4 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

Hi Pete,

I'm on the bevacizumab (avastin) trial, but didn't get the drug arm.  It's a randomised trial, 50% get the drug, the other 50% get nothing but monitoring.  I have a couple of friends on the trial and none have reported any adverse side effects.  It might be worth a shot, either way the 10 years of monitoring that come with the trial must be a plus!

On saying that, you're cutting it a bit fine to be volunteering, there's a time limit of so many weeks after surgery... just can't remember the number of weeks!

Marsha xx

Hi Pete,

The time limit Marsha is speaking of is that you must be accepted on the trial within 13 weeks of surgery - after that they won't take you. My consultant fougth right up to the deadline for me to be accepted on the trial but I was refused because cancer was found in 2 nodes - one in my groin & one in my pelvis. These were classed as 2 different sites so I was refused as they the want the cancer only to be in one place - makes it easier for their trial results. I hope you are successful getting on the trial - I would try anything that gives me a better chance of it not re-occuring.

Angie

Good luck for your recovery. Cancer has hit my family badly as it has many other families and whilst I have an inherent scare of the Big C, nevertheless I applaud this site which allows communication, support and information to be passed by and amongst those who are affected by it.

Get well soon

hi ....thanks for the messages...

i am 4 weeks after surgery and the cut off period is 12 weeks so i am well within that and i am at least 18 years old!! ah ah ah (just)

the reason they want me to consider the trial is due to the depth of the melanoma.

still thinking about a piece for the papers... what do you think?

peter x

hi peter my advice would be to take part in the trial as they are very hard to get onto,i missed out due to not being told about it in time i eventually asked my consultant but had missed the "window" as my surgery was over the period so i didnt qualify,so id take up the trial as youll be monitored very closely which is a bonus,if you had any bad reactions theyd stop it anyway,this mm is so unpredictable, it comes back years later so if your monitored for ten yrs then its in your interest to grab it,the alternative is to go away and look after yourself and keep everything crossed,youll get the 5yr checkups but only a quick ten minute appoimtment then off you go again until the next one.( the oncologist at brighton is very aware that id be interested in any trials due to the need to try anything so i stand a chance of no more popping up.

Your healing very nicely peter, and the donor site looks great (mine was very deep i was butchered lol) im sure you should write a book on your journey forget the papers,theirs nothing re melanoma in detail that i know of ive read leaflets and a book on sun,etc but a journey "plus photos" of course would really get the message over,anyway off to work for me so think carefully before you refuse trials peter ,take care ,mazz x