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IPI NIVO combination

Forums Cutaneous Melanoma Community IPI NIVO combination

  • Post
    rhodri
    Participant

      Firstly i have been following this board for over two years but have not posted as there has not been much to say to this point!    This is a really incredible resource with respectful knowledgeable wise group of people  Almost happy to be here

      Diagnosed Stage 2A July 2013  nodular type 3 5mm  WLE completed  Neck Location Sentinel Nodes clear One year on interferonwhich stopped October 2014

      In January i had palpable lymph nodes in my armpit confirmed melanoma mets by biopsy  

      CT scan showed further mets right adrenal 5cm both lungs 1 5 and 1 0

      Started IPI NIVO combo on March 17   Uneventful apart from some d and v and a  chest infection I thought coincdental

      This week after the second infusion and i have had diarrhoea and vominting since day 3   Have been back into see the team a few times and they are very pleased with the results LDH is dropping from 500plus to around 300 chest xray is showing positive changes  Very happy with their care but wondering if anyone with first hand experiene has any thoughts?

       

      Taking Imodium 16mg daily

      Ondasseton 8mg three times a day

      All the best

       

      Rhodri

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        AshleyS
        Participant

          Hi Rhodri,

          Although it stinks that you progressed, I'm glad you're seeing results with the combo. 

          I was on these meds last March when the were still in the trial phase. After my first infusion, my subcutaneous mets swelled up and I developed a rash around what I call my "melanoma areas" – my primary, lymph nodes, above my liver, and above any subcutaneous tumors. After my third infusion, I had the same side effects as you. I was put on major steroids and was taken off the trial. I was super upset. HOWEVER, my scans in May 2015 showed 95% tumor reduction. I followed up with a single dose of ipi in May 2015 and have been on nivo since June of 2015. In November 2015 I was declared NED (no evidence of disease). I didn't see a reduction in my LDH until this February. 

          Be sure to report your side effects to your doc. If they decide to stop the combo, don't take it too hard. There are many of us on this board who didn't get all 4 infusions but are doing well. 

          Best of luck,

          Ashley

          AshleyS
          Participant

            Hi Rhodri,

            Although it stinks that you progressed, I'm glad you're seeing results with the combo. 

            I was on these meds last March when the were still in the trial phase. After my first infusion, my subcutaneous mets swelled up and I developed a rash around what I call my "melanoma areas" – my primary, lymph nodes, above my liver, and above any subcutaneous tumors. After my third infusion, I had the same side effects as you. I was put on major steroids and was taken off the trial. I was super upset. HOWEVER, my scans in May 2015 showed 95% tumor reduction. I followed up with a single dose of ipi in May 2015 and have been on nivo since June of 2015. In November 2015 I was declared NED (no evidence of disease). I didn't see a reduction in my LDH until this February. 

            Be sure to report your side effects to your doc. If they decide to stop the combo, don't take it too hard. There are many of us on this board who didn't get all 4 infusions but are doing well. 

            Best of luck,

            Ashley

            AshleyS
            Participant

              Hi Rhodri,

              Although it stinks that you progressed, I'm glad you're seeing results with the combo. 

              I was on these meds last March when the were still in the trial phase. After my first infusion, my subcutaneous mets swelled up and I developed a rash around what I call my "melanoma areas" – my primary, lymph nodes, above my liver, and above any subcutaneous tumors. After my third infusion, I had the same side effects as you. I was put on major steroids and was taken off the trial. I was super upset. HOWEVER, my scans in May 2015 showed 95% tumor reduction. I followed up with a single dose of ipi in May 2015 and have been on nivo since June of 2015. In November 2015 I was declared NED (no evidence of disease). I didn't see a reduction in my LDH until this February. 

              Be sure to report your side effects to your doc. If they decide to stop the combo, don't take it too hard. There are many of us on this board who didn't get all 4 infusions but are doing well. 

              Best of luck,

              Ashley

              Mat
              Participant

                Anectdotally (but from a top melanome center), I understand that only about 40% of patients are able to tolerate all 4 combined infusions.

                Mat
                Participant

                  Anectdotally (but from a top melanome center), I understand that only about 40% of patients are able to tolerate all 4 combined infusions.

                  Mat
                  Participant

                    Anectdotally (but from a top melanome center), I understand that only about 40% of patients are able to tolerate all 4 combined infusions.

                    Scottw
                    Participant

                      Hi Rhodri,

                      Long story short, I finished ipi/nivo March 9th. I was close to not being able to do the 4th treatment (mainly colitis) but talked the onc. into going for it. Paid a price. Landed in the hospital 2wice with severe dehydration and a few other things. Diarhea and vomiting mainly. Was on up to 120 mg prednisone for but now on Dexamethasone weaning down mainly for inflammation issues. My follow up Nivo treatments have been postponed now for a month due to getting the colitis under control and steroids down. Hopefully starting the Nivo next Tues. 26th.

                      Unfortunatley My tumors are the same size as before ipi/nivo treatment. Hoping that the rewards are just a delay and or the Nivo going forward will do the trick. I have a pet scan this Wednesday the 20th to get a broader pic of anything new and status of existing.

                      Not to spook you for my side effects were more severe than what my onc. has seen before and what I have read for the broader people doing the same thing. Some have next to none!

                      Sorry, tried to make it short.

                      Good luck and stay posted.

                      Scottw
                      Participant

                        Hi Rhodri,

                        Long story short, I finished ipi/nivo March 9th. I was close to not being able to do the 4th treatment (mainly colitis) but talked the onc. into going for it. Paid a price. Landed in the hospital 2wice with severe dehydration and a few other things. Diarhea and vomiting mainly. Was on up to 120 mg prednisone for but now on Dexamethasone weaning down mainly for inflammation issues. My follow up Nivo treatments have been postponed now for a month due to getting the colitis under control and steroids down. Hopefully starting the Nivo next Tues. 26th.

                        Unfortunatley My tumors are the same size as before ipi/nivo treatment. Hoping that the rewards are just a delay and or the Nivo going forward will do the trick. I have a pet scan this Wednesday the 20th to get a broader pic of anything new and status of existing.

                        Not to spook you for my side effects were more severe than what my onc. has seen before and what I have read for the broader people doing the same thing. Some have next to none!

                        Sorry, tried to make it short.

                        Good luck and stay posted.

                          rhodri
                          Participant

                            Firstly sincere apologies for having disappeared for nearly 2 years. When I’ve seen this on Melanoma boards historically I’ve suspected the worst. 

                            I was pulled off the trial after the second infusion because of toxicity and admitted to hospital with grade 4 symptoms. After two months of steroid treatment my first scan showed a marked improvement. 

                            my second scan at 6 months showed some minor progression and I was started on Pembrolizumab. I stayed on this for another 5 months and stopped because of multiple immune related adverse effects particularly arthritis.  I have now been off immunotherapy for a year and have had surgery to clear my axilla, radiotherapy to prevent local recurrence and most recently surgery to remove my one remaining lung met. 

                            To anyone considering immunotherapy I can only be encouraging despite the trials of the past year. I feel very fortunate to have developed this terrible disease at this time. 

                            I will continue to update. 

                          Scottw
                          Participant

                            Hi Rhodri,

                            Long story short, I finished ipi/nivo March 9th. I was close to not being able to do the 4th treatment (mainly colitis) but talked the onc. into going for it. Paid a price. Landed in the hospital 2wice with severe dehydration and a few other things. Diarhea and vomiting mainly. Was on up to 120 mg prednisone for but now on Dexamethasone weaning down mainly for inflammation issues. My follow up Nivo treatments have been postponed now for a month due to getting the colitis under control and steroids down. Hopefully starting the Nivo next Tues. 26th.

                            Unfortunatley My tumors are the same size as before ipi/nivo treatment. Hoping that the rewards are just a delay and or the Nivo going forward will do the trick. I have a pet scan this Wednesday the 20th to get a broader pic of anything new and status of existing.

                            Not to spook you for my side effects were more severe than what my onc. has seen before and what I have read for the broader people doing the same thing. Some have next to none!

                            Sorry, tried to make it short.

                            Good luck and stay posted.

                        Viewing 8 reply threads
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