oral malignant melanoma - 11-16-2003 01:39 PM
Dear Patty G,
I have visited this web site a few times with a friend and deceided to join today so I can respond to your posts.I am the person you've been looking for with your inquiries.My life partner Tony had oral malignant melanoma.I have a very hard time discussing this but since you seem to be in need of some additional info I am willing to help.
He developed a medium size lesion of his tongue 6 months prior to the actual diagnosis.He was a very stubborn man and refused to seek treatment for several months.He caved in only after he started having difficulty swallowing.As I'm sure in your case the actual biopsy results were a shock.You are exactly right in your assumptions that the medical field is not up to speed with oral melanoma.He was sent to Sloan Kettering in Manhattan for treatment.He saw a literal army of doctors.They scheduled him for surgery to remove the offending tumor along with countless parts of his mouth.I do not want to go into graphic detail due to your family members impending surgery.
I will say that what you have stated that your father in law is having done was very similar to his.The doctors all gave us the same retoric "we'll have to see what we find".Well, in his case it was quite a bit more extensive than what the test results showed.He remained in the hospital for nearly 2 1/2 weeks being brought back to the operating room several times.They waited for 4 weeks after surgery to start chem/rad procedures.Well to make this alot less painful for all he went through nearly 26 weeks of all these treatments before addtional tests showed mets to his brain and spine even with being nuked so often.He was taken from me on 8/8/03 after putting up a brave fight for 13 months.
I'm sorry if this scares you but since you are about to embark on this journey with your father I want you to ask as many questions as you feel is necessary.You hound then until your satisfied.I give all respect to the members of this board who have suffered with SCC but it is just not the same.I feel in the end that they used him as a lab rat to "learn".I want to make sure this doesn't happen to another person.I pray to god that your father is the one to beat this,but you stay on top of all these and doctors and question every test and procedure.I do have a very hard time talking about this but I will be here for you if you need help.May god bless you both.
Brandon
I have visited this web site a few times with a friend and deceided to join today so I can respond to your posts.I am the person you've been looking for with your inquiries.My life partner Tony had oral malignant melanoma.I have a very hard time discussing this but since you seem to be in need of some additional info I am willing to help.
He developed a medium size lesion of his tongue 6 months prior to the actual diagnosis.He was a very stubborn man and refused to seek treatment for several months.He caved in only after he started having difficulty swallowing.As I'm sure in your case the actual biopsy results were a shock.You are exactly right in your assumptions that the medical field is not up to speed with oral melanoma.He was sent to Sloan Kettering in Manhattan for treatment.He saw a literal army of doctors.They scheduled him for surgery to remove the offending tumor along with countless parts of his mouth.I do not want to go into graphic detail due to your family members impending surgery.
I will say that what you have stated that your father in law is having done was very similar to his.The doctors all gave us the same retoric "we'll have to see what we find".Well, in his case it was quite a bit more extensive than what the test results showed.He remained in the hospital for nearly 2 1/2 weeks being brought back to the operating room several times.They waited for 4 weeks after surgery to start chem/rad procedures.Well to make this alot less painful for all he went through nearly 26 weeks of all these treatments before addtional tests showed mets to his brain and spine even with being nuked so often.He was taken from me on 8/8/03 after putting up a brave fight for 13 months.
I'm sorry if this scares you but since you are about to embark on this journey with your father I want you to ask as many questions as you feel is necessary.You hound then until your satisfied.I give all respect to the members of this board who have suffered with SCC but it is just not the same.I feel in the end that they used him as a lab rat to "learn".I want to make sure this doesn't happen to another person.I pray to god that your father is the one to beat this,but you stay on top of all these and doctors and question every test and procedure.I do have a very hard time talking about this but I will be here for you if you need help.May god bless you both.
Brandon