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Anyone Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine, Interleukin, Interferon?
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Anyone Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine, Interleukin, Interferon?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Anyone Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine, Interleukin, Interferon?

  • Post
    • April 10, 2012 at 8:21 pm
    vstudeny
    Participant
      I was diagnosed with melanoma almost 2 years ago. It started with mole on back of my head, then spread to lymph nodes in left axilla. In January this year PET/CT scans showed 4 new spots on liver. I’m BRAF negative so Zelboraf was out of question. I started IL2 (HD) at MD Anderson and after 2 cycles found out that tumors keep growing (5cm vs 2.5cm in just 5 weeks). My doctor is now suggesting to go with combo of Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine, Interleukin, Interferon. Ipi is not recommended at this point due to fast progression of disease. Does anyone have experience with this treatment?

      I was diagnosed with melanoma almost 2 years ago. It started with mole on back of my head, then spread to lymph nodes in left axilla. In January this year PET/CT scans showed 4 new spots on liver. I’m BRAF negative so Zelboraf was out of question. I started IL2 (HD) at MD Anderson and after 2 cycles found out that tumors keep growing (5cm vs 2.5cm in just 5 weeks). My doctor is now suggesting to go with combo of Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine, Interleukin, Interferon. Ipi is not recommended at this point due to fast progression of disease. Does anyone have experience with this treatment? Any advice?

      Vladimir

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 11, 2012 at 2:03 am
        Phil S
        Participant
          Yes, my husband finished his 6th round of this biochemo treatment at MDAnderson a few weeks ago. The only difference is he got temodar instead of dacarbazine because he had brain mets. All other drugs were the same, he handled treatment pretty well, MDAnderson knows how to minimize side effects while administering biochemo, generally nurses are great and keep you comfortable with various medications. It’s a tough treatment but doable, just make sure someone stays with you in the room during the whole hospital stay. Best wishes to you, Valerie (Phil’s wife)
            • April 11, 2012 at 2:33 am
            vstudeny
            Participant

              Hello Valerie, thanks for your reply. It was difficult decision for me and I really appreciate any information I can get, especially the positive. How did your husband respond to the treatment? Did the tumors shrink sizeably? Which side effects did he experience?

              All the best to your husband.

              Regards,

              Vladimir

              • April 11, 2012 at 3:35 am
              Phil S
              Participant
                Vladimir, I think biochemo can be effective in slowing down the growth of this cancer, my husband’s melanoma was growing fast when we got to Houston in November. After two rounds of biochemo his scans showed shrinkage of around 50% on most tumors. When he was scanned after round 4, the results were mixed with a few tumors growing slightly and some continuing to shrink, melanoma is such a sneaky beast. Our doctor was still pleased as everything was still smaller than in november, we scan again in a few weeks! We don’t regret we did the biochemo, a true joint effort since I slept in a fold out chair for each week long treatment. We feel biochemo has kept Phil stable, so we can hopefully move forward with another treatment! Please feel free to email us directly, [email protected] if you have additional questions, we are here to support each other! Valerie
                • April 14, 2012 at 1:34 pm
                beatricefromPARIS
                Participant

                  Vlad,

                  I did Dacarbazine 3 months, then Fotemustine (not used in the US), then briefly Sorafenib then Cisplatin, then Interferon.

                  This kept me alive for about 2,5 years. Not easy especially Cisplatin, but worth it.

                  Doctors over here are not great fans of combos.

                  Betarie stage IV 2009

                  • April 14, 2012 at 1:34 pm
                  beatricefromPARIS
                  Participant

                    Vlad,

                    I did Dacarbazine 3 months, then Fotemustine (not used in the US), then briefly Sorafenib then Cisplatin, then Interferon.

                    This kept me alive for about 2,5 years. Not easy especially Cisplatin, but worth it.

                    Doctors over here are not great fans of combos.

                    Betarie stage IV 2009

                    • April 14, 2012 at 1:34 pm
                    beatricefromPARIS
                    Participant

                      Vlad,

                      I did Dacarbazine 3 months, then Fotemustine (not used in the US), then briefly Sorafenib then Cisplatin, then Interferon.

                      This kept me alive for about 2,5 years. Not easy especially Cisplatin, but worth it.

                      Doctors over here are not great fans of combos.

                      Betarie stage IV 2009

                      • April 11, 2012 at 3:35 am
                      Phil S
                      Participant
                        Vladimir, I think biochemo can be effective in slowing down the growth of this cancer, my husband’s melanoma was growing fast when we got to Houston in November. After two rounds of biochemo his scans showed shrinkage of around 50% on most tumors. When he was scanned after round 4, the results were mixed with a few tumors growing slightly and some continuing to shrink, melanoma is such a sneaky beast. Our doctor was still pleased as everything was still smaller than in november, we scan again in a few weeks! We don’t regret we did the biochemo, a true joint effort since I slept in a fold out chair for each week long treatment. We feel biochemo has kept Phil stable, so we can hopefully move forward with another treatment! Please feel free to email us directly, [email protected] if you have additional questions, we are here to support each other! Valerie
                        • April 11, 2012 at 3:35 am
                        Phil S
                        Participant
                          Vladimir, I think biochemo can be effective in slowing down the growth of this cancer, my husband’s melanoma was growing fast when we got to Houston in November. After two rounds of biochemo his scans showed shrinkage of around 50% on most tumors. When he was scanned after round 4, the results were mixed with a few tumors growing slightly and some continuing to shrink, melanoma is such a sneaky beast. Our doctor was still pleased as everything was still smaller than in november, we scan again in a few weeks! We don’t regret we did the biochemo, a true joint effort since I slept in a fold out chair for each week long treatment. We feel biochemo has kept Phil stable, so we can hopefully move forward with another treatment! Please feel free to email us directly, [email protected] if you have additional questions, we are here to support each other! Valerie
                          • April 11, 2012 at 2:33 am
                          vstudeny
                          Participant

                            Hello Valerie, thanks for your reply. It was difficult decision for me and I really appreciate any information I can get, especially the positive. How did your husband respond to the treatment? Did the tumors shrink sizeably? Which side effects did he experience?

                            All the best to your husband.

                            Regards,

                            Vladimir

                            • April 11, 2012 at 2:33 am
                            vstudeny
                            Participant

                              Hello Valerie, thanks for your reply. It was difficult decision for me and I really appreciate any information I can get, especially the positive. How did your husband respond to the treatment? Did the tumors shrink sizeably? Which side effects did he experience?

                              All the best to your husband.

                              Regards,

                              Vladimir

                            • April 11, 2012 at 2:03 am
                            Phil S
                            Participant
                              Yes, my husband finished his 6th round of this biochemo treatment at MDAnderson a few weeks ago. The only difference is he got temodar instead of dacarbazine because he had brain mets. All other drugs were the same, he handled treatment pretty well, MDAnderson knows how to minimize side effects while administering biochemo, generally nurses are great and keep you comfortable with various medications. It’s a tough treatment but doable, just make sure someone stays with you in the room during the whole hospital stay. Best wishes to you, Valerie (Phil’s wife)
                              • April 11, 2012 at 2:03 am
                              Phil S
                              Participant
                                Yes, my husband finished his 6th round of this biochemo treatment at MDAnderson a few weeks ago. The only difference is he got temodar instead of dacarbazine because he had brain mets. All other drugs were the same, he handled treatment pretty well, MDAnderson knows how to minimize side effects while administering biochemo, generally nurses are great and keep you comfortable with various medications. It’s a tough treatment but doable, just make sure someone stays with you in the room during the whole hospital stay. Best wishes to you, Valerie (Phil’s wife)
                            Viewing 2 reply threads

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