KRBaum's Journey with Skin Cancer - Melanoma
- 1 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 2 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 3 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 4 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 5 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 6 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 7 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 8 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 9 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 10 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 11 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 12 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 13 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 14 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 15 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 16 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 17 Clinical Trial Icon Clinical Trial
- 18 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
Patient: Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Patient Info: Currently in active treatment (initial surgery, receiving chemo rounds/radiation), Diagnosed: over 7 years ago, Female, Age: 37, Stage IV, BRAF mutation positive: No, c-kit positive: Don't Know
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Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
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Cancer is back/Recurred
Oh No
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Procedure or Surgery
The incision was small, but very sore. Using those muscles in activities like pushing myself out of bed, or reaching for items above my head was painful and more difficult.
Wide excision surgery
Procedure or Surgery
This one hurt, a lot. The surgery was 2 hours long, and the incision ended up being twice as long at a total of 8 cm. I was fully sedated along with a local anesthetic for pain, and they had to give me a tube down my throat for breathing during the surgery. It is very difficult to raise my arm (left) or wash my hair, or open doors with my left arm. The stitches are not the dissolvable kind, but have to be removed in two weeks. There is a lot of draining from the incision, and I'm on meds for the pain. It's very sore.....
Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
The oncologist called me on Oct 18 to let me know the cancer has indeed spread to my lymph nodes. One out of the three lymph nodes they removed had cancer, which put me at stage 3A. Next step is a PET scan and a CT scan to determine if cancer has spread to other organs. First time I actually started to feel a little scared. The Oncologist also told me I'll need another surgery, which is waiting to be scheduled.
Full lymph node dissection
Procedure or Surgery
I had three types of general anesthesia for this surgery - patch behind my ear, gas, and IV. I woke up extremely tired, and in a lot of pain. Pain meds are a MUST for recovery. I have to wear a drain for 7-10 days (which I'm still wearing as I write this) to drain the incision of excess fluids. The incision is swollen and black and blue, which feels like a rock in your side. I have nerve damage on the under side of my upper left arm, but the surgeon says the nerves will heal in time. I will need physical therapy to regain control and mobility of my left arm. The drain makes recovery especially painful for this surgery. I've dealt with nausea and sharp pains from the pull on my muscles/nerves in recovery. Massaging my arm has helped immensely!
Pain medicine
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Been on oxycodone (aka Perkiset) for almost a whole month now - the month includes two surgeries. Lately I've had some nausea, and I've been trying to take it only at night which has helped. I get some fatigue and "spacey-ness" from it.
Depression medicine
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Lexapro (5mg) - I'm about to start immunotherapy on Intron A (aka Interferon) for one year, so I'm taking Lexapro. It's mostly for anxiety at the moment as I'm not depressed right now, but it is a side effect of Intron A.
Which treatment to choose
Decision Point
I chose Interferon - the one year option. Intron A for the first four weeks, then half dose for 11 months.
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Interferon...... side effects are terrible. High fever, nausea, fatigue, aches/pains.
Hair loss (alopecia)
Side Effects
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
Not 100% sure, but my scans revealed two nodes in my lungs - not sure if they are cancer yet. Too small to biopsy yet.
Finished treatment
Celebration
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Remission
Celebration
Mass in right lung is gone!
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Cancer is back/Recurred
Oh No
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
anti-LAG3 monoclonal antibodies and Nivolumab
Clinical Trial
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
autoimmune meningitis
Side Effects
Was inpatient for four days.