Impatient with Immunotherapy
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Impatient with Immunotherapy

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Impatient with Immunotherapy

  • Post
    • November 4, 2017 at 4:28 am
    warreri
    Participant

      I completed Yervoy today. My oncologist started coupling it with Opdivo the last session and for the one today too. Now I just have to finish up Opdivo but I'm pessimistic because the tumor on my mid shin stays the same size and while the other one sometimes looks smaller very recently it seems not not only have gone back to its original size but specks of tumor have formed around it too. Today my oncologist said that it sometimes takes 8 weeks to take effect but i've been doing this for over 8 weeks with no lasting difference. I've been dealing with this since I was 17 and I'm 22 now. I want to be done with it for good. 

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 4, 2017 at 5:38 am
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          It can take longer than 8 weeks for it to start showing response.. after my 4th yervoy/opdivo dose there was almost no improvement, I did start to see improvement closer to the 12 week mark, for some it takes longer than that. Just have to hang in there, let it get to work, try to distract yourself in the mean time. 

          • November 4, 2017 at 8:40 pm
          MelanomaMike
          Participant

            Be patient! it will work out! im learning more & more about our shared illness {Melanoma} and i to will be starting treatment soon {after Nov 15th} most likely Pembro {aka Keytruda}. Keep up the fight! stay hopefull and STAY BUSY! sometimes when were in our heads to much that is the devils playground so-to-speak…YOU WILL BEAT THIS CRAP!!

            • November 5, 2017 at 4:22 pm
            Bubbles
            Participant

              I understand your frustration.  Here is a graph that shows indeed, average time to response is 3 months with immunotherapy (in this case the patients were taking ipi and nivo together for the whole time)….but there are others who do not gain a response for 6 to 10 months –

               http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/02/time-to-responseipi-vs-nivo-and-ipi.html  

              Hang in there.  Fingers crossed for a good response very soon!  Celeste

                • November 8, 2017 at 8:05 am
                Sharon93065
                Participant

                  Thank you for posting that table, I asked Dr how long it would keep working in me, he said we will see by the next Petscan,  that is December.  I have faith.

            Viewing 2 reply threads
            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
            About the MRF Patient Forum

            The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

            The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.