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2nd ipi treatment & scan results

Forums General Melanoma Community 2nd ipi treatment & scan results

  • Post
    ValinMtl
    Participant

      This has been a pretty sad week on the board. Losing both Wil and Kurt. It’s difficult even putting my thoughts together but I thought I should report on yesterday's treatment.

      I had a cat scan prior to starting the trial and a pet scan 2 weeks (which was scheduled) after my first ipi treatment. Dr. G. gave me the results yesterday, prior to 2ndipi treatment.  She found the pet scan much more thorough than the cat scan and will be suggesting to the trial director that I have a pet scan rather than cat if it meets the protocol standards.

      This has been a pretty sad week on the board. Losing both Wil and Kurt. It’s difficult even putting my thoughts together but I thought I should report on yesterday's treatment.

      I had a cat scan prior to starting the trial and a pet scan 2 weeks (which was scheduled) after my first ipi treatment. Dr. G. gave me the results yesterday, prior to 2ndipi treatment.  She found the pet scan much more thorough than the cat scan and will be suggesting to the trial director that I have a pet scan rather than cat if it meets the protocol standards.

      The main difference was that the pet noted a 5 mm focal abnormality in the posterolateral aspect of the left pulmonary lower lobe.  It’s very small but they will definitely be keeping an eye on it.

      There was much more activity in my lymph nodes in the leg than in May’s scans. As well, lymphedema in the right leg, appears more severe than on the prior study. Not a surprise, since my tumors went from about 20 to more than a 100 between scans.

      So what’s the good news. Dr. G. noted that some (as in quite a few) tumors seem to be drying out, she has seen that before when a patient has responded to ‘temodar’ .  Both my husband and I find that my leg appears not to be so angry.  Is ‘ipi’ working?  Let’s see what happens in the next few weeks!

      Side effects of 2nd treatment..nothing to date.  Val

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        Sharyn
        Participant

          Hi Val!

          So far, so good, so it seems. I haven't had any side effects either. I fly up again early in the morning on the 13th, and come home late on the 14th. My sister is coming with me. I'll call you when I get there. Don't know which hotel I'm staying at, but I'd say either Opus or QEII Fairmont.  I had a CT scan before starting, but I didn't have a PET scan for week 2, and as far as I know, all I'm getting is bloodwork and Ipi next week. Strange that your schedule is different from mine. Go figure!

          Hugs

          Sharyn

            ValinMtl
            Participant

              Hi Sharyn

              Glad to hear no side effects for you.  Pet scan was already on order by Dr. G. before trial so clinical nurse advised I could still go through with it..not part of trial.  CT scan and blood works was for the trial but wasn't ready for reading at 1st ipi treatment.  My 2nd ipi was 3 weeks from first and happened that both PET and CT were ready at same time. 

              On the 13th, I will be up north with a friend from Boston…BUT coming back for bridge lessons (yep, I decided I planned to be around for a bit longer and signed up) on Thursday morning in Montreal…I will be free all afternoon on Thursday..I'll send you my cell #..maybe we can plan something late afternoon. I'll e-mail you. 

              Not crazy about the activity report on my leg but if tumors are drying up…maybe just maybe…Val xx

              ValinMtl
              Participant

                oops I should have said "CT scan wasn't ready for reading at 1st ipi treatment but blood works were, of course."

                ValinMtl
                Participant

                  oops I should have said "CT scan wasn't ready for reading at 1st ipi treatment but blood works were, of course."

                  ValinMtl
                  Participant

                    Hi Sharyn

                    Glad to hear no side effects for you.  Pet scan was already on order by Dr. G. before trial so clinical nurse advised I could still go through with it..not part of trial.  CT scan and blood works was for the trial but wasn't ready for reading at 1st ipi treatment.  My 2nd ipi was 3 weeks from first and happened that both PET and CT were ready at same time. 

                    On the 13th, I will be up north with a friend from Boston…BUT coming back for bridge lessons (yep, I decided I planned to be around for a bit longer and signed up) on Thursday morning in Montreal…I will be free all afternoon on Thursday..I'll send you my cell #..maybe we can plan something late afternoon. I'll e-mail you. 

                    Not crazy about the activity report on my leg but if tumors are drying up…maybe just maybe…Val xx

                  Sharyn
                  Participant

                    Hi Val!

                    So far, so good, so it seems. I haven't had any side effects either. I fly up again early in the morning on the 13th, and come home late on the 14th. My sister is coming with me. I'll call you when I get there. Don't know which hotel I'm staying at, but I'd say either Opus or QEII Fairmont.  I had a CT scan before starting, but I didn't have a PET scan for week 2, and as far as I know, all I'm getting is bloodwork and Ipi next week. Strange that your schedule is different from mine. Go figure!

                    Hugs

                    Sharyn

                    Vermont_Donna
                    Participant

                       Hi Val,

                         Glad you got your second dose and I am hoping it IS working! here in the States when I get my PET scan I get a simultaneauos (sp?) CT scan…is it not like that in Canada?? Here they use both to contrast and compare and also against the previous scans…..just a thought…ask for both??

                      Hugs,

                      Vermont_Donna

                      ps what is it with the right leg?? that is where my melanoma is and lymphadema!

                      Vermont_Donna
                      Participant

                         Hi Val,

                           Glad you got your second dose and I am hoping it IS working! here in the States when I get my PET scan I get a simultaneauos (sp?) CT scan…is it not like that in Canada?? Here they use both to contrast and compare and also against the previous scans…..just a thought…ask for both??

                        Hugs,

                        Vermont_Donna

                        ps what is it with the right leg?? that is where my melanoma is and lymphadema!

                        JuleFL
                        Participant

                          Wishing you response and healing.

                          Jule

                          JuleFL
                          Participant

                            Wishing you response and healing.

                            Jule

                            LynnLuc
                            Participant

                              I had a bb size spot on my lung they watched for 10 months..when they did go in to remove the melanoma from my mediasteinem which was 6.8 centimeters) they also did a wedge resection and removed the spot…it was a small lymph node…benign! wishing you the best!

                              LynnLuc
                              Participant

                                I had a bb size spot on my lung they watched for 10 months..when they did go in to remove the melanoma from my mediasteinem which was 6.8 centimeters) they also did a wedge resection and removed the spot…it was a small lymph node…benign! wishing you the best!

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