› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Chemo Quit Working, On to Yervoy
- This topic has 18 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by
Jim M..
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- January 25, 2013 at 3:04 am
I've posted on here a number of times about my husband's fantastic response to carbo/taxol but it has quit working. He's developed a new tumor on his neck and one other that had been shrinking is growing again. He was given chemo in the beginning instead of Yervoy because his tumors were so agressive that there wasn't enough time to try anything else. He needed a quick response and he got it and continued to respond extremely well until a few days ago when I noticed the new growth. The chemo began in August. He's not eligible for a clin
I've posted on here a number of times about my husband's fantastic response to carbo/taxol but it has quit working. He's developed a new tumor on his neck and one other that had been shrinking is growing again. He was given chemo in the beginning instead of Yervoy because his tumors were so agressive that there wasn't enough time to try anything else. He needed a quick response and he got it and continued to respond extremely well until a few days ago when I noticed the new growth. The chemo began in August. He's not eligible for a clinical trial because of a second primary lung cancer. So, for those of you who have been or are on Yervoy, what can he expect? From what I can gather, it may take awhile for us to see results and I've read about the possible side effects. First, we have to get it approved by our insurance company. We have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. Anyone know if they cover it or not? We were told that he could continue to work and so on as usual. Do most of you find that to be generally true? And do you get good results with it? There just don't seem to be a lot of options for him. If this fails they said possibly more surgery or radiation.
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- January 25, 2013 at 2:53 pm
I am sorry for this change in his response to the chemo & sorry you are faced with new challenges. I have had 2 doses of Yervoy and go for my third on the 30th. So far, I have had no side effects, except for possibly a couple of days of fatigue ( though it is difficult to know if that was just normal fatigue from trying circumstances). As you said, the results will not be seen for a while yet, and my first scan will not be until after I finish the treatments. There are some on here, though, who have even recently posted of seeing positive results from this treatment & my Dr said that if one responds to it, the result can be very durable. He has been giving Yervoy for 5-6 yrs now ( beginning in the trial stage) and some of those he first started are still enjoying life without evidence of melanoma! It is a good option. Be sure he is seeing someone who is familiar with Yervoy and been using it for a while, as this is important as time goes on if side effects should arise. My very best wishes to you guys for a great and durable response. I dont think you will have trouble getting BCBS to cover.
Tina
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- January 25, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Tina is 100% right. Side effects a) don’t occur for some and if they do, they can be mild. b) more serious side-effects are manageable in the hands of a melanoma specialist who is experienced with yervoy.
My first time on yervoy I had BC/BS PPO & no problem at all. I worked the entire time… maybe a day or 2 off cuz of side-effects.
hope this helps,
Karen -
- January 25, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Tina is 100% right. Side effects a) don’t occur for some and if they do, they can be mild. b) more serious side-effects are manageable in the hands of a melanoma specialist who is experienced with yervoy.
My first time on yervoy I had BC/BS PPO & no problem at all. I worked the entire time… maybe a day or 2 off cuz of side-effects.
hope this helps,
Karen -
- January 25, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Tina is 100% right. Side effects a) don’t occur for some and if they do, they can be mild. b) more serious side-effects are manageable in the hands of a melanoma specialist who is experienced with yervoy.
My first time on yervoy I had BC/BS PPO & no problem at all. I worked the entire time… maybe a day or 2 off cuz of side-effects.
hope this helps,
Karen
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- January 25, 2013 at 2:53 pm
I am sorry for this change in his response to the chemo & sorry you are faced with new challenges. I have had 2 doses of Yervoy and go for my third on the 30th. So far, I have had no side effects, except for possibly a couple of days of fatigue ( though it is difficult to know if that was just normal fatigue from trying circumstances). As you said, the results will not be seen for a while yet, and my first scan will not be until after I finish the treatments. There are some on here, though, who have even recently posted of seeing positive results from this treatment & my Dr said that if one responds to it, the result can be very durable. He has been giving Yervoy for 5-6 yrs now ( beginning in the trial stage) and some of those he first started are still enjoying life without evidence of melanoma! It is a good option. Be sure he is seeing someone who is familiar with Yervoy and been using it for a while, as this is important as time goes on if side effects should arise. My very best wishes to you guys for a great and durable response. I dont think you will have trouble getting BCBS to cover.
Tina
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- January 25, 2013 at 2:53 pm
I am sorry for this change in his response to the chemo & sorry you are faced with new challenges. I have had 2 doses of Yervoy and go for my third on the 30th. So far, I have had no side effects, except for possibly a couple of days of fatigue ( though it is difficult to know if that was just normal fatigue from trying circumstances). As you said, the results will not be seen for a while yet, and my first scan will not be until after I finish the treatments. There are some on here, though, who have even recently posted of seeing positive results from this treatment & my Dr said that if one responds to it, the result can be very durable. He has been giving Yervoy for 5-6 yrs now ( beginning in the trial stage) and some of those he first started are still enjoying life without evidence of melanoma! It is a good option. Be sure he is seeing someone who is familiar with Yervoy and been using it for a while, as this is important as time goes on if side effects should arise. My very best wishes to you guys for a great and durable response. I dont think you will have trouble getting BCBS to cover.
Tina
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- January 25, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Here is some info on who pays in clinical trials. Don't know if your state has info here, but worth a look. If not, ask the insurance company. My BX booklet does not give any info on the subject, but it is in the link below as being one that does cover these trials. However, states do differ.
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learningabout/payingfor/laws
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- January 25, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Here is some info on who pays in clinical trials. Don't know if your state has info here, but worth a look. If not, ask the insurance company. My BX booklet does not give any info on the subject, but it is in the link below as being one that does cover these trials. However, states do differ.
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learningabout/payingfor/laws
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- January 25, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Here is some info on who pays in clinical trials. Don't know if your state has info here, but worth a look. If not, ask the insurance company. My BX booklet does not give any info on the subject, but it is in the link below as being one that does cover these trials. However, states do differ.
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learningabout/payingfor/laws
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- January 26, 2013 at 3:38 pm
I was on Yervoy (MDX-010 or Ipi) from 3/08 to 11/08. My side effects didn't start until after the 2nd infusion. Mostly they were minor like a mild rash that didn't itch, mild fatigue, night sweats, minor stomach pain, Later I had a major pain in the chest that went away as quick as it came. Before my 5th infusion I had severe headaches for 2 weeks. An MRI revealed a swollen pituitary gland. Ipi knocked out my pituitary function and I've been on a hormone replacement ever since I was taken off Ipi. I worked all the time. I did have a response that my onc. sees in only 10-15% of his patients. I had no tumor as I enrolled in the trial with resected melanoma.
God Bless and best of success.
Jim M.
stage 3C
NED 5+ years
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- January 26, 2013 at 3:38 pm
I was on Yervoy (MDX-010 or Ipi) from 3/08 to 11/08. My side effects didn't start until after the 2nd infusion. Mostly they were minor like a mild rash that didn't itch, mild fatigue, night sweats, minor stomach pain, Later I had a major pain in the chest that went away as quick as it came. Before my 5th infusion I had severe headaches for 2 weeks. An MRI revealed a swollen pituitary gland. Ipi knocked out my pituitary function and I've been on a hormone replacement ever since I was taken off Ipi. I worked all the time. I did have a response that my onc. sees in only 10-15% of his patients. I had no tumor as I enrolled in the trial with resected melanoma.
God Bless and best of success.
Jim M.
stage 3C
NED 5+ years
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- January 26, 2013 at 3:38 pm
I was on Yervoy (MDX-010 or Ipi) from 3/08 to 11/08. My side effects didn't start until after the 2nd infusion. Mostly they were minor like a mild rash that didn't itch, mild fatigue, night sweats, minor stomach pain, Later I had a major pain in the chest that went away as quick as it came. Before my 5th infusion I had severe headaches for 2 weeks. An MRI revealed a swollen pituitary gland. Ipi knocked out my pituitary function and I've been on a hormone replacement ever since I was taken off Ipi. I worked all the time. I did have a response that my onc. sees in only 10-15% of his patients. I had no tumor as I enrolled in the trial with resected melanoma.
God Bless and best of success.
Jim M.
stage 3C
NED 5+ years
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