The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Stage IV – Yervoy, Gamma Knife for 25 Brain Mets

Forums General Melanoma Community Stage IV – Yervoy, Gamma Knife for 25 Brain Mets

  • Post
    Patina
    Participant

      I wanted to share more good news with everyone.  My Mom, who was diagnosed last year with stage IV and brain mets, got the news today from her neuro oncologist. He says that everything looks great with her brain and has given her the OK to start driving in December – unless something unexpected, like a seizure, occurs. – All she wants to do is to start driving again and she is thrilled!

      Earlier this month her oncologist said that based on how she has responded to Yervoy (very quickly & all tumors) he believes that she is firmly in the group of people who, at 5 years, had needed no other treatment.  – 92% of responders with durable long term responses, after 5+ years of tracking have had no other treatments and the 8% who needed additional treatment seem to respond to Keytruda ,as well as or better than, they did to Yervoy. So, we know the next step if one is needed.

      We can't believe how lucky she's been from the diagnosis to the misdiagnosis to the treatment results. It's been less than a year since she began treatment and just a year since she was diagnosed and we are all very grateful for the terrific doctor's she's had and Yervoy and gamma knife.

      I wish everyone had these results now, but am sure they are just around the corner.

       

      HISTORY:

      My Mom was diagnosed in November of 2013 (age 77) and after seeing 4 specialists (one of which diagnosed her with brain mets that a radiologist "overlooked") and thinking about the options she opted to go with gamma knife radiation for the 3 tumors we knew about and began Yervoy/ipi 4 days later.  – On December 9th, the day of gamma knife, she had 8 treated, but a 9th which was thought to be blood vessels was in reality a brain met and not treated.

      In short she had: 2 infusions, got colitis and thrush, had a few hospitalizations due to colitis, finally got the 3rd infusion, got colitis again and then a new radiologist (3rd) treated 17 new tumors in April…   

      No seizures, no cognitive dysfunction and EVERYTHING is still shrinking or gone…with no new brain mets and those that were treated are stable and some much smaller or seemingly gone.

      —Terrific treatment at USC in Los Angeles with Dr. Wong and Dr. Chang.  

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        MelanomaAnkara
        Participant

          Good news Patina. Congratulations. I hope she will continue to be nice… 

          MelanomaAnkara
          Participant

            Good news Patina. Congratulations. I hope she will continue to be nice… 

            MelanomaAnkara
            Participant

              Good news Patina. Congratulations. I hope she will continue to be nice… 

              DZnDef
              Participant

                So glad to hear your Mom continues to do so well, Patina.  From melanoma warrior to Road Warrior!  She is a Beast Master!

                DZnDef
                Participant

                  So glad to hear your Mom continues to do so well, Patina.  From melanoma warrior to Road Warrior!  She is a Beast Master!

                  DZnDef
                  Participant

                    So glad to hear your Mom continues to do so well, Patina.  From melanoma warrior to Road Warrior!  She is a Beast Master!

                    kylez
                    Participant

                      Patina, she's clearly doing really well, and that's great! Getting through colitis too. Keep on shrinking, and may the tumor-be-gone juice keep doing its thing!

                      – Kyle

                        csellers23
                        Participant
                          Im so happy for you. I hope and pray we will get there too.
                          csellers23
                          Participant
                            Im so happy for you. I hope and pray we will get there too.
                            csellers23
                            Participant
                              Im so happy for you. I hope and pray we will get there too.
                            kylez
                            Participant

                              Patina, she's clearly doing really well, and that's great! Getting through colitis too. Keep on shrinking, and may the tumor-be-gone juice keep doing its thing!

                              – Kyle

                              kylez
                              Participant

                                Patina, she's clearly doing really well, and that's great! Getting through colitis too. Keep on shrinking, and may the tumor-be-gone juice keep doing its thing!

                                – Kyle

                            Viewing 8 reply threads
                            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                            About the MRF Patient Forum

                            The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                            The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                            Popular Topics