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President Carter’s melanoma diagnosis

Forums Cutaneous Melanoma Community President Carter’s melanoma diagnosis

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      mrsaxde
      Participant

      One quick note: When I wrote this, I was working from President Carter's comments this morning, and I assumed he would get Yervoy. I guess a former president can jump the line and go right to Keytruda! lol

      mrsaxde
      Participant

      One quick note: When I wrote this, I was working from President Carter's comments this morning, and I assumed he would get Yervoy. I guess a former president can jump the line and go right to Keytruda! lol

        ed williams
        Participant

        Thanks for posting about this Bill. I have heard that some Oncologist are going right to Pd-1 drugs even though it is not the standard of care. Maybe this event will push the FDA and Insurance companies in the right direction. It was interesting listening to the different news feeds asking their medical experts to talk about Melanoma and what President Carter's treatments will be like. Many had no clue about side effects and what to expect from Keytruda. ED

        ed williams
        Participant

        Thanks for posting about this Bill. I have heard that some Oncologist are going right to Pd-1 drugs even though it is not the standard of care. Maybe this event will push the FDA and Insurance companies in the right direction. It was interesting listening to the different news feeds asking their medical experts to talk about Melanoma and what President Carter's treatments will be like. Many had no clue about side effects and what to expect from Keytruda. ED

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        My understanding is that the FDA is going to rule on making the PD-1's first line treatment by sometime this fall, if not sooner.

        I'd say it's a no brainer. Dr. Sharfman told me last fall that the PD-1 drugs held the most promise, but they were restricted to using Yervoy first.

        My experience with Yervoy was mixed. It apparently stopped a lesion in my lung, but after I finished treatment, several new spots appeared under my skin near the original excision. So my doctor started me on Keytruda. Within two weeks after the first treatment, those spots were noticeably softer and thinner. I've had two treatments now, and I'm hopiing for more good news when I have my next scan, sometime next month.

        The sooner Keytruda and Opdivo are approved as first line treatments, the better!

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        My understanding is that the FDA is going to rule on making the PD-1's first line treatment by sometime this fall, if not sooner.

        I'd say it's a no brainer. Dr. Sharfman told me last fall that the PD-1 drugs held the most promise, but they were restricted to using Yervoy first.

        My experience with Yervoy was mixed. It apparently stopped a lesion in my lung, but after I finished treatment, several new spots appeared under my skin near the original excision. So my doctor started me on Keytruda. Within two weeks after the first treatment, those spots were noticeably softer and thinner. I've had two treatments now, and I'm hopiing for more good news when I have my next scan, sometime next month.

        The sooner Keytruda and Opdivo are approved as first line treatments, the better!

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        My understanding is that the FDA is going to rule on making the PD-1's first line treatment by sometime this fall, if not sooner.

        I'd say it's a no brainer. Dr. Sharfman told me last fall that the PD-1 drugs held the most promise, but they were restricted to using Yervoy first.

        My experience with Yervoy was mixed. It apparently stopped a lesion in my lung, but after I finished treatment, several new spots appeared under my skin near the original excision. So my doctor started me on Keytruda. Within two weeks after the first treatment, those spots were noticeably softer and thinner. I've had two treatments now, and I'm hopiing for more good news when I have my next scan, sometime next month.

        The sooner Keytruda and Opdivo are approved as first line treatments, the better!

        ed williams
        Participant

        Thanks for posting about this Bill. I have heard that some Oncologist are going right to Pd-1 drugs even though it is not the standard of care. Maybe this event will push the FDA and Insurance companies in the right direction. It was interesting listening to the different news feeds asking their medical experts to talk about Melanoma and what President Carter's treatments will be like. Many had no clue about side effects and what to expect from Keytruda. ED

        Hikeratheart
        Participant

        Thank you! I have felt sad since hearing the news about President Carter.  Thank you for educating the public            …on this illness.  We have much to learn!

        Hikeratheart
        Participant

        Thank you! I have felt sad since hearing the news about President Carter.  Thank you for educating the public            …on this illness.  We have much to learn!

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        I spent almost 30 years of my life as a public school teacher. I guess I'll always be an educator! 🙂

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        I spent almost 30 years of my life as a public school teacher. I guess I'll always be an educator! 🙂

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        I spent almost 30 years of my life as a public school teacher. I guess I'll always be an educator! 🙂

        Hikeratheart
        Participant

        Thank you! I have felt sad since hearing the news about President Carter.  Thank you for educating the public            …on this illness.  We have much to learn!

        mary1233
        Participant

        He could be negative for the Braf mutation.

        dfeng
        Participant

        What makes it different?

        dfeng
        Participant

        What makes it different?

        dfeng
        Participant

        What makes it different?

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        Being BRAF positive would be more of a reason to jump right to Keytruda, I would think. The PD-1's are also BRAF inhibitors. I'm BRAF negative and I went through Yervoy first.

        Bubbles
        Participant

        Mr. Saxde,

        I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but anti-PD1 (no matter if you are talking nivo/opdivo, pembro/keytruda or the one still in trials) are NOT BRAF inhihitors. In fact, multiple studies show that folks respond to anti-PD1 in the same proportions regardless of BRAF status.  There are many articles on my blog demonstrating the above. Best, Celeste

        Squash
        Participant

        On responses to the new drugs do nodular and amelanotic melanomas respond as well as cutaneous melanoma to these new therapies?

         

         

        Squash
        Participant

        On responses to the new drugs do nodular and amelanotic melanomas respond as well as cutaneous melanoma to these new therapies?

         

         

        Squash
        Participant

        On responses to the new drugs do nodular and amelanotic melanomas respond as well as cutaneous melanoma to these new therapies?

         

         

        Bubbles
        Participant

        Mr. Saxde,

        I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but anti-PD1 (no matter if you are talking nivo/opdivo, pembro/keytruda or the one still in trials) are NOT BRAF inhihitors. In fact, multiple studies show that folks respond to anti-PD1 in the same proportions regardless of BRAF status.  There are many articles on my blog demonstrating the above. Best, Celeste

        Bubbles
        Participant

        Mr. Saxde,

        I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but anti-PD1 (no matter if you are talking nivo/opdivo, pembro/keytruda or the one still in trials) are NOT BRAF inhihitors. In fact, multiple studies show that folks respond to anti-PD1 in the same proportions regardless of BRAF status.  There are many articles on my blog demonstrating the above. Best, Celeste

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        Being BRAF positive would be more of a reason to jump right to Keytruda, I would think. The PD-1's are also BRAF inhibitors. I'm BRAF negative and I went through Yervoy first.

        mrsaxde
        Participant

        Being BRAF positive would be more of a reason to jump right to Keytruda, I would think. The PD-1's are also BRAF inhibitors. I'm BRAF negative and I went through Yervoy first.

        mary1233
        Participant

        He could be negative for the Braf mutation.

        mary1233
        Participant

        He could be negative for the Braf mutation.

      mrsaxde
      Participant

      One quick note: When I wrote this, I was working from President Carter's comments this morning, and I assumed he would get Yervoy. I guess a former president can jump the line and go right to Keytruda! lol

      stars
      Participant

      Good on you, mrsaxde.  We've had a few sportsmen (football players etc) in Australia get melanoma, and its been downplayed in the media as a 'brush with skin cancer'. One doc came out to say same as you, that melanoma is never just a 'brush with skin cancer' or 'just' skin cancer and the media should never use this kind of language or it will give people a false sense of security about just how serious it can be.

      stars
      Participant

      Good on you, mrsaxde.  We've had a few sportsmen (football players etc) in Australia get melanoma, and its been downplayed in the media as a 'brush with skin cancer'. One doc came out to say same as you, that melanoma is never just a 'brush with skin cancer' or 'just' skin cancer and the media should never use this kind of language or it will give people a false sense of security about just how serious it can be.

      stars
      Participant

      Good on you, mrsaxde.  We've had a few sportsmen (football players etc) in Australia get melanoma, and its been downplayed in the media as a 'brush with skin cancer'. One doc came out to say same as you, that melanoma is never just a 'brush with skin cancer' or 'just' skin cancer and the media should never use this kind of language or it will give people a false sense of security about just how serious it can be.

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