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Keytruda results?
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Keytruda results?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Keytruda results?

  • Post
    • August 29, 2019 at 2:03 pm
    Tsvetochka
    Participant
      I have Stage IV melanoma, but it’s not on my skin. It’s all internal tumours. After four times with Keytruda I had a scan to see how it’s working. Everything has decreased by about 50%. To me that sounds great! Is it about normal? Better than usual? Or not? Can I expect continued progress like that? (My usual doctor was out of town, so I have to wait 3 weeks to ask her questions like this.)
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    • Replies
        • August 29, 2019 at 3:28 pm
        ed williams
        Participant
          Hi Tsvetochka, nice to have a 50% response at 3 months. So now you want to know what the pattern in the future will be? Great question and I am not sure if there is an answer other than “time”!!! Patterns of response are varied but having one of 50% is great. Things to consider, was your scan a Ct or a Pet-Ct, makes a difference in this way. A Pet-ct will give indication if tumor seen on scan has active cancer or is just dead tissue or scar tissue. Case in point, I have a lung tumor that decreased in size from 3.5 cm to about 1.1 cm, 5 years ago and scan after scan the tumor just stayed the same. About 1.5 years ago I was able to get approved a Pet-ct that showed no SUV uptake which to me means, what we see on my scans is dead tissue or scar tissue. How big was the original tumor or tumors? Good luck with future treatments and scans!!!Ed
            • August 29, 2019 at 4:49 pm
            sharonlynn210
            Participant
              Hello Ed,
              My son Ryan was diagnosed Jan.26 2018. He did a year of Keytruda.He has two lung nodules we have been watching since May 2018. They have both remained stable at 4mm and 3mm. I always wondered if they could be dead tissue or something I have to always worry about. They have never done a second Pet always ct scans.
              • August 29, 2019 at 5:46 pm
              ed williams
              Participant
                Hi Sharon, I hear you loud and clear, wouldn’t it be nice to know!!! Standards range all over the world when it comes to getting Pet-ct vs regular ct follow up. I live in Canada and $$$ matter when it comes to health care, not that I am complaining, it is great to have world class health care. If you can get a Pet-ct and there is no SUV uptake by the tumor it would calm your nerves as it has mine!!!Take care !!!Ed
                • August 30, 2019 at 4:55 am
                Tsvetochka
                Participant
                  I had a CT scan. That’s good to know about PET scans. I’ll have to ask if they’re an option for me.

                  The biggest tumour was 9cm, on my adrenal gland. There are three that are smaller in different places, including lung, plus lymph nodes.

                • August 29, 2019 at 10:28 pm
                MelMel
                Participant
                  I was on combo treatment (two infusions only- both in Nov of last year after which I had to stop treatment. There was a 50% reduction at end of Dec., only 2 months of starting treatment. 30% (at the end of Feb., even though I was off treatment since end of Nov.), 0 % reduction (in May before I resumed treatment with opdivo only) and 13 % (in Aug., 3 months after restarting single drug treatment). I have no idea what is normal or expected but the mere fact that there is a reduction and not a growth should be most welcome. Your result seems like a win-win BONUS! Congratulations!
                  Melanie
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