Seems my chemo may no longer be working. While there is no proof that it
actually works with melanoma, I've been on it since May and it's only in
the last couple of weeks that the tumours in my lungs have actually
started to grow again, after many months of (slowly) shrinking. No new
tumours have appeared in this time either. The chemo must have had
something to do with that.

I mentioned in another thread (the check-in thread) that a tumour has now
returned for the 5th time in the lymph channels on my upper leg near my
groin after 3 previous operations on the very same spot. It was there
when I started chemo in May but had shrunk to virtually nothing since the
chemo started.

Now -- in the last week or so -- it has taken off. It went from being
virtually unnoticeable 2 weeks ago, and at the moment it's about 2 inches
in diameter and growing very fast. It's been two weeks since the last
scans. If the lung tumours have grown at the same rate I'm in a bit of
trouble.

I don't see my onc until next Tuesday and might have to visit my GP or
hospital outpatients for pain meds as this thing is getting very painful
very quickly, and especially today. I'm due another dose of chemo on
Tuesday and I think my onc might want to give it to me even though the
tumour on my leg is (to me) a clear sign that chemo is no longer working
and disease might be progressing very fast. H emay want to wait for more
scans (due in 4 weeks) before stopping the chemo.

So, just wondering what happens next (besides the inevitable). I've been
in a sort of stable holding pattern for over 2 years now (diagnosed Nov
2004). It seems my disease is no longer stable and may be worsening at a
rapid rate. I'm wondering what they'll offer next. Just weighing up
options before I see the onc so I don't get overwhelmed. Besides the
obvious drugs for the pain, what else can I expect in the way of
treatment options.

TIA
John
Sydney, Australia.