[alaskanmeg]

Stage IIIA Melanoma to Stage IIA MMyeloma

by alaskanmeg on Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:22 pm

Last March I had a Wide Lesion Excision and a lymphdectomy because of melanoma. I was told I would need to go on Interferon alpha2b. When I read about the toxicity of the procedure, I opted a different oncologist and to do the "wait and see". The year past and no reoccurence!!

In October, I started having pain in my left groin area on the bone. Narcotics and crutches and a cane and a substitute oncologist later, a SPES was ordered. My oncologist was at a conference.

Labs came back and I had a 9.8 spike. My CRAB ended up with me having lytic lesions on my cranium, humerus and pelvis. More tests were ordered and the Mayo lab found trisomy on chromosones 3, 5, 7, 11, and 15. They also showed their was no melanoma!

At this point, my oncologist is conferring with Dr. Chauncey, the Director of Bone Marrow Transplants at the VA in Seattle to see what drug regimen I'll be put on for induction therapy, and whether or not I even qualify because of the lurking melanoma.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Meg

[Dr. Peter Voorhees]

Re: Stage IIIA Melanoma to Stage IIA MMyeloma

by Dr. Peter Voorhees on Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:14 am

Dear alaskanmeg,

I am sorry to hear of the difficulties you have been having but am glad you finally have an answer. Myeloma is easier to treat than melanoma, and it appears you have the hyperdiploid variant of myeloma (extra copies of chromosomes) -- that is a good thing. With no evidence of melanoma, you should be eligible for high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell rescue for your myeloma (i.e. autologous stem cell transplant). I would consider a 3-drug induction strategy for your myeloma (e.g. Revlimid/Velcade/low-dose dexamethasone or cyclophosphamide/Velcade/low-dose dexamethasone). The responses rates are high, many patients achieve very deep, sometimes complete, remissions with these strategies, and they work quickly in many instances, which is important given the pain you are in. Lastly, as far as the groin pain is concerned, make sure there are not any lesions that are large enough to put you at risk of fracture. If so, your oncologist may need to consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon.

Best of luck!

Pete V.