looking for melenoma survivers

melanoma
Hi,
I am 36 yrs old. I was diagnosed with Melanoma Stage 3A over 2 yrs ago. My primary was on my back and it was spread to my nodes under my left arm. I had all nodes removed. I am doing ok so far. I am very interested in your case. Similarities and a lot I can learn I think. Hope to add you as friend.
ttyl
Derrick,
Canada.

scotcny said:

Derrick ,
I had a mole
Derrick ,
I had a mole removed from behind my right knee which came back possitive . then had sentinel lymph noid removed.That also came back possitive.I then had all the lymphnoids removed from my right groin.These came back negitive. I went 8 years with clear check ups untill back in march I was getting more swelling in my right calf then normal.I went to doctors and they did a sonogram to check for a blood clot,there were none. I had a ct scan done and by chance the went a little hgher in my chest and discovered a mass in the lymphnoids behind the liver.I had a MRI done and a pet scan done and found that the cancer had spread to 9 different lymphnoids.Then a 7mm spot on my brain .last week I had a cyber knife treatment done and the doctor is very confident that this will take care of it.I'm now waiting for 6-8 weeks for results and then going to NIH in Bethesda MD for consultation about having high dose interluckin 2 and a vaccine made from one of the tumers and then injected back into me.While I'm waiting I.m looking into nutritional changes and exercising changes to help build up my immune system to fight this off.I would be happy to keep you up to date on what I find out.

Stage 3
My husband who is 50 had a malignant tumor on his back removed last fall and it led to another surgery 2 weeks later to remove 20 lymph nodes under his arm because it had matastisized. He is on Interferon for a year, his only choice, if they do chemo it will be back within 6 weeks and the same for rad. He underwent 5 weeks of treaments 5 days a week by iv which took several hours a day. Now he does shots 3 times a week for a year. The medicine makes him very fatigued and causes depression and nausea at times. But it's this or check out and he's not ready. Interleuken 2 in an option in the future if it spreads again. He eats lots and lots of fresh veggies and fruit, especially tomatoes that are high in anti oxidans. He also is taking fish oil another good cancer supplement and you have to protect your heart too from all the stress your body is undergoing. Drink lots of water and ensure helps boost your immune system. Take vitamins and even check with your health food store or a Nutrionist for advice. Our kids are only 15 and 18 so he is fighting hard and trying everything he can. Oh and don't forget exercise it releases endorphins in your brain and the more the better.

I also have melanoma that has spread to other parts of my body. Originally, in 2003, I had a melanoma on my right shoulder. It was removed with a wide excision and I also had a sentinal node biopsy which came up with no cancer. Then in 2007 I started having back/hip pain which turned out to be a large tumor on my hip which was melanoma. Also, it has spread to my lungs with some small nodules and to my bones. Since then I have had chemotherapy through a clinical trial (carboplatin & paclitaxol & Bay 43/placebo); This seemed to keep the disease stable for quite some time. I also have been in different clinical trials involving immunotherapies-- these did not help in my case. I have had hip fractures and I am in a wheelchair now, but I'm not giving up. Now, I have just started on an FDA approved drug, Riluzole, through a clinical trial. Riluzole is used to treat ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease) and they had some success treating melanoma with this drug. These trials are through the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. As for my diet, I have not changed it significantly as I was a healthy eater before I had melanoma.

I have 2 grown daughters and a new granddaughter, so I also am fighting melanoma. It has been almost 2 years now. So, try to be optimistic and give it all you have.

All the best to you.

Peggy01700

You found one
Dear Scotcny, I am a stage 4 Melanoma survivor. I have tumors in the lungs (7), lymph nodes (7) and brain (5). I have had stereotacitic radiation on the brain, I have undergond the Interlukin 2 and several vaccines and trails. I have done the Interferon A and a bunch of other chemotherapies (3 of which were given during the Interluken 2).

My first advice is to be careful of advice given over the internet, especially while on one of these treatments (even from me). Speaking from experience I had done some of the diets suggested and it made me too weak to do the treatments so I actually had to go on a high protein diet (my doctor made me) so my body could reproduce some of the blood cells that the chemo was killing. The best advice is to ask the doctor that is giving you the treatment, what you should eat or drink. Again speaking from experience while on Interluken 2 I can almost gaurantee they will want you to drink lots of water (and keep track of what fluids you take in and put out... a side effect of interluken 2 is that you may retain water and blow up like the michelin man which can be very painful and fatal.

My advice for diet is to eat healthy as almost every doctor has adviced for the last hundred years. Eat a balanced diet veggies, fruits, grain, meats... dont have to much fat and try not to have too much sugar.... HOWEVER remember this...always keep a good attitude (looks like you've done that)... I was told 2 years ago when the melanoma spread to my brain that the 50% survival rate was on 4 months for my type of fast spreading melanoma, so enjoy what time you have and eat what you like.

Feel free to send me an email any time you want