Hi John-b,

To be able to answer your question can you give us some more information please?

What Stage have you been diagnosed and what treatment have you had so far (initial surgery & any further surgery)?

Have you been told the options you will be offered or will this be your first appointment with the oncologist?

I'm assuming that your primary cancer is melanoma and it's spread to your lung?

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thanks Angie

You are quite right, melanoma removed (December 30th)  from forehead after 3 hours of surgery over two operations but spread to right lung, 30mm approximate size and seeing oncologist next Thursday on face to face. Interested on what they are going to say, how it can be removed and if it life threatening.

Kind Regards

John

OK. The oncologist will explain the drug treatment plan they will be putting in place. The options will depend on whether you are BRAF positive or negative (also known as wildcard). Everyone has the BRAF gene but in 50% of patients it's become mutated & this is BRAF positive. The tissue from your melanoma will have been tested for this.

BRAF positive patients have the choice of targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Negative patients can only have immunotherapy as the targeted drugs don't work for them. You should be given literature explaining all this & the possible side effects of drug therapy - not everyone gets side effects. They will probably arrange to start the treatment within a week or two. These treatments are showing great results so will hopefully will start shrinking the lung tumour. They may also suggest it's removal once it's shrunk but sometimes it's not necessary if the drugs do their job.

Good luck at your appointment & please let us know how you get on. 

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)