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Mekinist and Teffinlar… New growth?
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Mekinist and Teffinlar… New growth?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Mekinist and Teffinlar… New growth?

  • Post
    • October 12, 2015 at 3:36 pm
    DennysGirl
    Participant

      My hubby is having pain in his left lung which did not have any spots before. He had just had a CT scan beginning of August and has been on combo since mid June. It seems to be the same type of pain he had from his first tumor (inoperable) in his right lung back in June. 

      Do new tumors pop up while on the combo that the drugs can't affect? My dad seems to think the pain is all in my husbands head because a new tumor can't pop up while the meds are working on other tumors. 

      He was doing so good until the past week. 

    Viewing 17 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 12, 2015 at 4:51 pm
        arthurjedi007
        Participant

          Unfortunately yes they can. For example while I've been on pd1 some shrank, some grew, some stayed same and 2 new ones showed up. That's the only med that any have shrank for me on.

          Artie

          • October 12, 2015 at 4:51 pm
          arthurjedi007
          Participant

            Unfortunately yes they can. For example while I've been on pd1 some shrank, some grew, some stayed same and 2 new ones showed up. That's the only med that any have shrank for me on.

            Artie

            • October 12, 2015 at 4:51 pm
            arthurjedi007
            Participant

              Unfortunately yes they can. For example while I've been on pd1 some shrank, some grew, some stayed same and 2 new ones showed up. That's the only med that any have shrank for me on.

              Artie

              • October 12, 2015 at 5:35 pm
              Patina
              Participant

                You should contact your doctor and let them know what is going on. I believe that new tumors can occur even when you are taking this treatment.

                • October 12, 2015 at 5:35 pm
                Patina
                Participant

                  You should contact your doctor and let them know what is going on. I believe that new tumors can occur even when you are taking this treatment.

                  • October 12, 2015 at 5:35 pm
                  Patina
                  Participant

                    You should contact your doctor and let them know what is going on. I believe that new tumors can occur even when you are taking this treatment.

                    • October 12, 2015 at 6:06 pm
                    BrianP
                    Participant

                       

                      Renee,

                      There are many documented cases (Artie on the forum is a prime example) where treatments work on some tumors but other tumors grow.  Experts don't know why that is but most suspect it's because of the highly mutative nature of melanoma which causes tumors in different locations to have a slightly different genetic make up so that treatment may work on one tumor but not another. 

                      If the mek/taf combo has run it's course hopefully you can get onto another treatment quickly.  If it were me I'd be pushing hard for the ipi/nivo combo.  It can have some tough side effects but it has had some amazing results.  Best of luck to you.

                      Brian

                      • October 12, 2015 at 6:06 pm
                      BrianP
                      Participant

                         

                        Renee,

                        There are many documented cases (Artie on the forum is a prime example) where treatments work on some tumors but other tumors grow.  Experts don't know why that is but most suspect it's because of the highly mutative nature of melanoma which causes tumors in different locations to have a slightly different genetic make up so that treatment may work on one tumor but not another. 

                        If the mek/taf combo has run it's course hopefully you can get onto another treatment quickly.  If it were me I'd be pushing hard for the ipi/nivo combo.  It can have some tough side effects but it has had some amazing results.  Best of luck to you.

                        Brian

                        • October 12, 2015 at 6:06 pm
                        BrianP
                        Participant

                           

                          Renee,

                          There are many documented cases (Artie on the forum is a prime example) where treatments work on some tumors but other tumors grow.  Experts don't know why that is but most suspect it's because of the highly mutative nature of melanoma which causes tumors in different locations to have a slightly different genetic make up so that treatment may work on one tumor but not another. 

                          If the mek/taf combo has run it's course hopefully you can get onto another treatment quickly.  If it were me I'd be pushing hard for the ipi/nivo combo.  It can have some tough side effects but it has had some amazing results.  Best of luck to you.

                          Brian

                          • October 12, 2015 at 7:28 pm
                          Mat
                          Participant

                            Yes, new tumors can arise while the combo continues to work on existing tumors.

                            • October 12, 2015 at 7:28 pm
                            Mat
                            Participant

                              Yes, new tumors can arise while the combo continues to work on existing tumors.

                              • October 12, 2015 at 7:28 pm
                              Mat
                              Participant

                                Yes, new tumors can arise while the combo continues to work on existing tumors.

                                • October 12, 2015 at 8:25 pm
                                Jubes
                                Participant

                                  I am surprised that he had pain in his lung from the tumour. I had an 8cm tumour in my lung and didn't feel a thing until I started coughing up blood. My dr explained that there are no nerve endings in the lung as they are glands so I only started coughing when the tumour got so big it hit the lung wall. Where in the lung is the tumour?

                                  i hope for you both that it is only some kind of muscle pain due to the treatment 

                                  all the best

                                  anne-Louise 

                                    • October 14, 2015 at 11:44 am
                                    DennysGirl
                                    Participant

                                      His largest tumor was on his right lung and was too close to his heart to operate. It was pretty big. About 3/4 size of his lung in the scan I would say.  My hubby didn't want to know "size" because he didn't want to be discouraged. It caused a constant pain in his upper right chest and upper right back until it shrank. Now he has the same type of constant pain but on the left side. So we are only assuming that there is possibly a new tumor growth there. His PET scan and MRI are this morning. We will know the results on Friday afternoon. 

                                      • October 14, 2015 at 11:44 am
                                      DennysGirl
                                      Participant

                                        His largest tumor was on his right lung and was too close to his heart to operate. It was pretty big. About 3/4 size of his lung in the scan I would say.  My hubby didn't want to know "size" because he didn't want to be discouraged. It caused a constant pain in his upper right chest and upper right back until it shrank. Now he has the same type of constant pain but on the left side. So we are only assuming that there is possibly a new tumor growth there. His PET scan and MRI are this morning. We will know the results on Friday afternoon. 

                                        • October 14, 2015 at 11:44 am
                                        DennysGirl
                                        Participant

                                          His largest tumor was on his right lung and was too close to his heart to operate. It was pretty big. About 3/4 size of his lung in the scan I would say.  My hubby didn't want to know "size" because he didn't want to be discouraged. It caused a constant pain in his upper right chest and upper right back until it shrank. Now he has the same type of constant pain but on the left side. So we are only assuming that there is possibly a new tumor growth there. His PET scan and MRI are this morning. We will know the results on Friday afternoon. 

                                        • October 12, 2015 at 8:25 pm
                                        Jubes
                                        Participant

                                          I am surprised that he had pain in his lung from the tumour. I had an 8cm tumour in my lung and didn't feel a thing until I started coughing up blood. My dr explained that there are no nerve endings in the lung as they are glands so I only started coughing when the tumour got so big it hit the lung wall. Where in the lung is the tumour?

                                          i hope for you both that it is only some kind of muscle pain due to the treatment 

                                          all the best

                                          anne-Louise 

                                          • October 12, 2015 at 8:25 pm
                                          Jubes
                                          Participant

                                            I am surprised that he had pain in his lung from the tumour. I had an 8cm tumour in my lung and didn't feel a thing until I started coughing up blood. My dr explained that there are no nerve endings in the lung as they are glands so I only started coughing when the tumour got so big it hit the lung wall. Where in the lung is the tumour?

                                            i hope for you both that it is only some kind of muscle pain due to the treatment 

                                            all the best

                                            anne-Louise 

                                            • October 13, 2015 at 1:08 am
                                            Julie in SoCal
                                            Participant

                                              Hi Rene,

                                              im not on the combo, but I've definitely had stuff pop up mid course.  In fact I've had stuff pop up and the the drugs take over and melt it.  My doc says that things can get worse before they get better.  

                                              Sorry, Dad, tumors can pop up any time they want- including mid treatment.

                                              peace,

                                              Julie

                                              • October 13, 2015 at 1:08 am
                                              Julie in SoCal
                                              Participant

                                                Hi Rene,

                                                im not on the combo, but I've definitely had stuff pop up mid course.  In fact I've had stuff pop up and the the drugs take over and melt it.  My doc says that things can get worse before they get better.  

                                                Sorry, Dad, tumors can pop up any time they want- including mid treatment.

                                                peace,

                                                Julie

                                                • October 13, 2015 at 1:08 am
                                                Julie in SoCal
                                                Participant

                                                  Hi Rene,

                                                  im not on the combo, but I've definitely had stuff pop up mid course.  In fact I've had stuff pop up and the the drugs take over and melt it.  My doc says that things can get worse before they get better.  

                                                  Sorry, Dad, tumors can pop up any time they want- including mid treatment.

                                                  peace,

                                                  Julie

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