Stage 4: Did you get LDH levels and 6 week scan on ipi plus nivo?
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Stage 4: Did you get LDH levels and 6 week scan on ipi plus nivo?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage 4: Did you get LDH levels and 6 week scan on ipi plus nivo?

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    • May 21, 2017 at 4:24 am
    baesill
    Participant

    1) Did you get tested for ldh levels before treatment? I consulted with some oncologists who cared about testing ldh, and others who didn't. 

    2) For the ipi+nivo treatment, did you get a 6 week scan? Again i know some oncologists who do and some who do not. 

    Does anyone have any insights the reasoning? 

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  • Replies
      • May 21, 2017 at 12:57 pm
      MovingOn
      Participant

      Hi,

      could you say what type of scan at 6wks? (CT, MRI, PET)

        • May 21, 2017 at 1:01 pm
        baesill
        Participant

        I don't know. I was just told at Memorial Sloan Kettering that I would have "scans" at six weeks. I ended up getting treatment at NYU. I know why they don't scan st 6 weeks (because it doesn't change course of treatment), but curious why MSK would have.

      • May 22, 2017 at 12:16 am
      Ridingaroundwith27Jennifers
      Participant

      I was tested for ldh levels both before and after starting ipi + nivo treatment.  I had multiple tumors on initial CT scan and was scanned again about 6 weeks post initial treatment to check treatment progress.  My oncologist wanted to see if internal tumors were shrinking as I also had some subcutaneous ones which could be seen and felt and those were gone at about 4 weeks post treatment.  I was told that if I was on a clinical trial I would be scanned more often but that it really wasn't a benefit given my particular situation.  I'm not particularly keen on ingesting the dye and the treatment was the same trial or not with exception on the scan frequency so I decided to not do the trial.  I did release blood and other data for research use.

      I'm being treated at Dana Farber and I'm stage IV.  On most of my CT scan reports it says "Restaging Study".  Unfortunately I'm still stage IV.

      Best wishes to you.

      • May 23, 2017 at 3:40 pm
      Mat
      Participant

      1.  Yes, but I think the prevailing view is that LDH (which is not a perfect marker at any stage) is more relevant when you're not on active treatment.

      2.  12 weeks is typical for the initial scan on ipi/nivo.  If you have a heavy tumor burden and are BRAF+, it may be preferable to scan at 6 weeks to see if you might need to change course.

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