Tuesday Oct 23

A message from MarK:

I'm convinced the many prayers and positive thoughts on my behalf have made it possible for me to keep working.

The least troublesome, but most apparent, recent change has been hair loss from radiation. 

Meg was smart to get a family photo before it came out.

I'm grateful for great friends, family, and caregivers.
Mark

Message from Mark's brother Scott

Mark and Meg had the first outpatient appointment with Dr. Kenneth Grossman, his main melanoma specialist, last week.  He got good news that his tumor cells have been identified to have the BRAF mutation, which is good because there are some promising treatments available for this type of melanoma.  Here are a few of the things learned and upcoming plans:

·         “Targeted therapy,” a type of oral chemotherapy

o   Works for many patients with BRAF melanoma.  Often melts the tumors away in just a few weeks

o   When it works, it tends to work great but has a limited time effect of average 7 months, which gives time for other treatments to work

o   Doesn’t get into brain tissue well, so still needs radiation to stop brain tumor growth

o   Mark will start this in a little over a week (one week after finishing brain radiation)

·         “Immune therapy,” a type of intravenous chemotherapy

o   Works for some patients with BRAF melanoma. 

o   Targets T lymphocytes to help them recognize tumor cells as foreigners and kill them.

o   Takes a few months to work, but when it works it has an effect for many months to years

o   Given once a week for four weeks

o   Mark will start this in several weeks

·         Radiation

o   Will continue on brain for this week.

o   Will be done on hip in this week also

o   May be done to specific tumors in the future if chemo meds work but at some time a localized tumor recurs

·         PET scan

o   Did not reveal a primary tumor.  Presumably the primary tumor was resorbed by the body

o   Will be repeated periodically to monitor for success of medications reducing tumor size and number

·         Family Risk

o   No blood relatives should have increased risk of melanoma.  

 Thanks for your continued prayers!

 Scott