back from MD also responding to trial

Hi David,

You'll go through "responder" guilt and it's natural and found across all diseases. The thing to remember is that in a trial it's the responders  that show that things work for others.

In the world of cancer only 3% of all patients participate in trials.  In the world of melanoma almost all stage IV's are in or have been in trials.  We are a rare breed and as time goes on perhaps with some of the treatments going down the stages there will be fewer that even face Stage IV.

Congratualtions on the good scans and wishes that it continues. 

The happy rash will drive you crazy.  It did start tapering down for me around the 24th week.  Now in week 91 it's actually getting a bit stronger.  I did find the gold bond just as good as any of the other lotions that were recommended.  I swapped out some of the heavy meds during the first year and started on the benedryl and it's been okay.

Jerry from Cape Cod

Hi David,

You'll go through "responder" guilt and it's natural and found across all diseases. The thing to remember is that in a trial it's the responders  that show that things work for others.

In the world of cancer only 3% of all patients participate in trials.  In the world of melanoma almost all stage IV's are in or have been in trials.  We are a rare breed and as time goes on perhaps with some of the treatments going down the stages there will be fewer that even face Stage IV.

Congratualtions on the good scans and wishes that it continues. 

The happy rash will drive you crazy.  It did start tapering down for me around the 24th week.  Now in week 91 it's actually getting a bit stronger.  I did find the gold bond just as good as any of the other lotions that were recommended.  I swapped out some of the heavy meds during the first year and started on the benedryl and it's been okay.

Jerry from Cape Cod

Congratulations!  Be happy not guilty!

Congratulations!  Be happy not guilty!

Congrats!!!!

Congrats!!!!

I am so happy to hear of your success.  Please don't feel guilty – the trial did not work for my husband, but I am truly comforted to hear that others may be on their way to getting rid of this beast.  Keep up the good work!

Jule

I am so happy to hear of your success.  Please don't feel guilty – the trial did not work for my husband, but I am truly comforted to hear that others may be on their way to getting rid of this beast.  Keep up the good work!

Jule

Absolutely delighted that you are responding to treatment.  It's wonderful to hear that both you and Jim are responding to treatment and puts a smile on my face…that you are winning the war against the beast.  I'm praying that I will be a responder to compassionate ipi but if not, well I will just have to keep on trying…knowing that there are responders to different drugs gives so much hope and encouragement to those looking for the right solution, don't feel guilty, celebrate. I love hearing from responders whether it be ipi, IL-2, B-RAF, temodar or whatever..it  keeps us informed. Val

Absolutely delighted that you are responding to treatment.  It's wonderful to hear that both you and Jim are responding to treatment and puts a smile on my face…that you are winning the war against the beast.  I'm praying that I will be a responder to compassionate ipi but if not, well I will just have to keep on trying…knowing that there are responders to different drugs gives so much hope and encouragement to those looking for the right solution, don't feel guilty, celebrate. I love hearing from responders whether it be ipi, IL-2, B-RAF, temodar or whatever..it  keeps us informed. Val

Hi David,

Thanks for posting – I have been wondering how your scans went this week.  The results are very encouraging!  To have significant decrease in tumor size measured at 12 weeks shows a fairly rapid response, and bodes well fo you.  My rash and itch did not really come on strong until after the 4th infusion, but has been ferocious ever since.I am still looking for the right combination of lotion(s) to reduce the itch andf help me sleep at night, but benadryl seems to help.

The combination of Ipi and Temador looks promising – a one/two punch.  Further research will doubtless team Ipi with other drugs, the obvious one being an Ipi/BRAF inhibitor combo.  There are regulatory and economic reasons why there are obstacles to putting together combination trials.  Lets hope that MRF puts sustained effort into facilitating more trials of combinations, like multiple targeted commbinations and systemic + targeted combinations.  Many leading researchers believe that drug combinations ("cocktails") hold great promise in fighting melanoma.

Best Wishes,

Jim

Hi David,

Thanks for posting – I have been wondering how your scans went this week.  The results are very encouraging!  To have significant decrease in tumor size measured at 12 weeks shows a fairly rapid response, and bodes well fo you.  My rash and itch did not really come on strong until after the 4th infusion, but has been ferocious ever since.I am still looking for the right combination of lotion(s) to reduce the itch andf help me sleep at night, but benadryl seems to help.

The combination of Ipi and Temador looks promising – a one/two punch.  Further research will doubtless team Ipi with other drugs, the obvious one being an Ipi/BRAF inhibitor combo.  There are regulatory and economic reasons why there are obstacles to putting together combination trials.  Lets hope that MRF puts sustained effort into facilitating more trials of combinations, like multiple targeted commbinations and systemic + targeted combinations.  Many leading researchers believe that drug combinations ("cocktails") hold great promise in fighting melanoma.

Best Wishes,

Jim

Contrats on the encouraging news.

We all want to hear about stories like yours.

I hear that the rash is a good sing that your body is responding to Ipi.

Don't feel regret for those who have not been responding lately.  We need stories like yours to help us make it through our temporary setbacks until we can get a few encouraging words of good news that things are shrinking and looking better.

Enjoy the day.  It is your special day.  May you continue to have many, many, many more.

Bill

Contrats on the encouraging news.

We all want to hear about stories like yours.

I hear that the rash is a good sing that your body is responding to Ipi.

Don't feel regret for those who have not been responding lately.  We need stories like yours to help us make it through our temporary setbacks until we can get a few encouraging words of good news that things are shrinking and looking better.

Enjoy the day.  It is your special day.  May you continue to have many, many, many more.

Bill

David:

Congratulations!  I am also enrolled in the ipi/temodar trail at MDA.  I have a treatment scheduled for 11/10 and then scans scheduled at the end of the month.

I am also having a lot of itching.  The zyrtec seems to help somewhat and it seems to get bad at night.  Mostly arms, legs, and groin area.  I use Sarna Original and that seems to help.  

I indicated in one of my replies to Jim in Denver that my Eosinophils are really high.  Dr. Patrick Hwu said it might be a good thing due to the fact the body might be attacking.  Do you keep track of your lab results?

Again, great news!

Sue

Hotlanta

David:

Congratulations!  I am also enrolled in the ipi/temodar trail at MDA.  I have a treatment scheduled for 11/10 and then scans scheduled at the end of the month.

I am also having a lot of itching.  The zyrtec seems to help somewhat and it seems to get bad at night.  Mostly arms, legs, and groin area.  I use Sarna Original and that seems to help.  

I indicated in one of my replies to Jim in Denver that my Eosinophils are really high.  Dr. Patrick Hwu said it might be a good thing due to the fact the body might be attacking.  Do you keep track of your lab results?

Again, great news!

Sue

Hotlanta

Great news, David! And be proud of your response! I'm on compassionate use ipi, and will have my 3rd infusion on Thurs. I have had no side effects yet, no itching, no rash, no diarrhea (except what was brought on by what I ate). I'm wondering if my lack of side effects means I'm not responding. I have a 3cm tumor on my back that shows no change whatsoever, or maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. Scans are in early Dec, so we'll see then.

Congratulations on your wonderful report! Keep it up!

Hugs

Sharyn, Stage IV

Great news, David! And be proud of your response! I'm on compassionate use ipi, and will have my 3rd infusion on Thurs. I have had no side effects yet, no itching, no rash, no diarrhea (except what was brought on by what I ate). I'm wondering if my lack of side effects means I'm not responding. I have a 3cm tumor on my back that shows no change whatsoever, or maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. Scans are in early Dec, so we'll see then.

Congratulations on your wonderful report! Keep it up!

Hugs

Sharyn, Stage IV

David,

 That is awesome that you are a responder. It's wonderful to read because we all need hope to keep going. Keep it up and God bless,

 Jim M.

David,

 That is awesome that you are a responder. It's wonderful to read because we all need hope to keep going. Keep it up and God bless,

 Jim M.