Hey warriors! I hope this finds you all kicking some Melanoma butt!
I just finished the trial of PV-10/Pembro yesterday and will be transitioning to Pembro only now.
Prior to this last round of PV-10 I completed head, neck, and axillary ultrasound with no indicated need to biopsy anything per the radiologist. The tumor injected with PV-10 was greater than 4cm (40mm) x 3.9cm (39mm) when I started and now appears to be little more than a few small lumps of dead tumor. The PV-10 has not been a pleasant treatment but if it did this to the injected tumor…who cares…what's some searing pain and interesting purple markings amongst friends?
More definitive answers will follow after my CT and brain MRI later this month.
The Pembro continues to be very manageable and I'm optimistic that it is doing its work in conjunction with what PV-10 has done…but again, scans will tell. This round seems to be brining the usual aches and pains in my joints but no chills or fevers (fingers crossed) yet. All labs have remained almost totally normal thus far with a little deviation in WBC here and there. Importantly, thyroid, liver and kidney function, and most every cell count has stayed in the normal range.
Overall, the team at MDA appears happy with what has transpired so far with my results in this trial…but they also want some imaging to confirm what is actually happening. There is no denying that the injected tumor has largely disappeared (although I have an ulcer that the PV-10 continues to leak from and an interesting scab that has formed over the tumor area…I have been assured this is normal).
If anyone has any questions about PV-10 I'd be happy to try to answer and explain what the experience has been like for me…of course if the scans show that the infraclavicular node mass has resolved I'll be their loudest spokesperson! I suspect we'll see more trials coming down the road with it.
I hope you are all fighting hard, and taking the battle to this most devious invader! Happy 2018 and much health to you all!
Tex
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