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stopping ipi after 3rd treatment , starting dacrbazine
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stopping ipi after 3rd treatment , starting dacrbazine

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › stopping ipi after 3rd treatment , starting dacrbazine

  • Post
    • December 28, 2011 at 5:55 pm
    [email protected]
    Participant

      a good friend of mine just had his 3rd treatment of ipi 2.5 wks ago, after a recent ct scan it showed 2 spots on his lungs. the local onc wants to stop the ipi and start him on dacarbazine. can anyone tell me why?

      a good friend of mine just had his 3rd treatment of ipi 2.5 wks ago, after a recent ct scan it showed 2 spots on his lungs. the local onc wants to stop the ipi and start him on dacarbazine. can anyone tell me why?

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    • Replies
        • December 28, 2011 at 6:24 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

          Your friend's Dr. should not be stopping ipi at this moment. First of all, some people get more tumours or tumours that grow while on ipi.   Ipi takes time to work, so in the meantime, some other mets could grow. As the oncologist should know, sometimes things get worse before they get better.  By the 12th or 16th week, they will know for sure whether IPI is working. If I were your friend, I'd tell the Dr. to give me the last ipi infusion and then scan me 2 weeks after.  He may be surprised that those tumours in the lungs have started shrinking. Time will tell.

          Your friend is almost at the finish line and will eventually know how the ipi is doing. 

          Lisa

          • December 28, 2011 at 6:24 pm
          Lisa13
          Participant

            Your friend's Dr. should not be stopping ipi at this moment. First of all, some people get more tumours or tumours that grow while on ipi.   Ipi takes time to work, so in the meantime, some other mets could grow. As the oncologist should know, sometimes things get worse before they get better.  By the 12th or 16th week, they will know for sure whether IPI is working. If I were your friend, I'd tell the Dr. to give me the last ipi infusion and then scan me 2 weeks after.  He may be surprised that those tumours in the lungs have started shrinking. Time will tell.

            Your friend is almost at the finish line and will eventually know how the ipi is doing. 

            Lisa

              • December 28, 2011 at 6:53 pm
              NYKaren
              Participant

                Hi…do you know if the "local onc" is a melanoma specialist?  The drug is so new that many oncs, if they don't use it a lot, really don't know all the facts, such as the ones Lisa mentioned.  I would strongly suggest that your friend insist on finishing the course.

                all the best,

                karen

                • December 28, 2011 at 6:53 pm
                NYKaren
                Participant

                  Hi…do you know if the "local onc" is a melanoma specialist?  The drug is so new that many oncs, if they don't use it a lot, really don't know all the facts, such as the ones Lisa mentioned.  I would strongly suggest that your friend insist on finishing the course.

                  all the best,

                  karen

                  • December 28, 2011 at 6:53 pm
                  NYKaren
                  Participant

                    Hi…do you know if the "local onc" is a melanoma specialist?  The drug is so new that many oncs, if they don't use it a lot, really don't know all the facts, such as the ones Lisa mentioned.  I would strongly suggest that your friend insist on finishing the course.

                    all the best,

                    karen

                  • December 28, 2011 at 6:24 pm
                  Lisa13
                  Participant

                    Your friend's Dr. should not be stopping ipi at this moment. First of all, some people get more tumours or tumours that grow while on ipi.   Ipi takes time to work, so in the meantime, some other mets could grow. As the oncologist should know, sometimes things get worse before they get better.  By the 12th or 16th week, they will know for sure whether IPI is working. If I were your friend, I'd tell the Dr. to give me the last ipi infusion and then scan me 2 weeks after.  He may be surprised that those tumours in the lungs have started shrinking. Time will tell.

                    Your friend is almost at the finish line and will eventually know how the ipi is doing. 

                    Lisa

                    • December 28, 2011 at 7:44 pm
                    fgilbert63
                    Participant

                      Very discouraging to read about all the treatment inconsistencies and Doctors lack of knowledge especially with the newer therapies.  Bottom line is if an oncologist is going to prescribe a treatment then he or she should be up to speed on that treatment.  This is what they are getting the big $Bucks$.  Many are afraid to swallow their arrogance and refer patients to someone who knows what they are doing or diseases like this. 

                      • December 28, 2011 at 7:44 pm
                      fgilbert63
                      Participant

                        Very discouraging to read about all the treatment inconsistencies and Doctors lack of knowledge especially with the newer therapies.  Bottom line is if an oncologist is going to prescribe a treatment then he or she should be up to speed on that treatment.  This is what they are getting the big $Bucks$.  Many are afraid to swallow their arrogance and refer patients to someone who knows what they are doing or diseases like this. 

                        • December 28, 2011 at 7:44 pm
                        fgilbert63
                        Participant

                          Very discouraging to read about all the treatment inconsistencies and Doctors lack of knowledge especially with the newer therapies.  Bottom line is if an oncologist is going to prescribe a treatment then he or she should be up to speed on that treatment.  This is what they are getting the big $Bucks$.  Many are afraid to swallow their arrogance and refer patients to someone who knows what they are doing or diseases like this. 

                          • December 28, 2011 at 8:10 pm
                          margf-o-g
                          Participant

                            I agree. We met with a Melanoma specialist in November. Ipi results can show up as late as 20 weeks after course of treatment. Scary to know Dr's are not up to speed on this breakthrough treatment. Dicarbazine has less that 5% chance of working and is not recommended by experts as a viable option. 

                            • December 28, 2011 at 8:10 pm
                            margf-o-g
                            Participant

                              I agree. We met with a Melanoma specialist in November. Ipi results can show up as late as 20 weeks after course of treatment. Scary to know Dr's are not up to speed on this breakthrough treatment. Dicarbazine has less that 5% chance of working and is not recommended by experts as a viable option. 

                              • December 28, 2011 at 8:10 pm
                              margf-o-g
                              Participant

                                I agree. We met with a Melanoma specialist in November. Ipi results can show up as late as 20 weeks after course of treatment. Scary to know Dr's are not up to speed on this breakthrough treatment. Dicarbazine has less that 5% chance of working and is not recommended by experts as a viable option. 

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