Malignant Melanoma Stage 3.

Hi Lily2024,

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 malignant melanoma a couple of years ago. I can tell you what happened next for me.

First, I had a mole on my leg removed and they found it was melanoma. Then, they removed more skin + tissue around the mole and also two lymph nodes from my groin. After that, they told me my exact stage: 3A. A subsequent PET scan revealed that all of the cancer had been removed by the surgery. Yay! So straight away after the surgery, I was put on one year of 'Targeted Chemotherapy'  - two drugs, Dabrafenib and Trametanib - as a preventative measure: to stop the cancer coming back. These drugs were in tablet form I kept in my fridge! I had trouble adapting to the drugs (fevers) but it settled down. It was great that when I had a fever, I was allowed stop the drugs for 2-3 days until I came back to normal. Sometimes I felt fatigued on the drugs but a lot of the time I felt quite normal.

One thing I've discovered about cancer is that the journey is completely individual. I found it helpful to seek out others' stories and also to keep in mind that my  journey is unpredictable. 

The treatments that are available now for melanoma are really good. It sounds like your team are responding quickly to your situation. It's good they're on the ball. I hope you get all the support you need.

Best,

Dots

Hi have a look at my details O was diagnosed 12 months ago

Happy to chat about my journey

Hood luck with yours,I have been really well looked after.It is scary but you will get through it and find ways to carry on with your life.

Thank you so much for replying Dots. It was really helpful and informative. It was actually the response I was looking for. So glad that I decided to join this site.

With Kind Regards

• Lilly2024

Hi Wobbles

Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply. Read your letter with interest. It has made me feel a lot better in myself knowing that the folk on this forum  You are right about it being scary. Obviously it all came as a big shock to us. But I honestly think that with help from people like yourself will help me through this. Happy to keep in touch

With Regards.

Lilly2024

Hi dots did you suffer from spots and red skin. I had the fever last week then paused medication now lots of spots. I'm going for check up on Thursday.

HI Miss Mole, I didn't have lots of spots, no. That has no implications for you, however! Variety is the spice of side effects. They love it. The oncologists are brilliant and are completely used to it, this variety of effects. They have loads of drugs and creams and ointments and steroids up their sleeves.

It's great that either you have already reported the spots or will report them on Thursday.

In the early stages, I made the mistake of not reporting stuff I thought was 'too mild'. 'Oh, I wouldn't go to a GP about this. I'll just push through!', I used to think. WRONG! LOL! Now, I phone my Cancer Nurse Specialist or Acute Oncology Service about rashes, temperatures, headaches, etc. They decide whether it's a 'wait and see' or 'have some medicine' situation. I guess the immune response is different with chemo.

Good luck with your magic Dab and Tram pills! I hope you get the support you need at the check up on Thursday.

Warm wishes,

Dots.

Hi yeah they already know about spots as cns nurse rang yesterday to see if  I was alright and if my temperature had settled. I had a week break from them. She said they may extend break depending on what they think of spots. Yeah all the nurses are all so lovely glad I'm at hospital I'm at even though I have to travel a little way.

Hi Dots

I find myself in exactly the same position as you.

i have been offered targeted therapy as you were but am a bit dubious about the side effects of the treatment.

I am told it will only decrease the possibility of recurrence by 3.5% at most so unsure whether the side effects are justified.

can I ask what side effects you’ve had to deal with?

Thanks

Hi Markymark808,

My side-effects from 12 months of Dab + Tram targeted therapy were: intermittant fevers (2-3 days sort of once every 1-2 months) and some fatigue.

I was able to keep working 'full-time' but to be honest, it was during the Covid lockdown so I was very flexi-time.

The fevers were challenging but I could always be confident they would last under 48 hours because the minute my temperature spiked, I was put on a 'pause' of 3 days from the tablets. Then my body would reset.

Not everybody gets side-effects from Dab + Tram. I dunno the stats: is it 50% don't get any side-effects?

I wasn't really able to exercise apart from walking while on it but 12 months went quickly. I was able to get my body back to a good-enough-normal-baseline of physical health within 6 months, with the help of a personal trainer.

Here's some mixed views: I was offered targeted therapy when I had Stage 3b. They got all the visible cancer out with surgery then offered targeted therapy to try to stop it coming back. Interestingly, I wasn't given a choice about taking it or not. The team were like: now you're getting the Targeted Therpay. I didn't hear about the 3.5% statistic: it sounds quite low all right ? (I'm not a doctor.). However, I remember one consultant said to me: 'If it was my family member, I would want them to take the Targeted Therapy.' I wasn't told about the recurrance stats at all at the time. I wish I had been. 

It sounds like you're getting good advice. I hope you get the support you need. Wishing you all the best.

Dots

Hi Dots and thanks for your very informative Reply.

Today is the Day where I have to make my decision and yet I’m still so torn.

I think I might just give it a go for my wife.

How would I feel if it is still there and I didn’t even try.

Thanks again.