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Opdivo and pregnancy?
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Opdivo and pregnancy?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Opdivo and pregnancy?

  • Post
    • July 25, 2018 at 9:31 pm
    GreggL
    Participant

      Does anyone out there have knowledge of any males receiving Opdivo and having a healthy baby? I called Bristol-Myers Squibb and they didn't give me much information. What they did say was that Opdivo was  tested on pregnant female animals only. My wife and I would like to have children and I understand it is contraindicated, but I was hoping to find some percentages on potential harm to the fetus but can't find anything. I am the one on Opdivo and there is not much information out there on pregnancy in regards to males.  

      Thanks,

      Gregg

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    • Replies
        • July 26, 2018 at 11:44 am
        ed williams
        Participant

          Hi Gregg, when I started treatment of Nivo (opdivo) it was at clinical trial stage as part of 'checkmate 067" and I remember clearly the clinical co-ordinator going over safe sex and risk while on Nivo. You won't find data of people haveing babies because they sad absolutely "No" to exposing my wife to my sperm period!!! I remember that there is a wash out period at the end of treatment but I don't remember the # of months but it was quite long since Nivo stays active for some time in the blood stream. My biggest fear back in 2013 was seeing my then 4 year old daughter grow up, I have been very lucky to still be here 5 years after progressing to stage 4, but the thought of having more children while facing this monster never enter into my mind!!! Best Wishes!!!Ed

            • July 26, 2018 at 6:29 pm
            GreggL
            Participant

              Thanks for the information Ed. I am also stage IV and have been so since Jan 16. I was told originally I would be on Opdivo for a year and then the wait time was 6 months off for having kids. Then they told me I would be on this medication for the rest of my life. I guess my wife will have to be happy with her border collies. Thanks again for your response. Take care. Gregg

              • July 26, 2018 at 7:03 pm
              Bubbles
              Participant

                I am female…but echo the information Ed shared with you, Gregg.  However, most folks on immunotherapy (no matter if it is ipi, ipi/nivo, nivo (Opdivo) or pembro (Keytruda) alone) do NOT take the "medication for the rest of their life".  While we do not have absolute definitive answers….we ratties are working on it though…most melanoma experts are looking at a time frame of 1-2 years as the best length of treatment.  The thought process is….a 'certain' amount of this drug will either help you or it won't.  To take more, will not help and will only cause increased risk of the development of side effects.  Folks who gain "stability" or "a partial response" are harder to figure appropriate dosing duration for.  But, again (as these drugs are all relatively new….having all been FDA approved since 2011) melanoma experts are often talking about taking the drugs for a year or two and then stopping about 6 months of so after gaining NED (no evidence of disease) status.

                That is probably as clear as mud.  I would discuss all your issues, but especially anticipated duration of treatment with your doc, who I hope is a melanoma specialist.

                Here is some general treatment info on melanoma generally if you haven't seen it and are interested:  https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2017/08/melanoma-intel-primer-for-current.html  

                I've shared my story with you before…but basically I took nivo alone for 2 1/2 years in an early study from 2010 – 2013 after my brain and lung mets were zapped and surgically removed making me NED.  The lead doc, Dr. Weber, has noted the duration of our treatment in that study was probably "too long".  But more importantly, with my last dose of nivo in June of 2013, I have had no additional treatment, nor any additional melanoma lesions.

                I wish you my best.  Celeste

                • July 29, 2018 at 2:09 am
                GreggL
                Participant

                  I do remember talking to you in the past because I remember being jealous that you were at Moffitt while I'm stuck at the VA. I'm actually being treated at Bay Pines VA in St. Pete and unfortunately they don't have any melanoma specialists. They will send me out to a specialist any time I want to talk to one for any reason or just to get another opinion about treatment options. I actually called Bristol-Myers Squibb a few months back to ask about coming off the Nivolumab and they were the ones that said the only two indications for me to ever come off it would be either toxicity levels or recurrence of cancer. Thanks for all the information. I apprecaite you taking the time to send it to me. Take care. Gregg

                  • July 29, 2018 at 1:49 pm
                  Bubbles
                  Participant

                    Yes, initially that's what we all thought….immunotherapy was indicated until progression or side effects became intolerable.  However, things are moving from that.  It is harder to decide what to do if immunotherapy does not render you NED.  Then it is trickier to decide to stop treatment.  However, even in that scenario, more and more folks are deciding to stop if they are stable, if the lesions still show on scans, but don't "light up", or they have the lesion(s) surgically removed (if able) they continue treatment a bit longer and if no additional tumors develop they then stop.  Melanoma doesn't make things easy, does it?  I think getting info from BMS was smart, but you do have to consider the source….ie….one who wants to sell their product!  At any rate, I wish you my best.

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