Avelumab clinical trial vs opdivo/ ketruda

Demand to see an interventional radiologis! My husband had the same thing. He had a small liver lesion after induction with ipi. We were devastated. Fortunately, his oncologist sent him to have ablated by microwave. Fairly easy procedure which was complicated by a previous abdominal surgery due to an accident. He did well and is NED for 18 months with no further treatment. There are patients who have had an "atypical" response To ipi who have done very well. Also, a recent study indicated that melanoma patients who undergo ablation do very well. Ablation can only be done on small lesions. Further. Immune therapy may not be needed now. 

Demand to see an interventional radiologis! My husband had the same thing. He had a small liver lesion after induction with ipi. We were devastated. Fortunately, his oncologist sent him to have ablated by microwave. Fairly easy procedure which was complicated by a previous abdominal surgery due to an accident. He did well and is NED for 18 months with no further treatment. There are patients who have had an "atypical" response To ipi who have done very well. Also, a recent study indicated that melanoma patients who undergo ablation do very well. Ablation can only be done on small lesions. Further. Immune therapy may not be needed now. 

Demand to see an interventional radiologis! My husband had the same thing. He had a small liver lesion after induction with ipi. We were devastated. Fortunately, his oncologist sent him to have ablated by microwave. Fairly easy procedure which was complicated by a previous abdominal surgery due to an accident. He did well and is NED for 18 months with no further treatment. There are patients who have had an "atypical" response To ipi who have done very well. Also, a recent study indicated that melanoma patients who undergo ablation do very well. Ablation can only be done on small lesions. Further. Immune therapy may not be needed now. 

A large phase 3 trial called checkmate 67 of opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Ipi is still going on. I have been part of the trial and due to the fact that it is double blinded we don't know for sure which of the three arms we are on. 950 patients world wide are participating and early data was published at ASCO 2015. Celeste who wrote to you above has the links to the  published work on her blog. My understanding of opdivo which is given every two weeks for 2 years is that it tends to shrink tumors when it works very quickly when compared to Ipi. I had shrinkage of my lung mets on my first sets of scans at 12 weeks which I hope means that I having been recieving Opdivo for the last year and a half. The treatment has been very easy to handle when I compare my previous Interferon experience. Many of the people in the study have what is called partial responses, where the tumors shrink and then remain stable with no new growth. Having options is always nice and by doing the Avelumab trial, you still keep open the Pd-1 option. Wishing you the best!!! Ed

A large phase 3 trial called checkmate 67 of opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Ipi is still going on. I have been part of the trial and due to the fact that it is double blinded we don't know for sure which of the three arms we are on. 950 patients world wide are participating and early data was published at ASCO 2015. Celeste who wrote to you above has the links to the  published work on her blog. My understanding of opdivo which is given every two weeks for 2 years is that it tends to shrink tumors when it works very quickly when compared to Ipi. I had shrinkage of my lung mets on my first sets of scans at 12 weeks which I hope means that I having been recieving Opdivo for the last year and a half. The treatment has been very easy to handle when I compare my previous Interferon experience. Many of the people in the study have what is called partial responses, where the tumors shrink and then remain stable with no new growth. Having options is always nice and by doing the Avelumab trial, you still keep open the Pd-1 option. Wishing you the best!!! Ed

A large phase 3 trial called checkmate 67 of opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Ipi is still going on. I have been part of the trial and due to the fact that it is double blinded we don't know for sure which of the three arms we are on. 950 patients world wide are participating and early data was published at ASCO 2015. Celeste who wrote to you above has the links to the  published work on her blog. My understanding of opdivo which is given every two weeks for 2 years is that it tends to shrink tumors when it works very quickly when compared to Ipi. I had shrinkage of my lung mets on my first sets of scans at 12 weeks which I hope means that I having been recieving Opdivo for the last year and a half. The treatment has been very easy to handle when I compare my previous Interferon experience. Many of the people in the study have what is called partial responses, where the tumors shrink and then remain stable with no new growth. Having options is always nice and by doing the Avelumab trial, you still keep open the Pd-1 option. Wishing you the best!!! Ed

What I've decided about oncologists is that I want one who is a good odds make. Because it seems that way to me too. Although I had to mix my own judgement in too since I'm the one commiting to it. What I've heard others say here is, try to make the best choice I can based on whatever input I value, then go with that decision and try not to second guess it too much. Which I did in choosing my current treatment.

I've got somethimg like 4 or 5 choices once I'm done with my current trial, which I hope will be due to fullly completing the final planned cycle. I'm not thinking to much about those post-trial choices yet.

I would consider all of the factors. Will you have to travel for the clinical trial? What kind of time commitment will it look like? Do you get a good feeling from one doctor to another? These are all things I would consider, because when it comes down to it, no one can tell you which drug will work better, but you need to be satisfied with your decision and not have regrets or what if's.

I would definetely get it tested as celeste suggested, but just know that Keytruda and Opdivo were fast tracked through FDA approval because of the amazing response rate. Many stage 4 husbands are out there living life with their annoying wives 😉 because of these drugs.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

I would consider all of the factors. Will you have to travel for the clinical trial? What kind of time commitment will it look like? Do you get a good feeling from one doctor to another? These are all things I would consider, because when it comes down to it, no one can tell you which drug will work better, but you need to be satisfied with your decision and not have regrets or what if's.

I would definetely get it tested as celeste suggested, but just know that Keytruda and Opdivo were fast tracked through FDA approval because of the amazing response rate. Many stage 4 husbands are out there living life with their annoying wives 😉 because of these drugs.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

I would consider all of the factors. Will you have to travel for the clinical trial? What kind of time commitment will it look like? Do you get a good feeling from one doctor to another? These are all things I would consider, because when it comes down to it, no one can tell you which drug will work better, but you need to be satisfied with your decision and not have regrets or what if's.

I would definetely get it tested as celeste suggested, but just know that Keytruda and Opdivo were fast tracked through FDA approval because of the amazing response rate. Many stage 4 husbands are out there living life with their annoying wives 😉 because of these drugs.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Hi – ablation is a relatively Minot surgical procedure done by an interventional radiologist. A small incision is made and under X-ray guidance a probe is placed and microwaves are directed at the lesion to destroy the cancer cells. Recovery is pretty easy. My husband has the exact history as yours. A small liver lesion showed up after the induction phase of ipi. We were devastated. He had the procedure and became NED. He was 3c before ipi. He has been 18 months NED without any further immunotherapy . So, I recommend he see an interventional radiologist before he makes any decisions. We know that my husband can seek further immunotherapy if needed and we are thrilled that he hasn't had to undergo any more. Good luck. You can contact me through this website if you want.

Hi – ablation is a relatively Minot surgical procedure done by an interventional radiologist. A small incision is made and under X-ray guidance a probe is placed and microwaves are directed at the lesion to destroy the cancer cells. Recovery is pretty easy. My husband has the exact history as yours. A small liver lesion showed up after the induction phase of ipi. We were devastated. He had the procedure and became NED. He was 3c before ipi. He has been 18 months NED without any further immunotherapy . So, I recommend he see an interventional radiologist before he makes any decisions. We know that my husband can seek further immunotherapy if needed and we are thrilled that he hasn't had to undergo any more. Good luck. You can contact me through this website if you want.

Hi – ablation is a relatively Minot surgical procedure done by an interventional radiologist. A small incision is made and under X-ray guidance a probe is placed and microwaves are directed at the lesion to destroy the cancer cells. Recovery is pretty easy. My husband has the exact history as yours. A small liver lesion showed up after the induction phase of ipi. We were devastated. He had the procedure and became NED. He was 3c before ipi. He has been 18 months NED without any further immunotherapy . So, I recommend he see an interventional radiologist before he makes any decisions. We know that my husband can seek further immunotherapy if needed and we are thrilled that he hasn't had to undergo any more. Good luck. You can contact me through this website if you want.

What I've decided about oncologists is that I want one who is a good odds make. Because it seems that way to me too. Although I had to mix my own judgement in too since I'm the one commiting to it. What I've heard others say here is, try to make the best choice I can based on whatever input I value, then go with that decision and try not to second guess it too much. Which I did in choosing my current treatment.

I've got somethimg like 4 or 5 choices once I'm done with my current trial, which I hope will be due to fullly completing the final planned cycle. I'm not thinking to much about those post-trial choices yet.

What I've decided about oncologists is that I want one who is a good odds make. Because it seems that way to me too. Although I had to mix my own judgement in too since I'm the one commiting to it. What I've heard others say here is, try to make the best choice I can based on whatever input I value, then go with that decision and try not to second guess it too much. Which I did in choosing my current treatment.

I've got somethimg like 4 or 5 choices once I'm done with my current trial, which I hope will be due to fullly completing the final planned cycle. I'm not thinking to much about those post-trial choices yet.