melanoma

jonsie57

MY HUSBAND HAS JUST HAD A MELANOMA (STAGE 2-C) REMOVED FROM HIS CHEST AREA AND THERE WAS NO SENTINEL LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT. THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE ALL OF THE TUMOR BUT ARE OFFERING HIM INTERFERON AS A PREVENTITIVE BUT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE HORRIFIC. IS THERE ANY SURVIVORS OUT THERE OF MELANOMA AT THIS STAGE. I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING CRAZY. I LOST MY MOTHER 8 MTHS. AGO & THIS IS JUST ABOUT TOO MUCH TOO BARE. IN FACT I WOULD BE WITHOUT MY FAITH. I HAVE HEARD OF THE CHAGA MUSHROOM FOR THIS TYPE OF CANCER (I KNOW CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE THERE IS NO CURE AND THAT RECURRENCE IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE).

JR1949

Melanoma
My wife is a survivor of stage 4 melanoma.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized melanoma June 2009. She had a mole on her forehead April 1991 that was malignant. The mole was removed and margins excised and lymph nodes removed as a precautionary measure. She faithfully came for followup visits as required and was cancer free until xray in June 2009 revealed "dark spot" on her lung. After MRI, CT and PET scans and biopsy, she was told she had a tumor on her esophagus, and two on her lungs. Oncologist gave her good prognosis because she was asymptomatic and told her Interluken 2 (IL2) was the best chemotherapy treatment for her.
IL2 treatments are administered through an IV for 5 days every 8 hours. She had four of the 5 day cycles in August, September and November 2009. PET scan on March result was cancer was gone. Praise God!

The day we found out she was stage 4, my wife said to me, "The only way we are going to survive this is through the grace of God." We went through our journey with this cancer with a positive attitude and praying and we had family and friends praying for us. I give the praise and glory to God.

Feel free to look at My Story by clicking on the blue box with JR1949. I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have or just "listen" to what you post.

JR1949

Melanoma
My wife is a survivor of stage 4 melanoma.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized melanoma June 2009. She had a mole on her forehead April 1991 that was malignant. The mole was removed and margins excised and lymph nodes removed as a precautionary measure. She faithfully came for followup visits as required and was cancer free until xray in June 2009 revealed "dark spot" on her lung. After MRI, CT and PET scans and biopsy, she was told she had a tumor on her esophagus, and two on her lungs. Oncologist gave her good prognosis because she was asymptomatic and told her Interluken 2 (IL2) was the best chemotherapy treatment for her.
IL2 treatments are administered through an IV for 5 days every 8 hours. She had four of the 5 day cycles in August, September and November 2009. PET scan on March result was cancer was gone. Praise God!

The day we found out she was stage 4, my wife said to me, "The only way we are going to survive this is through the grace of God." We went through our journey with this cancer with a positive attitude and praying and we had family and friends praying for us. I give the praise and glory to God.

Feel free to look at My Story by clicking on the blue box with JR1949. I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have or just "listen" to what you post.

snowmaneasy

Melanoma and Mushrooms
Hi,
Forget about the mushrooms...better to go and have a look at www.biovex.com they have just entered a phase III clinical trial using OncoVex. OncoVex is a vaccine that is injected into the tumour...the results are very impressive....however the clinical trials are only designed for those people who have metastatic melanoma late stage III and stage IV.....
Dont panic, I think your husband will be OK, Stage 2-C is very low on the "risk totem pole"...has he had a PET scan ??? I would recommend that asap, even if you have to pay for it yourself. If his melanoma has spread the PET scan will detect it...go for the full body scan....good luck talk more later..

daca1964

Hi,
I've been on interfron
Hi,

I've been on interfron for 6 months. Yes it is a tough drug. The first month I had to go to Norris Cotton Cancer Center everyday for 2 hours for treatment then in December started injecting myself 3 times a week for the rest of the year. The side affects are horrible but there are some good days. I have stage III, mole on my back was found Feb 09 didn't get into dermatologist until Jun 10 then I was sent to Boston Medical Center for surgery. Had 2 Petscans and MRI's done and so far no signs of the cancer.

10years

Melanoma
I was diagnosed at stage2-c after my first recurrence, and after my second recurrence, underwent a month of high-dosage interferon, on five days, off two. That was eight years ago. While interferon is not much fun, you can always opt out of the treatment if it becomes too much to handle. I made it through mine by asking myself if a few more weeks would be worth a few more years. Looking back, I'm glad I made the effort.

Freckles88

daca1964 said:

Hi,
I've been on interfron
Hi,

I've been on interfron for 6 months. Yes it is a tough drug. The first month I had to go to Norris Cotton Cancer Center everyday for 2 hours for treatment then in December started injecting myself 3 times a week for the rest of the year. The side affects are horrible but there are some good days. I have stage III, mole on my back was found Feb 09 didn't get into dermatologist until Jun 10 then I was sent to Boston Medical Center for surgery. Had 2 Petscans and MRI's done and so far no signs of the cancer.

Norse cotton cancer center
daca1964,
I also go to the NCCC. just transfered when I relocated from upstate NY. Totally off topic, I wonder if we know eachother?

rlsbuffalo

JR1949 said:

Melanoma
My wife is a survivor of stage 4 melanoma.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized melanoma June 2009. She had a mole on her forehead April 1991 that was malignant. The mole was removed and margins excised and lymph nodes removed as a precautionary measure. She faithfully came for followup visits as required and was cancer free until xray in June 2009 revealed "dark spot" on her lung. After MRI, CT and PET scans and biopsy, she was told she had a tumor on her esophagus, and two on her lungs. Oncologist gave her good prognosis because she was asymptomatic and told her Interluken 2 (IL2) was the best chemotherapy treatment for her.
IL2 treatments are administered through an IV for 5 days every 8 hours. She had four of the 5 day cycles in August, September and November 2009. PET scan on March result was cancer was gone. Praise God!

The day we found out she was stage 4, my wife said to me, "The only way we are going to survive this is through the grace of God." We went through our journey with this cancer with a positive attitude and praying and we had family and friends praying for us. I give the praise and glory to God.

Feel free to look at My Story by clicking on the blue box with JR1949. I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have or just "listen" to what you post.

Il 2
After six years with no issues after wide excision of a stage one I was Aldo diagnosed with stage four. I have signs of tumors in my right elf, tricep, and butt. Starting il 2 Monday, oct. 17. What were your experiences with it?

Jasmiina

my opinion
Hi jonsie,

I am very sorry to hear about your husband`s cancer.
I agree with others, that mushrooms wouldn`t be the wisest idea concerning the treatment of melanoma.
Well, unfortunately, chemo works this way - destroys malignant cells along with the healthy ones; therefore, these severe side-effects occur.
I can only say, that recently I came across such treatment method as Virotherapy (very popular in Latvia, but also used in more than 20 countries). It uses live, natural virus, which once injected in the body, activates the immune system and healthy cells,thus killing the malignant cells. As I have heard, it is very promising and quickly developing treatment method.
Anyhow, I truly hope that you`ll find the right treatment for your husband and recovery will be fast!
Kind regards,
Jasmiina