Malignant Metastic Melanoma

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My Dad has been diagnosed with Malignant Metastic Melanoma, which is skin cancer which has spread to his liver.

Sadly he's had immunotherapy which hasn't touched the cancer and we have now been told his only option for treatment, which is palliative only not a cure is tablets.

Are you aware of any treatments that other countries have authorised which the UK doesn't as yet?

As the tablets are only likely to slow down the growth for up to 12 months and then its predicted they will stop growing and the cancer will grow.

I'm hoping I can find another treatment option in another country.

Thank you

Kerry Macmillan 12 days ago

Dear Dens Daughter,

Thank you for getting in touch and welcome to the Online Community. I’m Kerry one of the Cancer Information Nurses here on the Macmillan Support Line.

I’m sorry to hear of your dad’s diagnosis, I can only imagine what a difficult time this is for you all and understandably you want to look at all treatment options for your dad.

Here at Macmillan, we can only discuss treatments that are available in the UK, and we can’t say for certain the most appropriate treatments for your dad as we don’t have access to the NHS or your dad’s medical records.

I’m unsure from your message which treatments your dad has already been given but I have found information on a new combination treatment the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended back in January called Nivolumab-relatlimab, however they offer this as the first line treatment for advanced melanoma.

Your dad may be best discussing all this further with his Oncologist or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

Your dad could ask if there are any treatments available off license too that they could apply for extra funding if possible or if there are any clinical trials available.

We have some further information here on when treatment isn’t available that may be helpful for you.

Your dad can ask his consultant if he can be referred for a second opinion too, although this isn’t a legal requirement most consultants are happy to do so.

It may be helpful talking to others in similar situations to your dad, we have our Melanoma online chat forum that may be helpful and also Melanoma UK have further support too.

Here at Macmillan, we understand the impact of seeing and supporting a loved one with cancer can have, it is important to look after yourself and get support when you need it.

You are welcome to call our support line and talk things through further or we have our family and friends online chat forum for peer support too.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch again. You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email or contact us through Webchat

Best wishes

Kerry

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref KHa/KG

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Malignant Metastic Melanoma