Tumor Aches

Mine have ached on and off in the past. It would come and go, each seemed to take their turn. This took place before and during my time on the Ipi/Nivo combo, which I had a partial response to. In the beginning I thought it might be because of inflammation of the tumor due to an immune response, though since I’ve started the Braftovi and Mektovi my palpable tumors have all but disappeared, painlessly.

This may very well be due to the different types of meds and how they work in the body – one by activating the immune system to attack the tumor, and one by affecting the tumor directly and inhibiting proliferation. (My apologies to the much more learned members of the board for my gross over simplification)

Perhaps we can ‘feel’ an immune response and the accompanying inflammation more than if the tumor was just dying on the vine, such as it is? These are all guesses, unfortunately. I was never able to get an answer, and when I reported tumor pain to my oncologist, he was never particularly impressed, one way or the other. Its a lot like my question a tumor being found to have central necrosis – it might have central necrosis because its dying, it might have central necrosis because its eating everything around it.

Its all very frustrating, but keep fighting the good fight one day at a time!

Tim