Ipi 4th treatment. What now?
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Ipi 4th treatment. What now?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Ipi 4th treatment. What now?

  • Post
    • October 27, 2011 at 12:56 am
    nfumarolo
    Participant

    I'm brand new to the site.  Extremely frustrated trying to find information and just found this site.  Best thing yet.  Our doctor doesn't know anything about ipi.  What happens after the 4 treatments?  The scan shows the largest tumor has shrunk and the rest remains the same.  Doctor said to wait 5 more weeks and come back for a feel test and bloodwork, but no mention of scans or any future treatment.  Said to call back if it grows.  Anyone out there who has completed treatment.  What are you doing?  Thanks!!!!

    I'm brand new to the site.  Extremely frustrated trying to find information and just found this site.  Best thing yet.  Our doctor doesn't know anything about ipi.  What happens after the 4 treatments?  The scan shows the largest tumor has shrunk and the rest remains the same.  Doctor said to wait 5 more weeks and come back for a feel test and bloodwork, but no mention of scans or any future treatment.  Said to call back if it grows.  Anyone out there who has completed treatment.  What are you doing?  Thanks!!!!

Viewing 20 reply threads
  • Replies
      • October 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

        • October 27, 2011 at 1:03 am
        nfumarolo
        Participant

        Thank you so much for respoding!  So what did your husband do after he finished treatment?  Did he just wait?  Did the tumors continue to shrink?  Is he clean now?  Any further treatment?  Sorry for all the questions.  Just so lost.

        • October 27, 2011 at 1:03 am
        nfumarolo
        Participant

        Thank you so much for respoding!  So what did your husband do after he finished treatment?  Did he just wait?  Did the tumors continue to shrink?  Is he clean now?  Any further treatment?  Sorry for all the questions.  Just so lost.

        • October 27, 2011 at 1:03 am
        nfumarolo
        Participant

        Thank you so much for respoding!  So what did your husband do after he finished treatment?  Did he just wait?  Did the tumors continue to shrink?  Is he clean now?  Any further treatment?  Sorry for all the questions.  Just so lost.

      • October 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 12:59 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 1:00 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 1:00 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 1:00 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 1:00 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 1:00 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 1:00 am
      kristine
      Participant

      Hang in there – IPI/Yervoy stays in your system for months – praying for you that you are a responder,  My husband is at the same point – he is doing very well!

      • October 27, 2011 at 2:13 am
      mclaus23
      Participant

      Welcome!!! My dad just finished his last ipi treatment. Scan will be in 5 weeks to see how things look.

      Hang in there, I know the waiting game is hard but we are all supportive of each other on this site!!

      Ipi is known to work for months after the last infusion.

      I'm praying for you guys!

      Maggie

      • October 27, 2011 at 2:13 am
      mclaus23
      Participant

      Welcome!!! My dad just finished his last ipi treatment. Scan will be in 5 weeks to see how things look.

      Hang in there, I know the waiting game is hard but we are all supportive of each other on this site!!

      Ipi is known to work for months after the last infusion.

      I'm praying for you guys!

      Maggie

      • October 27, 2011 at 2:13 am
      mclaus23
      Participant

      Welcome!!! My dad just finished his last ipi treatment. Scan will be in 5 weeks to see how things look.

      Hang in there, I know the waiting game is hard but we are all supportive of each other on this site!!

      Ipi is known to work for months after the last infusion.

      I'm praying for you guys!

      Maggie

      • October 27, 2011 at 2:58 am
      momof2kids
      Participant

      Like others have said, you just need to wait for the next scan to see what happens on those scans.

      I go for my 4th injection in 2 weeks, and like my doctor told me, the same thing, that we'll do a scan within a few weeks, and see how things look.  Then we'll wait and do another scan after that a few more weeks/months later, to see if anything else has happened.  He said sometimes it's fast acting in some, in others it can take weeks or months for it to show a reaction.

      He said I could be on this for up to a year or more, getting injections every few months if it works, which of course I HOPE IT DOES!  I'm just anxious to get my last injection as well for the 1st scan to happen to see how things go.

      He said unless he sees major growing of any tumors, that I'll be on Yervoy for over a year to give it a chance to work, so we don't jump into any other treatments too quickly and ruin what Yervoy may be doing.

      Drug is still so new to most doctors since it was just approved this year , that they are still learning what it can do, and how long it can take, how long effects last, etc.

      So , all of us on Yervoy are on a big learning curve to see what happens i guess.

       

       

      • October 27, 2011 at 2:58 am
      momof2kids
      Participant

      Like others have said, you just need to wait for the next scan to see what happens on those scans.

      I go for my 4th injection in 2 weeks, and like my doctor told me, the same thing, that we'll do a scan within a few weeks, and see how things look.  Then we'll wait and do another scan after that a few more weeks/months later, to see if anything else has happened.  He said sometimes it's fast acting in some, in others it can take weeks or months for it to show a reaction.

      He said I could be on this for up to a year or more, getting injections every few months if it works, which of course I HOPE IT DOES!  I'm just anxious to get my last injection as well for the 1st scan to happen to see how things go.

      He said unless he sees major growing of any tumors, that I'll be on Yervoy for over a year to give it a chance to work, so we don't jump into any other treatments too quickly and ruin what Yervoy may be doing.

      Drug is still so new to most doctors since it was just approved this year , that they are still learning what it can do, and how long it can take, how long effects last, etc.

      So , all of us on Yervoy are on a big learning curve to see what happens i guess.

       

       

        • October 27, 2011 at 11:46 pm
        nfumarolo
        Participant

        Thank you so much for your reply.  It's nice to know others out there are just waiting too and the doctor isn't just dropping the ball.  It's also nice to know you have continued on it and will for a year.  They have completely stopped treating my dad at this point, which is why I was so upset.  He is responding to it.  He noticed a significant shrinkage after the 3rd treatment.  Size decreased and tumor became squishy, which I guess is a great sign.  Seemed crazy to me to stop treatment as it is clearly working. Hang in there yourself!  Hopefully you'll get the same reaction.

        • October 27, 2011 at 11:46 pm
        nfumarolo
        Participant

        Thank you so much for your reply.  It's nice to know others out there are just waiting too and the doctor isn't just dropping the ball.  It's also nice to know you have continued on it and will for a year.  They have completely stopped treating my dad at this point, which is why I was so upset.  He is responding to it.  He noticed a significant shrinkage after the 3rd treatment.  Size decreased and tumor became squishy, which I guess is a great sign.  Seemed crazy to me to stop treatment as it is clearly working. Hang in there yourself!  Hopefully you'll get the same reaction.

        • October 27, 2011 at 11:46 pm
        nfumarolo
        Participant

        Thank you so much for your reply.  It's nice to know others out there are just waiting too and the doctor isn't just dropping the ball.  It's also nice to know you have continued on it and will for a year.  They have completely stopped treating my dad at this point, which is why I was so upset.  He is responding to it.  He noticed a significant shrinkage after the 3rd treatment.  Size decreased and tumor became squishy, which I guess is a great sign.  Seemed crazy to me to stop treatment as it is clearly working. Hang in there yourself!  Hopefully you'll get the same reaction.

      • October 27, 2011 at 2:58 am
      momof2kids
      Participant

      Like others have said, you just need to wait for the next scan to see what happens on those scans.

      I go for my 4th injection in 2 weeks, and like my doctor told me, the same thing, that we'll do a scan within a few weeks, and see how things look.  Then we'll wait and do another scan after that a few more weeks/months later, to see if anything else has happened.  He said sometimes it's fast acting in some, in others it can take weeks or months for it to show a reaction.

      He said I could be on this for up to a year or more, getting injections every few months if it works, which of course I HOPE IT DOES!  I'm just anxious to get my last injection as well for the 1st scan to happen to see how things go.

      He said unless he sees major growing of any tumors, that I'll be on Yervoy for over a year to give it a chance to work, so we don't jump into any other treatments too quickly and ruin what Yervoy may be doing.

      Drug is still so new to most doctors since it was just approved this year , that they are still learning what it can do, and how long it can take, how long effects last, etc.

      So , all of us on Yervoy are on a big learning curve to see what happens i guess.

       

       

      • October 27, 2011 at 11:54 am
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Your immune system has just started an immune response. It is making (CTLs) Cytotoxic T- Lymphocytes to clear all the Tumor-specific cells. This takes time to build up an army of these CTLs. If it doesn't clear all the tumors, you may want to look into doing HD-IL-2 as a followup therapy.

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-uZNZRC1ww/Tp7C_BybU6I/AAAAAAAAAjw/7nSBuCbUonw/s1600/Yervoy%2B4%2Bdoses%2B10-19-2011.jpg

      I wish you all the best

       

      Jimmy B

      • October 27, 2011 at 11:54 am
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Your immune system has just started an immune response. It is making (CTLs) Cytotoxic T- Lymphocytes to clear all the Tumor-specific cells. This takes time to build up an army of these CTLs. If it doesn't clear all the tumors, you may want to look into doing HD-IL-2 as a followup therapy.

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-uZNZRC1ww/Tp7C_BybU6I/AAAAAAAAAjw/7nSBuCbUonw/s1600/Yervoy%2B4%2Bdoses%2B10-19-2011.jpg

      I wish you all the best

       

      Jimmy B

        • October 27, 2011 at 11:36 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

        I have my first set of scans on Monday as I completed my 4th infusion 2 weeks ago.  Your next appointment should be another CT scan and bloodwork as this is the protocol for this treatment.  Because ipi takes time and many people can be late responders, another CT is done to see of any change.  It's great news that one of your tumour has shrunk and the others remained unchanged. Your next CT scan may reveal more regression.

        Hang in there!

        Lisa – Stage 4

        • October 27, 2011 at 11:36 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

        I have my first set of scans on Monday as I completed my 4th infusion 2 weeks ago.  Your next appointment should be another CT scan and bloodwork as this is the protocol for this treatment.  Because ipi takes time and many people can be late responders, another CT is done to see of any change.  It's great news that one of your tumour has shrunk and the others remained unchanged. Your next CT scan may reveal more regression.

        Hang in there!

        Lisa – Stage 4

        • October 27, 2011 at 11:36 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

        I have my first set of scans on Monday as I completed my 4th infusion 2 weeks ago.  Your next appointment should be another CT scan and bloodwork as this is the protocol for this treatment.  Because ipi takes time and many people can be late responders, another CT is done to see of any change.  It's great news that one of your tumour has shrunk and the others remained unchanged. Your next CT scan may reveal more regression.

        Hang in there!

        Lisa – Stage 4

      • October 27, 2011 at 11:54 am
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Your immune system has just started an immune response. It is making (CTLs) Cytotoxic T- Lymphocytes to clear all the Tumor-specific cells. This takes time to build up an army of these CTLs. If it doesn't clear all the tumors, you may want to look into doing HD-IL-2 as a followup therapy.

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-uZNZRC1ww/Tp7C_BybU6I/AAAAAAAAAjw/7nSBuCbUonw/s1600/Yervoy%2B4%2Bdoses%2B10-19-2011.jpg

      I wish you all the best

       

      Jimmy B

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