› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Opdivo/Yervoy Combo Question
- This topic has 18 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 1 month ago by
AnitaLoree.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:03 pm
I start my first dose of the combo on Monday and was just wondering how long the treatment takes. I've seen one person say the treatment is 2-1/2 hours long and wondered if that varies by person and dose or if that's pretty standard.
Also – are all four doses of the combo the same duration? I feel lucky that I get to try this new combo, but am also getting nervous. I know side effects vary quite a bit, but the waiting to see what will happen to ME is a little nerve-wracking. I try not to think about it most of the time, but it does creep into my thoughts.
Thanks to all of you on this forum. I appreciate the honesty, candor, and support shown to everyone who posts.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:18 pm
I am on a trial of both IPI and Nivo. IPI is given every 3 weeks and NIVO every 2 weeks. So some days you may get both so the infusion time is about 3-5 hours. 1 hour for NIVO. 1/2 hour for a saline flush and 1.5 hours for IPI. On days just for NIVO 1 hour and just IPI 1.5 hours. You also need to consider you will have lots of blood tests and your labs need to be approved by your DR before the infusion can start. Once you get your chair it can take the Pharmacy 30 mins to get your IV drugs blended up per your wt for the day. Expect a half a day to full day for treatments depending how fast your staff works.
By the way my first treatment I was scared and my BP was 180/120. The treatment is not like standard Chemo and you will not get sick to your stomach. Side effects for me have been very minor. Rash, joint pain, and fatigue.
Do yourself a favor and do not drink coffee the day of your treatment. hydrate with water the day/night before. Eat the day of.
Good luck with your treatment.
Tom
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:18 pm
I am on a trial of both IPI and Nivo. IPI is given every 3 weeks and NIVO every 2 weeks. So some days you may get both so the infusion time is about 3-5 hours. 1 hour for NIVO. 1/2 hour for a saline flush and 1.5 hours for IPI. On days just for NIVO 1 hour and just IPI 1.5 hours. You also need to consider you will have lots of blood tests and your labs need to be approved by your DR before the infusion can start. Once you get your chair it can take the Pharmacy 30 mins to get your IV drugs blended up per your wt for the day. Expect a half a day to full day for treatments depending how fast your staff works.
By the way my first treatment I was scared and my BP was 180/120. The treatment is not like standard Chemo and you will not get sick to your stomach. Side effects for me have been very minor. Rash, joint pain, and fatigue.
Do yourself a favor and do not drink coffee the day of your treatment. hydrate with water the day/night before. Eat the day of.
Good luck with your treatment.
Tom
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:18 pm
I am on a trial of both IPI and Nivo. IPI is given every 3 weeks and NIVO every 2 weeks. So some days you may get both so the infusion time is about 3-5 hours. 1 hour for NIVO. 1/2 hour for a saline flush and 1.5 hours for IPI. On days just for NIVO 1 hour and just IPI 1.5 hours. You also need to consider you will have lots of blood tests and your labs need to be approved by your DR before the infusion can start. Once you get your chair it can take the Pharmacy 30 mins to get your IV drugs blended up per your wt for the day. Expect a half a day to full day for treatments depending how fast your staff works.
By the way my first treatment I was scared and my BP was 180/120. The treatment is not like standard Chemo and you will not get sick to your stomach. Side effects for me have been very minor. Rash, joint pain, and fatigue.
Do yourself a favor and do not drink coffee the day of your treatment. hydrate with water the day/night before. Eat the day of.
Good luck with your treatment.
Tom
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:26 pm
The biggest hold up most days is the pharmacy and how busy they are mixing up everyones drugs.
You can pack yourself a lunch or snack or if you have someone with you they can go buy it and you can eat it while you are getting the infusion or while waiting. The first one is usually a little longer because they want to see if you are having any reactions to anything they are giving you.
My husband only did Ipi (10 mg/kg) but we spent much time with him having the infustions as he after the initial 4 in 12 weeks went on maintenance doses. It worked and he is now NED so for that we are thankful. If you would like to read more about him check out his profile page.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED for 3 years.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:26 pm
The biggest hold up most days is the pharmacy and how busy they are mixing up everyones drugs.
You can pack yourself a lunch or snack or if you have someone with you they can go buy it and you can eat it while you are getting the infusion or while waiting. The first one is usually a little longer because they want to see if you are having any reactions to anything they are giving you.
My husband only did Ipi (10 mg/kg) but we spent much time with him having the infustions as he after the initial 4 in 12 weeks went on maintenance doses. It worked and he is now NED so for that we are thankful. If you would like to read more about him check out his profile page.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED for 3 years.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:26 pm
The biggest hold up most days is the pharmacy and how busy they are mixing up everyones drugs.
You can pack yourself a lunch or snack or if you have someone with you they can go buy it and you can eat it while you are getting the infusion or while waiting. The first one is usually a little longer because they want to see if you are having any reactions to anything they are giving you.
My husband only did Ipi (10 mg/kg) but we spent much time with him having the infustions as he after the initial 4 in 12 weeks went on maintenance doses. It worked and he is now NED so for that we are thankful. If you would like to read more about him check out his profile page.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED for 3 years.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:44 pm
And I forgot to mention after my 6th infusion, I got a port put in. I am sick of getting stuck, but before you get a port you want to see how well you do on the drugs. If you get sick right away they will take you off of it. Remember you will have some 30 infusion in the year and CT scans with dye every 12 weeks. You will get poked a lot.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:44 pm
And I forgot to mention after my 6th infusion, I got a port put in. I am sick of getting stuck, but before you get a port you want to see how well you do on the drugs. If you get sick right away they will take you off of it. Remember you will have some 30 infusion in the year and CT scans with dye every 12 weeks. You will get poked a lot.
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- October 29, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Thank you for your posts. My oncologist seemed to imply that the first four treatments would be Opdivo and Yervoy together and then we'd go to just Yervoy (?) after that. The combo is every 3 weeks and then the single drug will be every 2 weeks. Whatever the case, I will plan to be out from work the whole day Monday, just in case.
Also – I actually already have a port since they are limited to using just my right arm (due to axillary dissection) and I am a "hard stick." They gave me a prescription for a numbing cream to use before the treatments.
Thanks for the tips about food, water, and coffee the day of the treatments. These are things I would not have thought to ask. And Judy – thank you for sharing your husband's story. I am stage !V as well and am always grateful for good NED stories.
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- October 29, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Thank you for your posts. My oncologist seemed to imply that the first four treatments would be Opdivo and Yervoy together and then we'd go to just Yervoy (?) after that. The combo is every 3 weeks and then the single drug will be every 2 weeks. Whatever the case, I will plan to be out from work the whole day Monday, just in case.
Also – I actually already have a port since they are limited to using just my right arm (due to axillary dissection) and I am a "hard stick." They gave me a prescription for a numbing cream to use before the treatments.
Thanks for the tips about food, water, and coffee the day of the treatments. These are things I would not have thought to ask. And Judy – thank you for sharing your husband's story. I am stage !V as well and am always grateful for good NED stories.
-
- October 29, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Thank you for your posts. My oncologist seemed to imply that the first four treatments would be Opdivo and Yervoy together and then we'd go to just Yervoy (?) after that. The combo is every 3 weeks and then the single drug will be every 2 weeks. Whatever the case, I will plan to be out from work the whole day Monday, just in case.
Also – I actually already have a port since they are limited to using just my right arm (due to axillary dissection) and I am a "hard stick." They gave me a prescription for a numbing cream to use before the treatments.
Thanks for the tips about food, water, and coffee the day of the treatments. These are things I would not have thought to ask. And Judy – thank you for sharing your husband's story. I am stage !V as well and am always grateful for good NED stories.
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- October 28, 2015 at 11:44 pm
And I forgot to mention after my 6th infusion, I got a port put in. I am sick of getting stuck, but before you get a port you want to see how well you do on the drugs. If you get sick right away they will take you off of it. Remember you will have some 30 infusion in the year and CT scans with dye every 12 weeks. You will get poked a lot.
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- October 30, 2015 at 12:10 am
I'm on a trial with Opdivo and another drug, not IPI. But the routine sounds the same. After the blood draw, I've been able to go grab lunch in the cafetaria while the labs come back and then the infusions get mixed. My infusions are in the afternoon. I haven't laid off coffee in the morning, so I don't know if that's having an impact on my hydration. I do make sure I hit the restroom before getting the infusion. And if I'm getting two I'll hit the restroom in between too.
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- October 30, 2015 at 12:10 am
I'm on a trial with Opdivo and another drug, not IPI. But the routine sounds the same. After the blood draw, I've been able to go grab lunch in the cafetaria while the labs come back and then the infusions get mixed. My infusions are in the afternoon. I haven't laid off coffee in the morning, so I don't know if that's having an impact on my hydration. I do make sure I hit the restroom before getting the infusion. And if I'm getting two I'll hit the restroom in between too.
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- October 30, 2015 at 3:39 am
Christine: My husband starts Yervoy/Opdivo next wk also, switching from Keytruda. While his labs have been fine and he's only had itching and fatigue, he's 78 so will be interesting to see if he can handle this combo w/o too much trouble. Asked about port but right now Infusion nurses think his veins are fine. Do not know yet how his infusions will run but I tho't I understood simultaneously (?). I have a kudzu recipe if his gut acts up and he's been using Sarna for itching about which someone recently posted. It's working better than the oatmeal lotion. Will be interested to hear how you do and hope it all goes easily and successfully. A.L.
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- October 30, 2015 at 3:39 am
Christine: My husband starts Yervoy/Opdivo next wk also, switching from Keytruda. While his labs have been fine and he's only had itching and fatigue, he's 78 so will be interesting to see if he can handle this combo w/o too much trouble. Asked about port but right now Infusion nurses think his veins are fine. Do not know yet how his infusions will run but I tho't I understood simultaneously (?). I have a kudzu recipe if his gut acts up and he's been using Sarna for itching about which someone recently posted. It's working better than the oatmeal lotion. Will be interested to hear how you do and hope it all goes easily and successfully. A.L.
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- October 30, 2015 at 3:39 am
Christine: My husband starts Yervoy/Opdivo next wk also, switching from Keytruda. While his labs have been fine and he's only had itching and fatigue, he's 78 so will be interesting to see if he can handle this combo w/o too much trouble. Asked about port but right now Infusion nurses think his veins are fine. Do not know yet how his infusions will run but I tho't I understood simultaneously (?). I have a kudzu recipe if his gut acts up and he's been using Sarna for itching about which someone recently posted. It's working better than the oatmeal lotion. Will be interested to hear how you do and hope it all goes easily and successfully. A.L.
-
- October 30, 2015 at 12:10 am
I'm on a trial with Opdivo and another drug, not IPI. But the routine sounds the same. After the blood draw, I've been able to go grab lunch in the cafetaria while the labs come back and then the infusions get mixed. My infusions are in the afternoon. I haven't laid off coffee in the morning, so I don't know if that's having an impact on my hydration. I do make sure I hit the restroom before getting the infusion. And if I'm getting two I'll hit the restroom in between too.
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