dkeagle

My wife had whole brain radiation in October 2014, and a double craniotomy in December.  After those two things, she was on a combination therapy of pembrolizumab and then IL-2 sub-cutaneous injections at her subq mets, that have been working well.  The first round of pembro didn't seem to do much, but the second round in combination with the IL-2 went very well.  As some others have mentioned, the IL-2 is tough, but our doc thinks that it might be the kick start that the PD-1 ihibitors need to get moving.  We're on a tough road, but there is Hope.  Keep trusting God, ask a lot of questions to many people, especially your doctors about options that they know about, and that you have heard about, and try to stay positive.  Keep moving forward with the best options you have available to you at the time, and above all, keep your faith, as there is only one Healer for melanoma.

My wife had whole brain radiation in October 2014, and a double craniotomy in December.  After those two things, she was on a combination therapy of pembrolizumab and then IL-2 sub-cutaneous injections at her subq mets, that have been working well.  The first round of pembro didn't seem to do much, but the second round in combination with the IL-2 went very well.  As some others have mentioned, the IL-2 is tough, but our doc thinks that it might be the kick start that the PD-1 ihibitors need to get moving.  We're on a tough road, but there is Hope.  Keep trusting God, ask a lot of questions to many people, especially your doctors about options that they know about, and that you have heard about, and try to stay positive.  Keep moving forward with the best options you have available to you at the time, and above all, keep your faith, as there is only one Healer for melanoma.

My wife had whole brain radiation in October 2014, and a double craniotomy in December.  After those two things, she was on a combination therapy of pembrolizumab and then IL-2 sub-cutaneous injections at her subq mets, that have been working well.  The first round of pembro didn't seem to do much, but the second round in combination with the IL-2 went very well.  As some others have mentioned, the IL-2 is tough, but our doc thinks that it might be the kick start that the PD-1 ihibitors need to get moving.  We're on a tough road, but there is Hope.  Keep trusting God, ask a lot of questions to many people, especially your doctors about options that they know about, and that you have heard about, and try to stay positive.  Keep moving forward with the best options you have available to you at the time, and above all, keep your faith, as there is only one Healer for melanoma.

Hayden,

I'd keep pressing your doctor for a combination therapy.  As others mentioned, the combination of drugs with ipi and others had bad side effects for most people, but the PD-1 inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) are way easier on most people.  My wife got booted from an ipi/vaccine trial after two doses, but has had no trouble with pembrolizumab, and has had great results with a combination of pembrolizumab and subcutaneous IL-2 injections (at the site after removal of sub-Q lesions).  The IL-2 injections provide a systemic and local response, and we think it has jump-started the PD-1 inhibitors.  

Keep talking with your doctor and asking questions:  If both are individually FDA approved for treatment, is there a specific reason that you can't try them?  Are there any other combination therapies available?  Are there any clinical trials of combination therapies that you're eligible for?

Hayden,

I'd keep pressing your doctor for a combination therapy.  As others mentioned, the combination of drugs with ipi and others had bad side effects for most people, but the PD-1 inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) are way easier on most people.  My wife got booted from an ipi/vaccine trial after two doses, but has had no trouble with pembrolizumab, and has had great results with a combination of pembrolizumab and subcutaneous IL-2 injections (at the site after removal of sub-Q lesions).  The IL-2 injections provide a systemic and local response, and we think it has jump-started the PD-1 inhibitors.  

Keep talking with your doctor and asking questions:  If both are individually FDA approved for treatment, is there a specific reason that you can't try them?  Are there any other combination therapies available?  Are there any clinical trials of combination therapies that you're eligible for?

Hayden,

I'd keep pressing your doctor for a combination therapy.  As others mentioned, the combination of drugs with ipi and others had bad side effects for most people, but the PD-1 inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) are way easier on most people.  My wife got booted from an ipi/vaccine trial after two doses, but has had no trouble with pembrolizumab, and has had great results with a combination of pembrolizumab and subcutaneous IL-2 injections (at the site after removal of sub-Q lesions).  The IL-2 injections provide a systemic and local response, and we think it has jump-started the PD-1 inhibitors.  

Keep talking with your doctor and asking questions:  If both are individually FDA approved for treatment, is there a specific reason that you can't try them?  Are there any other combination therapies available?  Are there any clinical trials of combination therapies that you're eligible for?