I Have A Question!

Hi Mike – I have been on his board for 20+ years but very Seldom post. I have had stage 4 melanoma since 1996 and have been on many treatments. The big immunotherapy drugs didn't work for me. I "failed" both Yervoy and Pembro. After that I did IL2 which also did not work but was worth a try because they say if it does work, it's a cure. I have now been on a chemo trial for 3+ years. The side effects are tolerable and I pretty much lead a normal ( whatever that is) life. My point is, don't rule anything out. 

As as a side note, I always read your posts and appreciate how supportive and helpful you are to everyone. Best of luck with your choice of treatment. I have been in situations where I didn't think I could ever bounce back and yet I did!

Hi Mike, I hope the link works that i will give you at the bottom, it features Dr. oMid Hamid of the Angeles Clinic. Not sure if you have to sign up or if it will ask you to sign up to see it, since I am always signing up for new sights to find new shit. At the 25min mark it gets interesting, it gets into OX-40, Lag-3, NKTR-214, Tils with LN-144 trial as well as some other drugs that they are looking at. Home you find it helpful. Ed http://www.oncologytube.com/video/immunotherapy-in-melanoma-what-s-up-next/10003438?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=moasc-oncology-summit

Hi Mike – I think Ed has provided some interesting potential options.  IL-2 is not used much anymore and if you're on it, has to  be done in a facility that knows how to manage patients receiving this treatment.  IT's a pretty rough tretment from what I have read and produces a complete response in 12-15% of people taking it.  Talk to your onc and discuss fully including side effects, etc.  DO the same for the other therapies and combos.  Good luck, Mike!

Mike,

You might consider continuing Opdivo immunotherapy and request a December PET/CT scan.   Only one of your tumors grew.  You might consider radiation to that tumor.  You may be responding slowly to immunotherapy.

My tumor grew a little between April and September.  I continue to receive Opdivo immunotherapy and will have a PET/CT scan around December to check on that tumor.

https://www.healio.com/dermatology/cutaneous-oncology/news/online/%7B38850d43-5d35-42ce-b507-ce80fc2f1d1e%7D/il-12-therapy-elicits-encouraging-response-rates-in-melanoma

Dont know if this is worth looking, maybe has some additional information. Hope the link works.

Bill

The Mayo Clinic and Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center use PET scans to evaluate the effectiveness of melanoma treatments. Some other health systems save money by not doing PET scans.   A PET scan with CT costs less than one 240 mg infusion of Opdivo and provides more information just a CT scan does.  Since a PET scan does not show brain cancer, brain MRIs are also necessary.

Nothing knowledgeable to add, but wishing you all the best and a thorough second opinion real soon.

Hi Mike,

Have any of your tumors been tested for the exact mutation? My mom, stage 4, did and found she has the mutation CCND1 and was put in the trial study called TAPUR (country wide). She is taking a breast cancer drug called Ibrance specifically for the mutation. It has worked. She is currently NED. I wish you all the best!