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Is it safely to replace Opdivo with Keytruda during the treatment
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Is it safely to replace Opdivo with Keytruda during the treatment

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Is it safely to replace Opdivo with Keytruda during the treatment

  • Post
    • December 17, 2018 at 9:26 pm
    ganelin
    Participant

      Good day!

      My Mom has stage IV cancer. Melanoma. She has been taking Opdivo for a month, once every two weeks, as recomended. However, Opdivo has run out in my country (I do not live in the USA) and the doctor suggested that I used Keytruda instead of Opdivo. I understand that both treatments are very similar. However, how safe and reasonable is it to replace Opdivo with Keytruda before even getting the first results of any progress? If my mom starts Keytruda, will it means that she starts treatment from the very beggining?

      The second question is regarding plan B. There is recomendation regarding combined treatment: Opdivo + Evroy, as a plan B. However, if I do not have Opdivo, is it possible to combine Keytruda and Evroy? I have never seen such recomendations, but only with Opdivo.

      Can you advice?

      Thx

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    • Replies
        • December 17, 2018 at 10:44 pm
        Edwin
        Participant

          A trial of Keytruda + Yervoy for stage 4 melanoma patients had similar successes and problems as a trial of Opdivo + Yervoy for stage 4 melanoma patients did.    
          I suspect the Keytruda + Yervoy combo would work as well as the Opdivo + Yervoy combo.  I switched from Keytruda immunotherapy to Opdivo + Yervoy immunotherapy, because Keytruda did not help me.  However, Keytruda works as well as Opdivo for most people.  My guess is your mother could switch from Opdivo immunotherapy to Keytruda immunotherapy or Keytruda + Yervoy immunotherapy.

          • December 18, 2018 at 1:40 am
          Casitas1
          Participant
            Back in 2015 I failed Ipi/Nivo and then Nivo alone due to severe side effects and tumor growth. In 2016 after low dose Chemo(2 mos.) I did Keytruda and had an almost instant response after 1st infusion. Was NED after seven infusions. Hoping to be NED 2.5 years on Wednesday. I think it’s worth a try until scans. 4 to 6 months? Best to you and your Mom, Paul
            • December 18, 2018 at 1:44 am
            Bubbles
            Participant

              Sorry for what you and your mom are dealing with.  There have been quite a few studies looking at pembro (pembrolizumab/Keytruda) combined with ipi and side effects and responses have been very similar to the ipi/nivo combo.  Here are some of those reports: 

               https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/search?q=pembro+and+ipi  

              Hope that helps. I wish you and your mom my best.  celeste

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