dian in spokane's Profile

I spend my free time playing music!

I was originally diagnosed in 1983 with a clarks level 4 MM on my right hip. It was completely excised, and no further treatment beyond observation was considered. I had two other very small MM removed the same year and was NED for the next 20 years.

My Current melanoma developed underneath the scar tissue from a previous biopsy on my left arm, and went undiscovered for a while. I had developed a bump on the scar over a previous in situ site (from 1983), that became knotted. I asked the derm to remove it and was told it was a 'keloid scar' and would just return. Since it had been 20 yrs, the level of suspicion for melanoma was low.

I noticed a discoloration in the area, under the scar in mid august(of 03) and the biopsy showed recurrent melanoma (the depth was 3 mm) It was removed by wide excision on 10-3-03 and SNB was clear at that time. But there were satellite nodules, and some evidence of microscopic mets in transit, raising my stage to IIIB

The doctors have recommended that I enter into a SWOG trial (0008) Which I should be starting soon.

12-03... did not qualify for SWOG trial, beginning 1 yr interferon december 3rd.

2-04 On my 5th week of self injections and doing well. I have also begun guided imagery, which I feel goes hand in hand with interferon, boosting the immune system. I've found this also helps keep my mind strong and positive, and I am very hopeful that this course of treatment will keep me healthy for many years.

11-04 Discontinued self injections last month due to toxicity in the lungs, causing me to have dramatic breathing problems and coughing. MUCH better after treatments and currently NED and building my strength back up. Scans again in early December.

July 05: 20 months NED!! Currently living life to the fullest, and all scans good.

December '05:-- Previous area of inflammation in right lung shows nodular shape. Doc and I agree to step up scan schedule to 3 months. Rescan in march.

March '06-- Previous spot on right lung seems resolved. Still NED!

returning to 6 month ab/chest cts as routine followup.

April 3, 2007: 6 month scans and bloodwork good. Still showing some kind of "scarring" in the right lung area, which is stable and deemed to be 'not melanoma' I am now 3 and a half years NED

October 2007: 4 years NED! I have dropped my visits to the oncologist to once every six months, my scans once a year. I also see the dermatologist once a year.

June 2008: This month marks 25 years since my original melanoma diagnosis. An odd anniversary, but one I am celebrating. Melanoma gave me a new appreciation of life back then, though I never thought it would be returning. My recurrence was frightening, but now I am once again appreciating and living life to the fullest.

September 08 Routine chest/ab ct show some increase in 'inflammatory area' of the lungs. We scheduled my first ever combined PET/CT for january

January 2009 PET/CT shows mild fdg uptake in the lungs, 2 to 3. But 10.6 in small lump that has developed in left thigh. Suspicious for subcutaneous melanoma. Lung biopsy scheduled via bronchoscopy next week.

February 2009. Lung biopsy negative for melanoma.

Subcutaneous melanoma completely excised from left thigh.

Positive for melanoma, restaging me to Stage IV.

Late February I visit SCCA for consult. They have no treatments or trials available to me, but do help me persue some clinical trial. After much research, I've decided to just watch and look for trials now.

April 14, 2009 PET/CT shows small, roundish shaped spot lighting up (5.6) very near the top edge of my February scar. No telling if it is related to surgery, or, hematoma. I leave tomorrow for two weeks in CA. Will have ultrasound upon return May 5th.

May '09 Ultrasound shows solid, vascularized tumor. After meeting with both of my oncs, we've decided to harvest this tumor for vaccine trial.

May 19th 09 Surgical excision of second SubQ. Tumor sent to Hoag Cancer Center in Newport Beach, California. It will take 2 to 10 months to grow vaccine.

April, 2010 Tumor Cell line finally mature enough for to begin vaccine! I flew to Newport Beach to sign conformed consent and be randomized into one arm of the trial. I'm happy to say that I got into the arm that I wanted, the dendritic arm, and had white blood cells harvested to build my vaccine. Officially entered into NCT00436930, at Hoag Memorial hospital in Newport Beach. The MacVac trial. My cells will now be engineered into dendritic cells and I should begin injections in about 3 weeks.

May 2010, delay in beginning injections due to purity issues.

June 2010. Vaccine ready! we fly to California and begin weekly treatments next week.

August 2010. Happily, I have tolerated the injections well with minimal side effects. Finished weekly visits and begin monthly shots on august 18th.
Dec 2010 Completed Vaccine Trial
January 2011, PET/CT scan clear, still NED
May 2011 PET/CT scan still clear, NED 2 yrs after moving to stage IV and having surgical removal of my last tumor. PET showed a continued inflammation in my tonsilar region and I'll be seeing an ENT to look into that.
Aug 5, 2011 Tonsils removed for biopsy to rule out melanoma
Aug 12, 2011 Pathology results show no sign of melanoma! Still NED

January 2012: Three years after advancing to stage IV I continue to be NED. Last PET/CT scan (in November) clear of any signs of melanoma. I am now on a 6 month scan and oncology visit, returning for my next routine visit in May.