Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/25/2009

Question
my grandad had melanoma skin cancer 2 and a half years ago. they scooped it out and said that they got it all and that it was only 0.5 mm. for two and a half years he has been absolutely fine. About 3 months ago he started getting very severe headaches and started getting very emotional. Then last week he got diagnosed with melanoma brain metastases (4 tumors) . The doctors say that this type is incurable but haven't yet given us the stage that the cancer is at. They have given him steroids to take and said that they have controlled the tumor a little. he is starting radiation therapy next week for 4 sessions. Next month they will do another scan to see if the tumor has shrunk. He is only 62. I was just wondering if there was anyway to cure this? any experimental drugs we could try out? they will not do surgery! I need some Facts that are of my on language and not all technical and hard to understand. If the radiotherapy shrinks the tumors to a reasonable size. how long do you think he has left? It is very hard to get my head around without decent answers.  

Answer
Unfortunately no one can guarantee to "get it all out" as this is just one more example of. Since his malignant melanoma now has spread to his brain it is now a stage 4 cancer which at present is incurable.  Malignant melanomas are also usually not very sensitive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy so the chances of controlling his illness by these means are not big unfortunately. Since it also has spread to (at least) 4 sites in his brain surgery or stereotactic radiation therapy (which otherwise works better on malignant melanomas) are not options of any value. Unfortunately I estimate his remaining survival time to be measured in months. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

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