Keytruda work in Stage IV with high tumor burden?
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Keytruda work in Stage IV with high tumor burden?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Keytruda work in Stage IV with high tumor burden?

  • Post
    • April 18, 2015 at 12:56 pm
    Jen P
    Participant

      Has anyone here with Stage IV and high tumor burden seen positive results with Keytruda? Thanks.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 18, 2015 at 8:59 pm
        arthurjedi007
        Participant

          After the third dose the scan for me showed 19 of 30 tumors were shrinking. That was at mayo which had a detailed report. The 2nd scan was at Siteman which was vague and said some tumors had mild growth. I think I had about 7 doses then. Now I've had 16 doses and get the 3rd scan Monday where I'm hoping and praying for a miracle of nothing new and no growth but we shall see. So maybe that answers your question.

          Artie

            • April 19, 2015 at 3:44 am
            arthurjedi007
            Participant

              Some other things to consider with high tumor burden is nutrition. Basically the simplest decent way is to eat as close to natural stuff as you can without preservatives. Nutrition feeds your cancer cells but your healthy cells need it too.

              Also exercise is good too. If you can walk a few miles a day that would be great.

              Other people have had what I would consider heavy tumor burden and are either NED or stable thanks to keytruda.

              Good luck.

              Artie

              • April 19, 2015 at 2:16 pm
              Jen P
              Participant

                Thanks Artie. My husband was on taf/Mek combo and it quit working after 3 months. Tumors spread aggressively to liver, sternum, lungs, 8th vertebrae and now brain. He's under WBR and had one infusion of Yervoy. Our onc is trying to switch him to Keytruda after 2 infusions of Yervoy as his Mel is so aggressive. I had read that patients with high tumor load don't typically respond to Keytruda. We've changed his diet as you mentioned above and takes numerous supplements but seems like nothing has helped since Mel is so aggressive. Just feeling like there isn't much hope and was wondering if by chance other people in this situation saw success with Keytruda.

                Thanks,

                Jen

                 

                • April 19, 2015 at 9:46 pm
                arthurjedi007
                Participant

                  Wow. Sorry he is having to go through so much. I have heard of others like Eva and Laurie with lots of tumors and Keytruda took care of them. I remember Eva started keytruda a few weeks after me with stuff in liver head and all over and just 3 doses everything was pretty much way gone but everyone is different. But it takes time for immunotherapy meds to work. It sounds like his doc is trying his best doing radiation to head while on yervoy and getting to keytruda as fast as he can. I'm not sure what else can be done with standard meds. I'm not sure what trial med might help. Hopefully you folks can stay strong and positive and beat this. Good luck.

                  Artie

                  • April 19, 2015 at 11:38 pm
                  liberty04281
                  Participant
                    Hi Artie, how does the treatment with Keytruda last, how many infusions a person is suppose to get.
                    I know the treatment with Yervoy is four infusions. I hope you know the answer.
                    Good luck with your scan.
                    • April 20, 2015 at 12:04 pm
                    arthurjedi007
                    Participant

                      I don't think even the docs know that answer. Some folks on the original trials that was supposed to be 24 months have continued with no end date. I would think if a person is lucky enough that it is working then to stay on it. Some people went NED and stopped only to start it again because the disease came back. For me I nolonger have even the mild side affects so staying on it is easy. I just hope today's scan shows it is wise for me to continue on it. I'm quite scared about that.

                      Artie

                       

                       

                      • April 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm
                      Jen P
                      Participant

                        Prayers for great scans, Artie!  Let us know how it goes!

                        Jen

                        • April 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm
                        Jen P
                        Participant

                          Prayers for great scans, Artie!  Let us know how it goes!

                          Jen

                          • April 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm
                          Jen P
                          Participant

                            Prayers for great scans, Artie!  Let us know how it goes!

                            Jen

                            • April 20, 2015 at 6:01 pm
                            liberty04281
                            Participant
                              I know the feeling
                              • April 20, 2015 at 6:01 pm
                              liberty04281
                              Participant
                                I know the feeling
                                • April 20, 2015 at 6:01 pm
                                liberty04281
                                Participant
                                  I know the feeling
                                  • April 20, 2015 at 12:04 pm
                                  arthurjedi007
                                  Participant

                                    I don't think even the docs know that answer. Some folks on the original trials that was supposed to be 24 months have continued with no end date. I would think if a person is lucky enough that it is working then to stay on it. Some people went NED and stopped only to start it again because the disease came back. For me I nolonger have even the mild side affects so staying on it is easy. I just hope today's scan shows it is wise for me to continue on it. I'm quite scared about that.

                                    Artie

                                     

                                     

                                    • April 20, 2015 at 12:04 pm
                                    arthurjedi007
                                    Participant

                                      I don't think even the docs know that answer. Some folks on the original trials that was supposed to be 24 months have continued with no end date. I would think if a person is lucky enough that it is working then to stay on it. Some people went NED and stopped only to start it again because the disease came back. For me I nolonger have even the mild side affects so staying on it is easy. I just hope today's scan shows it is wise for me to continue on it. I'm quite scared about that.

                                      Artie

                                       

                                       

                                      • April 19, 2015 at 11:38 pm
                                      liberty04281
                                      Participant
                                        Hi Artie, how does the treatment with Keytruda last, how many infusions a person is suppose to get.
                                        I know the treatment with Yervoy is four infusions. I hope you know the answer.
                                        Good luck with your scan.
                                        • April 19, 2015 at 11:38 pm
                                        liberty04281
                                        Participant
                                          Hi Artie, how does the treatment with Keytruda last, how many infusions a person is suppose to get.
                                          I know the treatment with Yervoy is four infusions. I hope you know the answer.
                                          Good luck with your scan.
                                          • April 19, 2015 at 9:46 pm
                                          arthurjedi007
                                          Participant

                                            Wow. Sorry he is having to go through so much. I have heard of others like Eva and Laurie with lots of tumors and Keytruda took care of them. I remember Eva started keytruda a few weeks after me with stuff in liver head and all over and just 3 doses everything was pretty much way gone but everyone is different. But it takes time for immunotherapy meds to work. It sounds like his doc is trying his best doing radiation to head while on yervoy and getting to keytruda as fast as he can. I'm not sure what else can be done with standard meds. I'm not sure what trial med might help. Hopefully you folks can stay strong and positive and beat this. Good luck.

                                            Artie

                                            • April 19, 2015 at 9:46 pm
                                            arthurjedi007
                                            Participant

                                              Wow. Sorry he is having to go through so much. I have heard of others like Eva and Laurie with lots of tumors and Keytruda took care of them. I remember Eva started keytruda a few weeks after me with stuff in liver head and all over and just 3 doses everything was pretty much way gone but everyone is different. But it takes time for immunotherapy meds to work. It sounds like his doc is trying his best doing radiation to head while on yervoy and getting to keytruda as fast as he can. I'm not sure what else can be done with standard meds. I'm not sure what trial med might help. Hopefully you folks can stay strong and positive and beat this. Good luck.

                                              Artie

                                              • April 19, 2015 at 2:16 pm
                                              Jen P
                                              Participant

                                                Thanks Artie. My husband was on taf/Mek combo and it quit working after 3 months. Tumors spread aggressively to liver, sternum, lungs, 8th vertebrae and now brain. He's under WBR and had one infusion of Yervoy. Our onc is trying to switch him to Keytruda after 2 infusions of Yervoy as his Mel is so aggressive. I had read that patients with high tumor load don't typically respond to Keytruda. We've changed his diet as you mentioned above and takes numerous supplements but seems like nothing has helped since Mel is so aggressive. Just feeling like there isn't much hope and was wondering if by chance other people in this situation saw success with Keytruda.

                                                Thanks,

                                                Jen

                                                 

                                                • April 19, 2015 at 2:16 pm
                                                Jen P
                                                Participant

                                                  Thanks Artie. My husband was on taf/Mek combo and it quit working after 3 months. Tumors spread aggressively to liver, sternum, lungs, 8th vertebrae and now brain. He's under WBR and had one infusion of Yervoy. Our onc is trying to switch him to Keytruda after 2 infusions of Yervoy as his Mel is so aggressive. I had read that patients with high tumor load don't typically respond to Keytruda. We've changed his diet as you mentioned above and takes numerous supplements but seems like nothing has helped since Mel is so aggressive. Just feeling like there isn't much hope and was wondering if by chance other people in this situation saw success with Keytruda.

                                                  Thanks,

                                                  Jen

                                                   

                                                  • April 19, 2015 at 3:44 am
                                                  arthurjedi007
                                                  Participant

                                                    Some other things to consider with high tumor burden is nutrition. Basically the simplest decent way is to eat as close to natural stuff as you can without preservatives. Nutrition feeds your cancer cells but your healthy cells need it too.

                                                    Also exercise is good too. If you can walk a few miles a day that would be great.

                                                    Other people have had what I would consider heavy tumor burden and are either NED or stable thanks to keytruda.

                                                    Good luck.

                                                    Artie

                                                    • April 19, 2015 at 3:44 am
                                                    arthurjedi007
                                                    Participant

                                                      Some other things to consider with high tumor burden is nutrition. Basically the simplest decent way is to eat as close to natural stuff as you can without preservatives. Nutrition feeds your cancer cells but your healthy cells need it too.

                                                      Also exercise is good too. If you can walk a few miles a day that would be great.

                                                      Other people have had what I would consider heavy tumor burden and are either NED or stable thanks to keytruda.

                                                      Good luck.

                                                      Artie

                                                    • April 18, 2015 at 8:59 pm
                                                    arthurjedi007
                                                    Participant

                                                      After the third dose the scan for me showed 19 of 30 tumors were shrinking. That was at mayo which had a detailed report. The 2nd scan was at Siteman which was vague and said some tumors had mild growth. I think I had about 7 doses then. Now I've had 16 doses and get the 3rd scan Monday where I'm hoping and praying for a miracle of nothing new and no growth but we shall see. So maybe that answers your question.

                                                      Artie

                                                      • April 18, 2015 at 8:59 pm
                                                      arthurjedi007
                                                      Participant

                                                        After the third dose the scan for me showed 19 of 30 tumors were shrinking. That was at mayo which had a detailed report. The 2nd scan was at Siteman which was vague and said some tumors had mild growth. I think I had about 7 doses then. Now I've had 16 doses and get the 3rd scan Monday where I'm hoping and praying for a miracle of nothing new and no growth but we shall see. So maybe that answers your question.

                                                        Artie

                                                        • April 21, 2015 at 2:46 pm
                                                        sweetaugust
                                                        Participant

                                                          Hi Jen P!

                                                          Artie is right….I had what I think is a high tumor burden.  My melanoma had spread to several nodes in my left arm pit, several nodes in my right arm pit, several nodes behind my chestwall plate, several nodes wrapped around my heart, and a mass on my liver.  After 3 months on Keytruda, all of that responded and went away except for one larger node in my right arm pit…that one doubled in size.  But finally at 6 months on Keytruda that bad node finally blew up and died.  I have been on Keytruda for 2.5 years now and am scheduled to be on if forever, according to my drug trial.  All is looking great for me.  I am totally healthy and living a more organic, natural lifestyle to help my immune system stay strong.

                                                          All my best to you, Laurie

                                                          • April 21, 2015 at 2:46 pm
                                                          sweetaugust
                                                          Participant

                                                            Hi Jen P!

                                                            Artie is right….I had what I think is a high tumor burden.  My melanoma had spread to several nodes in my left arm pit, several nodes in my right arm pit, several nodes behind my chestwall plate, several nodes wrapped around my heart, and a mass on my liver.  After 3 months on Keytruda, all of that responded and went away except for one larger node in my right arm pit…that one doubled in size.  But finally at 6 months on Keytruda that bad node finally blew up and died.  I have been on Keytruda for 2.5 years now and am scheduled to be on if forever, according to my drug trial.  All is looking great for me.  I am totally healthy and living a more organic, natural lifestyle to help my immune system stay strong.

                                                            All my best to you, Laurie

                                                            • April 21, 2015 at 2:46 pm
                                                            sweetaugust
                                                            Participant

                                                              Hi Jen P!

                                                              Artie is right….I had what I think is a high tumor burden.  My melanoma had spread to several nodes in my left arm pit, several nodes in my right arm pit, several nodes behind my chestwall plate, several nodes wrapped around my heart, and a mass on my liver.  After 3 months on Keytruda, all of that responded and went away except for one larger node in my right arm pit…that one doubled in size.  But finally at 6 months on Keytruda that bad node finally blew up and died.  I have been on Keytruda for 2.5 years now and am scheduled to be on if forever, according to my drug trial.  All is looking great for me.  I am totally healthy and living a more organic, natural lifestyle to help my immune system stay strong.

                                                              All my best to you, Laurie

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