My dad has been struggling with cancer for about 4 yrs now. The first time the cancer was found in the bladder, kidneys. He now has only one kidney. Later he was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer at stage 3. Back in Nov 2007 he had a surgery removing some lymph nodes and then he began chemo shortly after which made him to sick and he quit taking it after about 3 wks. That was December07-Jan08 about 3wks ago in May 08 they found that the cancer has spread to the lungs and I believe there are 2nodes in each lung and now I was told my dad has stage 4 melanoma skin cancer. I just want some information I have a 10yr old son and his papaw is his world. My dad is only 54 yrs old I want to know what the lifspan is. All honesty be blunt I need to know and prepare myself and my son.
As you already know your father’s situation is very grave. I’d look into the clinical trials currently being done for stage 4 malignant melanoma. This site will let you search for hospitals located nearby that are involved with ongoing melanoma clinical trials. Select malignant melanoma then enter the state or states where you could possibly go.
http://www.clinicaltrialssearch.org/clinical_trials_by_state.html
good luck to your father &
all the best to you and your family
First let me say that I feel for you and your child. I have seen melanoma take a mans life fairly quickly after it has metastasized. I did interval Sonography on a patient w/ late stage melanoma and once it went to the lung/liver it gets real aggressive; the prognosis for anything over six-month survival was grim.
References :
*This was in 1996. There may-be new treatments for it.
Hi Gina,
I have been told by some- that it can be 2 yrs. HOWEVER I know people who had lung cancer and lived way past the 2 yrs. It really depends on the individual. Honestly, I’m nto sure about the melanoma. Either way I have seen several people live past their prognosis. Have you had a chance to talk to his doctors or nurses? The radiation and chemo could put it in remission and he would be ok if he didn’t get sick again from it. I’m really sorry you are going through this. I really will say a prayer right now for you and I hope things turn out well.
References :
Listen.. when i was 14 my grandpaw was supposed to die..He had just about everything you could imagine.. the doctors said he wouldnt live for 2 months well he had to have a surgery on his heart and the doctors said he would not make it. my grandma said wen god is ready he’ll take him./ He had the surgery he survived it. Then they found gain green in his legs.. He was said to have died on the table when they were to remove his legs.. My grandpa lived 4 years after all those surgerys. Just remember miracles do happen everyday..!! I would do everything possible to make sure your son can get to know his grandpa. Because even tho my grandpaw died 4 years after he was supposed to.. i would love to know how he felt on certain things. Just make sure u and your son live with no regrets. If you understand. There is just so many things i want to tell my grandpa.
References :
As you already know your father’s situation is very grave. I’d look into the clinical trials currently being done for stage 4 malignant melanoma. This site will let you search for hospitals located nearby that are involved with ongoing melanoma clinical trials. Select malignant melanoma then enter the state or states where you could possibly go.
http://www.clinicaltrialssearch.org/clinical_trials_by_state.html
good luck to your father &
all the best to you and your family
References :