it. You are also in my daily prayers.

It must be very hard on you since you don't live close by. Prayers coming your way for a number of reasons.

[Debra]

Debbie -

Scary thing to be going through with your daughter and son-in-law. I just wanted to share (whether it helps or not), that I have a friend whose husband has been stage IV melanoma for sometime now. He has been receiving treatment at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN. Just yesterday, he had another PET scan. His previous scan, three months ago, "lit up like a Christmas tree" in their words as the melanoma was all over. He has since been doing immune booster shots and an oral chemo. Well yesterdays scan showed only a "few" (literally only a few) metastatic areas.
So you see, there is hope. They believe that now. Hope is something to live by especially if one is stage IV but I have heard some pretty miraculous stories from Stage IV people. Let's hope he will be one of those.

[dhealey]

Thank you all for your wisdom and words of encouragement. Hope is all I have to go on now. His diagnosis has hit me like a ton of bricks. It definately takes my mind off my own cancer. Love you all!

[Jean]

Debbie,
Please know my heart and prayers are with you and your family.
Never give up your hope and faith...as there is always something
breaking out....see my post on Mayo Clinic study.

God Bless,
Jean

[Vanessa]

My heart and prayers go out to your family. I don't have any information to share, but I am hoping for miracles.

[Sherryg683]

My brother is being treated at MD Anderson in Houston, for his stage IV melanoma. His has almost taken over his liver and all in his bones. They are doing a 5 chemo mixture on him, his nurse said it was the strongest, hardest dose of chemo that there is. I know 3 of the drugs are Interferon, Interluekine (sp?) and carboplatin..don't know the other 2. He has to be in the hospital for 5 days of continuous treatment, then monitored for 2 more and sent home for 2 weeks. He will do 6 of these rounds, if they don't kill him with the treatments. He looked horrible when we picked him up last week, swollen from fluid. He had only eaten a bowl of soup and some light snacks in 12 days. MD Anderson said they have a 65 percent rate of this shrinking the tumors in half, and a 20 percent rate of them being totally gone. They said they have had patients in this last category that have lived 10 years. So there is always hope. What your brother in law is on is what they did to my brother when he was first diagnosed. He was stage I at diagnosis. The next scan after the year that the interferon alone was stopped, it showed up in his liver. My advise is to get him where there is melanoma specialists. It's an awful cancer to have but it looks like they have made a little headway...sherryg

[hutchibk]

I can't offer any chemo advice at all, as the ladies before me have great info to offer, but I would advise that you all learn all that you can about lymphedema in the leg before the surgery!! Removal of groin nodes comes with a huge risk of debilitating and painful lymphedema of the leg if he does not do everything in his power to keep his leg healthy and mitigate his risk. I would ask the surgeon for the name of a lymphedema specialist to meet with before the surgery so that you have all of the knowledge ahead of time as well as a lymph massage physical therapist on board from the very start.

[dhealey]

Thanks Brenda, he already has signs of lymphedema from the node biopsy. I have given him tons of advice. I am trying to get him to go to Penn for a second opinion before he starts and treatment.

[Vi Schorpp]

My heart is with you, your son-in-law, and your daughter and family. Keep us posted. We'll all pray for you.