Melanoma Stage 3a

1. Hi Mm808. 
   im sure as you have said the decision has to be yours. The only thing I can say is that there are many people who have been or are on this forum who have had treatment and have subsequently gone in to remission. Side effects vary from person to person and they can prescribe medication to alleviate some of the symptoms. In just a matter of a few months, 4 to be exact, I have gone from a stage 2b to stage 3b possibly stage 4 pending results on further MRI. I haven’t started treatment yet but I actually can’t wait. I also had reservations but if there is any chance at all of helping with remission then for me it’s a no brainer. We are all different and all have different anxiety’s. Speak to those closest to you, it all helps. Good luck and welcome 

Hi and thanks for the reply.

I sincerely hope that your MRI has a more positive outcome and the treatment you are offered goes well.

I went from stage 1 to stage 3 in the same time so I know how you feel.

Again I hope all goes well for you.

Hi Markymark808 

I am currently about 7 months in to my year of adjuvant treatment with Dabrafenib and Trametinib. The side effects have varied throughout but are bearable for the most part. My main and constant one is fatigue. I have been hospitalised three times but that is due to a fairly rare side where my neutrophils (white blood cells) become too low, leaving me vulnerable to infection. Even with this I am glad to have the treatment and reduce the risk of a further recurrence (I originally had melanoma stage 1b in 2016). 

I have been diagnosed as stage 3b, so my outcomes are slightly different to yours. 

As Jabs has already said, there are various medications to help with side effects. 

If you are unsure what is best for you, you could always give it a go and if the side effects made it not worthwhile, stop treatment. Either way, I'm assuming you'll still get your scans and skin checks every 3 months. 

Wishing you all the best. 

Hi I have stage 3a melanoma with 3 positive microscopic lymph nodes  out of 6. I started treatment in November 23. Only done 4months as I had skin and liver toxins Also had fevers and cough. Mine had to be discontinued as found thyroid cancer which has all been sorted now. I'm having suvalliance scans and skin checks. So far still clear. But be booking a ct scan next week hopefully still be clear. Also had ovarian cyts removed a few weeks ago which was benign. Every once different with side affects.

Thanks for the reply.

how often are you having ct scans if you don’t mind me asking?

I have been offered every 6 months but if I decide to give the treatment a miss I would feel more comfortable with every 3 months as some people are saying they get.

Hi thanks for the reply and hope your treatment goes well.

i take it you have ct scans every 3 months? I’ve been told every 6 months which I feel if I decide not to have treatment is quite a long time.

My scans are suppose to be every 6 months, I had to contact dermatology cause I had not heard anything and it was nearly 6 months. My ct  scan is   couple of months late because I had surgery. Ct department were suppose to call me back but still have not. So calling them next week. Had head scan at 5 months. Have to keep chasing them up.   

I wish it was every 3 months, but they seem to think it won't come back, but I have read a lot stories with people with stage 3a and it has come back. I was told scans every 6 months for 3 years then 1 a year for 3 years. 

Thank you.

Yes, my CT scans are every 3 months. The same with my skin checks. 

I (wrongly) assumed you'd be the same. It must be because there is a smaller chance of recurrence with stage 3a that they are every 6 months for you. 

I'm happy to answer any other questions you have. I appreciate it's a difficult decision. 

Best wishes 

Yeah that’s what I was told. Crazy you have to chase up appointments in that way but that’s the world we live in I suppose.

Ive also read a lot of stories about it coming back but what I haven’t heard is from the 93% of people who they say have no recurrence after 5yeats. Searched everywhere.