Husbnd just diagnosed - Cancer: Skin Message Board

hunnypum · 11-05-2002, 09:35 PM

My husband was diagnosed yesterday with melonoma stage 4. I am terrified and we do not see the oncologist for a week. I hope someone on here may have a happy story re this stage. He had a quater size mark on his elbow that tested + but 3 on his neck turned up -. I am very scared he is 37 and I am 25 we have 3 young kids and I am scared I will have to explain daddy dying Please Help.

1Dove · 11-06-2002, 03:40 PM

This is a tough one. Most oncologists can't do much for this type of cancer once it has spread. But there are new treatments that are much more successful than the standard treatments. There are bio-chemotherapies that are in use now, and approved by the FDA that have been much more successful than standard chemotherapies used for melanoma.

[This message has been edited by 1Dove (edited 12-27-2002).]

hunnypum · 11-06-2002, 07:58 PM

Thank you . I will talk with his md at Moffat and have him speak with him. I pray that he can fight this. He isnt even sick or tired or anything. Just normal everyday activity. Again thank you and God bless

1Dove · 11-06-2002, 08:33 PM

You should ask about the combination of cisplatin and tamoxifen. Here is an article about this treatment:
[url="http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2000_06_20_Melanoma.html"]http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2000_06_20_Melanoma.html[/url]

[This message has been edited by 1Dove (edited 12-27-2002).]

coppertop · 01-13-2003, 06:38 PM

I have read recently about some treatement that seems to be very effective on late stage melanoma. Can't remember what it is though..maybe the vaccine?? Also, I just seen and interview with Maryl Hemmingway, her husband was diagnosed with stage 4 or 5 melanoma and is right now cancer-free