Melanoma/ Immunotherapy

[BimboBob]

Although this seems a weird time of year to discuss this subject, it being the winter and all, I thought I'd share my experience of the last year and a half with you all in the vain hope that a few of you will at least check for any unusual skin blemishes, moles changing colour etc etc.

last April my Wife noticed a mole had gone a bit weird in colour and after a few checks etc etc I had a small op to remove it. I hadn't checked it for ages so never noticed it had gone a funny colour. It was found to be cancerous so I then had a bigger operation to cut out a larger area on my back and the nodes under my right arm as the nuclear dye they put in showed it would probably go there.

All well and good until early this year when one of my three monthly checks revealed that the cancer had not disappeared as first thought but had gone for walkabout into my left armpit and my lung. This is called stage 4. Scary sounding but it only means it's gone somewhere else.

I am now about to start immunotherapy on Wednesday. Which, according to my specialist, will knock it back a bit but not cure it. I am never going to be in remission. I so wanted to ring the bell as well. Life expectancy is not something discussed. If it all goes well then years, if not then...who knows...

So please, check yourself, men, women and children, if you have moles keep an eye on them. Check your skin. Anything that appears odd get it checked.

Now...a quickie...

If anyone has experience of immunotherapy please share your experiences. I know everyone is different but I'd still like to know.

Cheers all.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Sorry to hear @BimboBob. Best wishes.

@Ric is this something that can be a sticky for a little while?

 

[Eccles Blue]

Sorry to read this @BimboBob and hope that you are coping ok? I have no experience of immunotherapy but am thinking of you and, if you don't mind, send you virtual hugs and thoughts. If you don't want them just send them back!! ;-) (sorry not being frivolous just trying to be cheerful for you.)
Take care.

 

[mosssideblue]

Although this seems a weird time of year to discuss this subject, it being the winter and all, I thought I'd share my experience of the last year and a half with you all in the vain hope that a few of you will at least check for any unusual skin blemishes, moles changing colour etc etc.

last April I noticed a mole had gone a bit weird in colour and after a few checks etc etc I had a small op to remove it. I hadn't checked it, never noticed it going a funny colour. It was found to be cancerous so I then had a bigger operation to cut out a larger area on my back and the nodes under my right arm as the nuclear dye they put in showed it would probably go there.

All well and good until early this year when one of my three monthly checks revealed that the cancer had not disappeared as first thought but had gone for walkabout into my left armpit and my lung. This is called stage 4. Scary sounding but it only means it's gone somewhere else.

I am now about to start immunotherapy on Wednesday. Which, according to my specialist, will knock it back a bit but not cure it. I am never going to be in remission. I so wanted to ring the bell as well. Life expectancy is not something discussed. If it all goes well then years, if not then...who knows...

So please, check yourself, men, women and children, if you have moles keep an eye on them. Check your skin. Anything that appears odd get it checked.

Now...a quickie...

If anyone has experience of immunotherapy please share your experiences. I know everyone is different but I'd still like to know.

Cheers all.

Thanks for sharing.
Fingers crossed all does go well and you have many a year ahead of you.

 

[kaz7]

Although this seems a weird time of year to discuss this subject, it being the winter and all, I thought I'd share my experience of the last year and a half with you all in the vain hope that a few of you will at least check for any unusual skin blemishes, moles changing colour etc etc.

last April I noticed a mole had gone a bit weird in colour and after a few checks etc etc I had a small op to remove it. I hadn't checked it, never noticed it going a funny colour. It was found to be cancerous so I then had a bigger operation to cut out a larger area on my back and the nodes under my right arm as the nuclear dye they put in showed it would probably go there.

All well and good until early this year when one of my three monthly checks revealed that the cancer had not disappeared as first thought but had gone for walkabout into my left armpit and my lung. This is called stage 4. Scary sounding but it only means it's gone somewhere else.

I am now about to start immunotherapy on Wednesday. Which, according to my specialist, will knock it back a bit but not cure it. I am never going to be in remission. I so wanted to ring the bell as well. Life expectancy is not something discussed. If it all goes well then years, if not then...who knows...

So please, check yourself, men, women and children, if you have moles keep an eye on them. Check your skin. Anything that appears odd get it checked.

Now...a quickie...

If anyone has experience of immunotherapy please share your experiences. I know everyone is different but I'd still like to know.

Cheers all.

Sending you loads of hugs and kisses lovely xxx

 

[dronefromsector7G]

So sorry Bob. Hopefully it can be years. I have to agree that people need to check all suspicious moles/lumps/non healing scars. I had a skin coloured indentation on my forehead that turned out to be Basal cell carcinoma. I went to the consultant and he told me another mole on my back was also a BCC so I got lucky and they’re both gone. BCCs are not life threatening but it could’ve been malignant melanoma. Please check yourself and ask someone to check your back frequently. Ps I have seen pictures of myself from 10 years ago and the BCC was already there, I just thought it was a chickenpox scar until it changed colour last year

 

[snorky]

So sorry Bob. Hopefully it can be years. I have to agree that people need to check all suspicious moles/lumps/non healing scars. I had a skin coloured indentation on my forehead that turned out to be Basal cell carcinoma. I went to the consultant and he told me another mole on my back was also a BCC so I got lucky and they’re both gone. BCCs are not life threatening but it could’ve been malignant melanoma. Please check yourself and ask someone to check your back frequently. Ps I have seen pictures of myself from 10 years ago and the BCC was already there, I just thought it was a chickenpox scar until it changed colour last year

In your case I would have kept the mole and flushed you.

:)

Best Wishes Bimbles x

 

[RobMCFC]

Best wishes Bob.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Ditto.
Admire your outlook.

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Thinking of you