Subcutaneous no known primary (Stage 4a) Keytruda update

Hi Betsyl, there is some evidence that shows that using targeted radiation therapy can be helpful with these stubborn tumors. Dr. Jason Luke in Chicago has been doing some interesting work in this field. I am sure anytime the tumor is near the spine that they might be cautious about using radiation!!! Best wishes!!!!Ed

Hey Betsyl,

Yes, it is very strange what we melanoma peeps and our dear ones can come to accept as "normal", isn't it???  I think Ed's point about radiation might be worth mentioning to your husband's docs…though you may have done this already and as Ed noted, depending on the tumor's location it may not be possible or recommended.  However, SRS and gamma knife type applications can make radiation incredibly focused and we know that radiation combined with immunotherapy can provide responses greater than either of those things when used alone.  Another rather out there idea, is whether or not injection of the tumor with an intralesional drug is possible?  I don't know if its location would allow for that, but many have attained success using these.  There are several – PV-10 and T-VEC being just a couple.  There's lots of info on my blog about them (just use the search bubble at the top left) if you are interested.  Kind of a long shot…but maybe worth asking about.

Hang in there.  Yours, celeste