A little bit of a background. My dad was diagnosed in July with stage 4 melanoma in July. 13 metastasis in the Brain. Ranging from 2 millimeters to 15 millimeters. He had WBRT and scans have been stable with some improvement on the latest scan. They have been suspecting a met in his abdomen as well which on the latest pet scan had shrunk. It has been about 10 weeks since he started OPDIVO treatment. A week ago he had his fifth infusion and started experiencing some mild or diarrhea. He was hospitalized and put on 60 milligrams of prednisone. The diarrhea has now cleared. He also had some heart fibrillation and low blood pressure. He is in good spirits but very weak physically. They did another brain scan today and it looks overall stable, but slightly more swelling. They feel it is time to switch to the Inhibitors at this point. I think mainly because of these new developing physical issues.
Questions:
1. Once you switch to the Inhibitors can you ever go back on Opdivo again? When you have already been on it. I feel they might not be giving the immunotherapy enough of a chance, but on the other hand his overall well-being is deteriorating. I see the point with starting the Inhibitors to get a quick response.
2. The five infusions he has already been given, does the Opdivo keep working in his body and we might see a response in a couple of weeks or so?
3. Could it be that the immunotherapy has worked on the met in the abdomen but not yet in the brain? Does it take longer for it to work in the brain?
4. And finally, does this sound like an acceptable approach? I feel that once you move onto inhibitors that is the beginning of the end since usually it does not last that long.
He is currently taking 1500 milligrams of Keppra and the 60 milligrams of prednisone. I am wondering if the fact that he is so much weaker has anything to do with the medications.
Thank you for your support. I am feeling extremely anxious and worried right now.
Annie
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