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Opdivo and Yervoy treatments / Tumor Size
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Opdivo and Yervoy treatments / Tumor Size

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Opdivo and Yervoy treatments / Tumor Size

  • Post
    • July 16, 2016 at 3:22 am
    sallyandree
    Participant

      Has anyone taking Opdivo and Yervoy experienced a tumor getting larger and later decreasing in size?  Specifically, has anyone had a PET scan after taking several months of Opdivo and Yervoy treatments indicating that the tumor increased in size, and thereafter had scans indicating that the tumor had decreased in size?

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 16, 2016 at 6:24 pm
        Polymath
        Participant

          Hi SallyandRee,

          This topic has been mentioned here many times.  Yes, its not unusual for inflammation to be the first reaction of the tumor from drug therapy.  It expands first, then recedes if responding the therapy.  Early in my treatment, I believe I may have been yanked off Keytruda prematurely because at that time, I was not seeing a melanoma specialist (we do not have one in my entire state).  My onc was probably not familiar with this phenomenon, and it was interpreted as progression.  It's just so important that a specialist treat you, and would definitely understand this process.

          Gary 

          • July 16, 2016 at 6:24 pm
          Polymath
          Participant

            Hi SallyandRee,

            This topic has been mentioned here many times.  Yes, its not unusual for inflammation to be the first reaction of the tumor from drug therapy.  It expands first, then recedes if responding the therapy.  Early in my treatment, I believe I may have been yanked off Keytruda prematurely because at that time, I was not seeing a melanoma specialist (we do not have one in my entire state).  My onc was probably not familiar with this phenomenon, and it was interpreted as progression.  It's just so important that a specialist treat you, and would definitely understand this process.

            Gary 

            • July 16, 2016 at 6:24 pm
            Polymath
            Participant

              Hi SallyandRee,

              This topic has been mentioned here many times.  Yes, its not unusual for inflammation to be the first reaction of the tumor from drug therapy.  It expands first, then recedes if responding the therapy.  Early in my treatment, I believe I may have been yanked off Keytruda prematurely because at that time, I was not seeing a melanoma specialist (we do not have one in my entire state).  My onc was probably not familiar with this phenomenon, and it was interpreted as progression.  It's just so important that a specialist treat you, and would definitely understand this process.

              Gary 

              • July 18, 2016 at 9:12 pm
              AshleyS
              Participant

                Hello, 

                I was on Opdivo + Yervoy starting in March 2015. My tumors all increased significantly. I also had a nasty rash over all my "cancer spots" – liver, primary mole, lymph nodes, subcutaneous tumors. Dove soap helped with that and a daily probiotic helped with diarrhea. 

                Best of luck,

                Ashley

                NED since November 2015

                  • March 15, 2019 at 1:00 am
                  neophilipsdad
                  Participant

                    Good day!

                    When you said significant, how large of an increase was seen?thank you for your reply.

                    • March 15, 2019 at 1:00 am
                    neophilipsdad
                    Participant

                      Good day!

                      When you said significant, how large of an increase was seen?thank you for your reply.

                    • July 18, 2016 at 9:12 pm
                    AshleyS
                    Participant

                      Hello, 

                      I was on Opdivo + Yervoy starting in March 2015. My tumors all increased significantly. I also had a nasty rash over all my "cancer spots" – liver, primary mole, lymph nodes, subcutaneous tumors. Dove soap helped with that and a daily probiotic helped with diarrhea. 

                      Best of luck,

                      Ashley

                      NED since November 2015

                      • July 18, 2016 at 9:12 pm
                      AshleyS
                      Participant

                        Hello, 

                        I was on Opdivo + Yervoy starting in March 2015. My tumors all increased significantly. I also had a nasty rash over all my "cancer spots" – liver, primary mole, lymph nodes, subcutaneous tumors. Dove soap helped with that and a daily probiotic helped with diarrhea. 

                        Best of luck,

                        Ashley

                        NED since November 2015

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