Yervoy trial – joint pain

Thank you Julie for your post.

My mother was diagnosed with Stage III Mestatic Melanoma last April (2013).  It was originally found in her lymph nodes in her upper right groin area.  They removed 4 lymph nodes from this area last April.  She had 5 radiation treatments following this surgery.  She was then accepted into the Yervoy Clinical trail at the 3mg level.  She started those infusions at the end of last summer but was only able to have 4 of them; the last one was administered at the end of last October.  Her doctor stopped her Yervoy treatments due to the severe joint pain she developed. She was unable to get in and out of bed, it was almost debilating.  She also experienced severe itching which has finally gone away. 

Up until about 2 months ago she had been on Prednisone since November, starting with a strong dose and reducing down to being off of it.  Fortunately she never experienced any colitis or digestive issues, but had one mass removed from her right breast last October and another one in the same area this past March.  She took 10 radiation treatments to her breast area after the last mass was removed.

She now has a 2+ inch spot on her liver and recently had a type of vascular surgery to get rid of this mass.  She will have this same procedure again in July . 

She started chemo pills and has completed her first dose of 5 days on, 23 days off.  Tihs was administered to help with the liver and a raise knot on her head that has gone down since she started the chemo pills; only the soreness remains, the lump is gone.

Her doctor doesn't want her on the Prednisone anymore due it lowering her immue system.  Therefore, she's trying other suggestions/options he's provided to combat the joing pain.

The fatigue she has from the chemo is managable, but the joint pain continues.  But seems to be very, very, very slowely getting somewhat better….. your post gives me hope that it will continue to do so. 

I wish you the best on your journey. 

Shalom,

amuah29

Thank you Julie for your post.

My mother was diagnosed with Stage III Mestatic Melanoma last April (2013).  It was originally found in her lymph nodes in her upper right groin area.  They removed 4 lymph nodes from this area last April.  She had 5 radiation treatments following this surgery.  She was then accepted into the Yervoy Clinical trail at the 3mg level.  She started those infusions at the end of last summer but was only able to have 4 of them; the last one was administered at the end of last October.  Her doctor stopped her Yervoy treatments due to the severe joint pain she developed. She was unable to get in and out of bed, it was almost debilating.  She also experienced severe itching which has finally gone away. 

Up until about 2 months ago she had been on Prednisone since November, starting with a strong dose and reducing down to being off of it.  Fortunately she never experienced any colitis or digestive issues, but had one mass removed from her right breast last October and another one in the same area this past March.  She took 10 radiation treatments to her breast area after the last mass was removed.

She now has a 2+ inch spot on her liver and recently had a type of vascular surgery to get rid of this mass.  She will have this same procedure again in July . 

She started chemo pills and has completed her first dose of 5 days on, 23 days off.  Tihs was administered to help with the liver and a raise knot on her head that has gone down since she started the chemo pills; only the soreness remains, the lump is gone.

Her doctor doesn't want her on the Prednisone anymore due it lowering her immue system.  Therefore, she's trying other suggestions/options he's provided to combat the joing pain.

The fatigue she has from the chemo is managable, but the joint pain continues.  But seems to be very, very, very slowely getting somewhat better….. your post gives me hope that it will continue to do so. 

I wish you the best on your journey. 

Shalom,

amuah29

Thank you Julie for your post.

My mother was diagnosed with Stage III Mestatic Melanoma last April (2013).  It was originally found in her lymph nodes in her upper right groin area.  They removed 4 lymph nodes from this area last April.  She had 5 radiation treatments following this surgery.  She was then accepted into the Yervoy Clinical trail at the 3mg level.  She started those infusions at the end of last summer but was only able to have 4 of them; the last one was administered at the end of last October.  Her doctor stopped her Yervoy treatments due to the severe joint pain she developed. She was unable to get in and out of bed, it was almost debilating.  She also experienced severe itching which has finally gone away. 

Up until about 2 months ago she had been on Prednisone since November, starting with a strong dose and reducing down to being off of it.  Fortunately she never experienced any colitis or digestive issues, but had one mass removed from her right breast last October and another one in the same area this past March.  She took 10 radiation treatments to her breast area after the last mass was removed.

She now has a 2+ inch spot on her liver and recently had a type of vascular surgery to get rid of this mass.  She will have this same procedure again in July . 

She started chemo pills and has completed her first dose of 5 days on, 23 days off.  Tihs was administered to help with the liver and a raise knot on her head that has gone down since she started the chemo pills; only the soreness remains, the lump is gone.

Her doctor doesn't want her on the Prednisone anymore due it lowering her immue system.  Therefore, she's trying other suggestions/options he's provided to combat the joing pain.

The fatigue she has from the chemo is managable, but the joint pain continues.  But seems to be very, very, very slowely getting somewhat better….. your post gives me hope that it will continue to do so. 

I wish you the best on your journey. 

Shalom,

amuah29