scary thoughts!!

I wish I could post a graphic, but the deal is IPI doesn't help everyone.  It does help more people to begin with, then some of those people do have recurrences later.  BUT….. overall, there is an improvement on the survival curve relative to the current norms.  That's better than anyone can say about any other treatment for melanoma to date.  It's not a cure by iteself.  It may not work at all for some.  It can extend survival for others, and may be close to a cure for others. 

I wish I could post a graphic, but the deal is IPI doesn't help everyone.  It does help more people to begin with, then some of those people do have recurrences later.  BUT….. overall, there is an improvement on the survival curve relative to the current norms.  That's better than anyone can say about any other treatment for melanoma to date.  It's not a cure by iteself.  It may not work at all for some.  It can extend survival for others, and may be close to a cure for others. 

Ipi is not a magic bullet.  Ipi will not work for all patients.  The researchers are still working on the facts surrounding the best possible patient.  In every presentation I've attended with many different Melanoma leaders they will tell all that the next step in the current crop of treatment options in trials is to be able to predict which treatment will work for the individual patient.

There is also speculation that Ipi and other treatments given earlier will provided the best result and this will be explored in depth after the drug is approved by the FDA

Also realize that Ipi has never been promoted as the cure.  It's simply a giant leap forward.  Even the most cautious researcher will tell you that Ipi is another step in finding consistant treatment. 

Jerry from Cape Cod.

Stage IV IPI week 97

Ipi is not a magic bullet.  Ipi will not work for all patients.  The researchers are still working on the facts surrounding the best possible patient.  In every presentation I've attended with many different Melanoma leaders they will tell all that the next step in the current crop of treatment options in trials is to be able to predict which treatment will work for the individual patient.

There is also speculation that Ipi and other treatments given earlier will provided the best result and this will be explored in depth after the drug is approved by the FDA

Also realize that Ipi has never been promoted as the cure.  It's simply a giant leap forward.  Even the most cautious researcher will tell you that Ipi is another step in finding consistant treatment. 

Jerry from Cape Cod.

Stage IV IPI week 97

Red cells= Melanoma cancer cells

It is not IPI that is doing the work, it is restarting your immune system.  Ipi activates the CD8+ and CD4+ Tcells. Once activated the T-cells have to multiply and divide. It take time for our bodies to create an army of (CTLs) Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes. In the Mean time, the cancer is also growing, sometime hypermelabolic (Fast). It is growing faster than the equilbrium and the elimination phase. So the cancer escapes.

It takes 33 days to grow the CD4 T-cells and that includes the surpressive Treg cells

it takes 49 day to grow the CD8+ T-cells

Shrinkage of the the tumors take anywhere from 80 to 112 days, if all the activation of the immune system goes as plan.  You need to grow the army of T-cells until the balance shifts back to elimination Phase

That is why you can see grow of new tumors after starting Ipi Therapy.

I hope this helps

http://melanomamissionary.blogspot.com/

Melanoma Missionary

Jimmy B

Red cells= Melanoma cancer cells

It is not IPI that is doing the work, it is restarting your immune system.  Ipi activates the CD8+ and CD4+ Tcells. Once activated the T-cells have to multiply and divide. It take time for our bodies to create an army of (CTLs) Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes. In the Mean time, the cancer is also growing, sometime hypermelabolic (Fast). It is growing faster than the equilbrium and the elimination phase. So the cancer escapes.

It takes 33 days to grow the CD4 T-cells and that includes the surpressive Treg cells

it takes 49 day to grow the CD8+ T-cells

Shrinkage of the the tumors take anywhere from 80 to 112 days, if all the activation of the immune system goes as plan.  You need to grow the army of T-cells until the balance shifts back to elimination Phase

That is why you can see grow of new tumors after starting Ipi Therapy.

I hope this helps

http://melanomamissionary.blogspot.com/

Melanoma Missionary

Jimmy B

Just to say that although I am having a few problems right now, I am so happy that I am on the compassionate iplimumab trial.  In August, just prior to starting the trial, my melanoma was running rampant and I was very scared..my leg turning purple made me realize that I was in deep deep trouble. Once I started ipi, I could see the changes occurring, the spread was slowing down (at least the cutaneous portion) and a lot of spots were simply drying up, the mottling has changed for the better significantly. 

Of course, I'm disappointed that there is a new problem in the left groin, but I'm holding to the belief that it is just a hiccup in my treatment, that my doctors will o.k. for me to continue the trial..if not I will do IL-2 BUT I will never have regretted doing the iplimumab trial, I'm hoping it saves my life but listen even if it prolongs my life for a while, I'm just delighted.  Things are happening in the world of treatment of melanoma and the longer we stay alive the more hope we have.  Val

Just to say that although I am having a few problems right now, I am so happy that I am on the compassionate iplimumab trial.  In August, just prior to starting the trial, my melanoma was running rampant and I was very scared..my leg turning purple made me realize that I was in deep deep trouble. Once I started ipi, I could see the changes occurring, the spread was slowing down (at least the cutaneous portion) and a lot of spots were simply drying up, the mottling has changed for the better significantly. 

Of course, I'm disappointed that there is a new problem in the left groin, but I'm holding to the belief that it is just a hiccup in my treatment, that my doctors will o.k. for me to continue the trial..if not I will do IL-2 BUT I will never have regretted doing the iplimumab trial, I'm hoping it saves my life but listen even if it prolongs my life for a while, I'm just delighted.  Things are happening in the world of treatment of melanoma and the longer we stay alive the more hope we have.  Val

Your comments reflect a large degree of ignorance, which also tends to breed fear.  As the others have well said, Ipi is not a magic bullet.  It does not work for everyone and can give a range of responses over vaying time frames.  I would suggest you do a lot more reading the available literature. 

Your comments reflect a large degree of ignorance, which also tends to breed fear.  As the others have well said, Ipi is not a magic bullet.  It does not work for everyone and can give a range of responses over vaying time frames.  I would suggest you do a lot more reading the available literature. 

I gotta agree with Jim on this.  The idea that the treament actually causes the disease is ridiculous!  I  know there are people out there who think that flu shots cause the flu, but to talk that way on this board about melanoma shows no understanding of the disease or respect for patients.

I gotta agree with Jim on this.  The idea that the treament actually causes the disease is ridiculous!  I  know there are people out there who think that flu shots cause the flu, but to talk that way on this board about melanoma shows no understanding of the disease or respect for patients.

Hey Anonymous, you post with whichever name you want to.

And as for researching this monster, I too agree that it doesn't seem right that we have to become cancer experts. That is what the experts are for. We have to have some trust in our oncologists and if we can't…………fire them! I just fired my onc after hearing of another one who is much more aggessive and positive.

Who of us really gave cancer much thought before our own diagnosis? And getting a diagnosis and beginning treatment is so shocking and time-consuming that how many of us can really research our own treatment plan? Cancer doesn't just touch the most intelligent, educated and resourceful. It touches all of us.

And even if we find another treatment plan at another cancer center, how many of us can afford to travel to another location for treatment?  Not me.

So Anonymous, you just hang in there, do your best and you pray for me and I will pray for you. Promise.

Nicki, stage 3b, diagnosed 12/2009, remission 7 months, local recurrance 10/2010, ONE YEAR SURVIVOR!

Hey Anonymous, you post with whichever name you want to.

And as for researching this monster, I too agree that it doesn't seem right that we have to become cancer experts. That is what the experts are for. We have to have some trust in our oncologists and if we can't…………fire them! I just fired my onc after hearing of another one who is much more aggessive and positive.

Who of us really gave cancer much thought before our own diagnosis? And getting a diagnosis and beginning treatment is so shocking and time-consuming that how many of us can really research our own treatment plan? Cancer doesn't just touch the most intelligent, educated and resourceful. It touches all of us.

And even if we find another treatment plan at another cancer center, how many of us can afford to travel to another location for treatment?  Not me.

So Anonymous, you just hang in there, do your best and you pray for me and I will pray for you. Promise.

Nicki, stage 3b, diagnosed 12/2009, remission 7 months, local recurrance 10/2010, ONE YEAR SURVIVOR!