› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Failing Keytruda…Interferon recomended..opinions please!
- This topic has 35 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by
rogan.
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:35 am
Dear friends.. I need your opinions since we have to decide how to proceed tratment for my father. He has mucosal melanoma, secondary mets to liver. Had 6doses of keytruda, and 6 doses of DTIC. Since last CT showed progression doctor says:
I recommend to add low dose interferon-A subcutaneously (i.e 3 million units three times weekly to begin with) to his current treatment with Dacarbazine. He could start dacarbazine this coming week. Interferon also stimulates the immune system. Alternatiively he could add interleukin-2.I know this is older drug, in my country all new is unavailable 🙁 What to expect from interferon? I’m really very scared and confused 🙁 Thank you all!!!
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- June 5, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Hi IvanaDim, you might want to take a look at the post from Tim of MRF from today reporting back from ASCO where all the leadiing Oncologist are meeting. He reports on some data that has been presented on Interferon. Best Wishes!!! Ed
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- June 5, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Hi IvanaDim, you might want to take a look at the post from Tim of MRF from today reporting back from ASCO where all the leadiing Oncologist are meeting. He reports on some data that has been presented on Interferon. Best Wishes!!! Ed
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- June 5, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Hi IvanaDim, you might want to take a look at the post from Tim of MRF from today reporting back from ASCO where all the leadiing Oncologist are meeting. He reports on some data that has been presented on Interferon. Best Wishes!!! Ed
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- March 15, 2018 at 8:33 pm
Zdravo Ivana. Citajki naokolu za Keytruda naidov da tvojot post. Bi ti bil preblagodaren dokolku mozes da stapis vo contact so mene. Bi cenel dokolku mozes da spodelis okolu Nie ja pominuvame niz mnogu slicna situacija so pomlada licnost i kako sto znaes osiguruvanjeto vo makedonija ne go pokriva ovoj lek. Kako mozam da stapam vo kontakt so tebe?
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:45 pm
I obviously don't know the details of your father's condition and mucosal melanoma has its own inherent difficulties in treatment. However, if your father has only had 6 doses of Keytruda….that hardly seems time enough to make a decision re progression. Many, many melanoma researchers repeatedly state…."give the patient time". Immunotherapy is not like old time chemo….it takes a minute. And…because of how it works…t-cells and subsequent inflammation at tumor sites can LOOK like progression on early scans. Is your father being seen by a melanoma specialist? The meds you note are not the current meds most often used after having had 6 doses of anti-PD1.
Here is an article about giving the patient time: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/03/melanoma-big-dogs-review-results-of-pts.html
Here's a graph showing time to response: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/02/time-to-responseipi-vs-nivo-and-ipi.html
Celeste
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Here is what was reported at ASCO re mucosal melanoma: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/05/asco-2016-anti-pd1-for-acral-and.html
And here is an ASCO report on what options there are for patients truly failing immunotherapy: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/05/asco-2016-other-therapies-after-failing.html
Please see a melanoma specialist with whom you can discuss these options. I wish you and your father well. Celeste
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Here is what was reported at ASCO re mucosal melanoma: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/05/asco-2016-anti-pd1-for-acral-and.html
And here is an ASCO report on what options there are for patients truly failing immunotherapy: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/05/asco-2016-other-therapies-after-failing.html
Please see a melanoma specialist with whom you can discuss these options. I wish you and your father well. Celeste
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Here is what was reported at ASCO re mucosal melanoma: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/05/asco-2016-anti-pd1-for-acral-and.html
And here is an ASCO report on what options there are for patients truly failing immunotherapy: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/05/asco-2016-other-therapies-after-failing.html
Please see a melanoma specialist with whom you can discuss these options. I wish you and your father well. Celeste
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:45 pm
I obviously don't know the details of your father's condition and mucosal melanoma has its own inherent difficulties in treatment. However, if your father has only had 6 doses of Keytruda….that hardly seems time enough to make a decision re progression. Many, many melanoma researchers repeatedly state…."give the patient time". Immunotherapy is not like old time chemo….it takes a minute. And…because of how it works…t-cells and subsequent inflammation at tumor sites can LOOK like progression on early scans. Is your father being seen by a melanoma specialist? The meds you note are not the current meds most often used after having had 6 doses of anti-PD1.
Here is an article about giving the patient time: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/03/melanoma-big-dogs-review-results-of-pts.html
Here's a graph showing time to response: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/02/time-to-responseipi-vs-nivo-and-ipi.html
Celeste
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- June 5, 2016 at 9:45 pm
I obviously don't know the details of your father's condition and mucosal melanoma has its own inherent difficulties in treatment. However, if your father has only had 6 doses of Keytruda….that hardly seems time enough to make a decision re progression. Many, many melanoma researchers repeatedly state…."give the patient time". Immunotherapy is not like old time chemo….it takes a minute. And…because of how it works…t-cells and subsequent inflammation at tumor sites can LOOK like progression on early scans. Is your father being seen by a melanoma specialist? The meds you note are not the current meds most often used after having had 6 doses of anti-PD1.
Here is an article about giving the patient time: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/03/melanoma-big-dogs-review-results-of-pts.html
Here's a graph showing time to response: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/02/time-to-responseipi-vs-nivo-and-ipi.html
Celeste
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- June 6, 2016 at 4:47 am
6 Keytruda sounds too soon. My husband had several doses of Keytruda followed by a PET scan which appeared to show progression. Oncologist actually planned a switch to Opdivo and one cycle was given with a PET taken the day before this was to start. No one checked the PET until after the Opdivo had given that day and the scan actually showed improvement. The oncologist immediately planned the next cycle to be Keytruda. He too said immunotherapy is a new way of treating cabcer and the oncologists have to relearn the thinking process behind it…give it time. -
- June 6, 2016 at 4:47 am
6 Keytruda sounds too soon. My husband had several doses of Keytruda followed by a PET scan which appeared to show progression. Oncologist actually planned a switch to Opdivo and one cycle was given with a PET taken the day before this was to start. No one checked the PET until after the Opdivo had given that day and the scan actually showed improvement. The oncologist immediately planned the next cycle to be Keytruda. He too said immunotherapy is a new way of treating cabcer and the oncologists have to relearn the thinking process behind it…give it time. -
- June 6, 2016 at 4:47 am
6 Keytruda sounds too soon. My husband had several doses of Keytruda followed by a PET scan which appeared to show progression. Oncologist actually planned a switch to Opdivo and one cycle was given with a PET taken the day before this was to start. No one checked the PET until after the Opdivo had given that day and the scan actually showed improvement. The oncologist immediately planned the next cycle to be Keytruda. He too said immunotherapy is a new way of treating cabcer and the oncologists have to relearn the thinking process behind it…give it time. -
- June 6, 2016 at 4:49 am
6 Keytruda sounds too soon. My husband had several doses of Keytruda followed by a PET scan which appeared to show progression. Oncologist actually planned a switch to Opdivo and one cycle was given with a PET taken the day before this was to start. No one checked the PET until after the Opdivo had been given that day and the scan actually showed improvement. The oncologist immediately planned the next cycle to be Keytruda. He too said immunotherapy is a new way of treating cancer and the oncologists have to relearn the thinking process behind it…give it time.-
- June 6, 2016 at 10:22 am
Sadly, paying for healthcare and meds is an issue for many. I didn't realize that was the problem in your father's case. I am very sorry for that. I guess if I were in your father's shoes….I would opt for IL2. It is a very tough treatment…but has, statistically and in my opinion….a better chance for working for someone with active disease. I don't know that I would bother with interferon at all. It has a great deal of side effects for most and little effect…the study that Tim was talking about demonstrated was only a 3% change, meaning that 97%!!!! did NOT reap this benefit and those patients were Stage III….a very different category than your father.
I wish you my best, whatever path you choose. It might be worth a personal appeal to the pharmaceutical company…in the case of Keytruda (Merck)…or to BMS who makes the other pretty much equal anti-PD1 product, Opdivo. You wouldn't lose anything…and they do have some programs that help provide meds to those who do not have funding to cover it.
celeste
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- June 6, 2016 at 4:43 pm
I will reach Merk and BSM although it wont be the first time 🙁 Thank you celeste anyway it is very important to be able to discuss this with you, you have all the knowledge and more importang great heart ♡♡♡! Today, the doctor said maybe temozolamide would be better…I’m even more lost but i pray God to show us the best path. -
- June 6, 2016 at 4:43 pm
I will reach Merk and BSM although it wont be the first time 🙁 Thank you celeste anyway it is very important to be able to discuss this with you, you have all the knowledge and more importang great heart ♡♡♡! Today, the doctor said maybe temozolamide would be better…I’m even more lost but i pray God to show us the best path. -
- March 15, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Zdravo Ivana. Citajki naokolu za Keytruda naidov da tvojot post. Bi ti bil preblagodaren dokolku mozes da stapis vo contact so mene.
Bi cenel dokolku mozes da spodelis iskustvooto
Nie ja pominuvame niz mnogu slicna situacija so pomlada licnost i kako sto znaes osiguruvanjeto vo makedonija ne go pokriva ovoj lek. Kako mozam da stapam vo kontakt so tebe?
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- June 6, 2016 at 4:43 pm
I will reach Merk and BSM although it wont be the first time 🙁 Thank you celeste anyway it is very important to be able to discuss this with you, you have all the knowledge and more importang great heart ♡♡♡! Today, the doctor said maybe temozolamide would be better…I’m even more lost but i pray God to show us the best path. -
- June 6, 2016 at 10:22 am
Sadly, paying for healthcare and meds is an issue for many. I didn't realize that was the problem in your father's case. I am very sorry for that. I guess if I were in your father's shoes….I would opt for IL2. It is a very tough treatment…but has, statistically and in my opinion….a better chance for working for someone with active disease. I don't know that I would bother with interferon at all. It has a great deal of side effects for most and little effect…the study that Tim was talking about demonstrated was only a 3% change, meaning that 97%!!!! did NOT reap this benefit and those patients were Stage III….a very different category than your father.
I wish you my best, whatever path you choose. It might be worth a personal appeal to the pharmaceutical company…in the case of Keytruda (Merck)…or to BMS who makes the other pretty much equal anti-PD1 product, Opdivo. You wouldn't lose anything…and they do have some programs that help provide meds to those who do not have funding to cover it.
celeste
-
- June 6, 2016 at 10:22 am
Sadly, paying for healthcare and meds is an issue for many. I didn't realize that was the problem in your father's case. I am very sorry for that. I guess if I were in your father's shoes….I would opt for IL2. It is a very tough treatment…but has, statistically and in my opinion….a better chance for working for someone with active disease. I don't know that I would bother with interferon at all. It has a great deal of side effects for most and little effect…the study that Tim was talking about demonstrated was only a 3% change, meaning that 97%!!!! did NOT reap this benefit and those patients were Stage III….a very different category than your father.
I wish you my best, whatever path you choose. It might be worth a personal appeal to the pharmaceutical company…in the case of Keytruda (Merck)…or to BMS who makes the other pretty much equal anti-PD1 product, Opdivo. You wouldn't lose anything…and they do have some programs that help provide meds to those who do not have funding to cover it.
celeste
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- June 6, 2016 at 4:49 am
6 Keytruda sounds too soon. My husband had several doses of Keytruda followed by a PET scan which appeared to show progression. Oncologist actually planned a switch to Opdivo and one cycle was given with a PET taken the day before this was to start. No one checked the PET until after the Opdivo had been given that day and the scan actually showed improvement. The oncologist immediately planned the next cycle to be Keytruda. He too said immunotherapy is a new way of treating cancer and the oncologists have to relearn the thinking process behind it…give it time. -
- June 6, 2016 at 4:49 am
6 Keytruda sounds too soon. My husband had several doses of Keytruda followed by a PET scan which appeared to show progression. Oncologist actually planned a switch to Opdivo and one cycle was given with a PET taken the day before this was to start. No one checked the PET until after the Opdivo had been given that day and the scan actually showed improvement. The oncologist immediately planned the next cycle to be Keytruda. He too said immunotherapy is a new way of treating cancer and the oncologists have to relearn the thinking process behind it…give it time.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma, mucosal melanoma
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